Wyattwas one of the best chefs I knew. We didn’t even have a friendship to jeopardize,but I still wouldn’t risk my future, my business… my reputation on him.
“It’snot my restaurant.” Vera’s words danced through my head and I partly understoodher motivation.
Saltwas hers. Salt was her home. Killian was worth the risk to have that feeling.And if I had to guess, she felt something similar for Killian.
MaybeI would never know something like that with a man, but I was bound anddetermined to have that with a kitchen.
“Thatgirl is crazy,” I said, referring to Vera. Dillon made a sound that was halflaugh, half agreeing. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and took asteading breath. “Do you think I have a chance with Ezra? Do you think it’spossible he’ll consider me?”
Shedug her toe into the ground and kicked at a chunk of pavement. Burying her chinin her lifted shoulder, she made another noncommittal noise. “I don’t know mybrother’s mind. As close as we are, he can still be a mystery. I think he’llgive you a chance though.” Her head lifted, and she met my gaze, braving thepossibility of disappointing me. “He’s fair, Ky. And he wants the absolute bestfor his restaurants. To like a psychotic degree.” The door pushed open behindher and Wyatt stepped outside just as Dillon finished saying, “If you’re thebest thing for him, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
Wyatt’sfeet came to a screeching halt and his knuckles turned white where he held openthe heavy side door of Lilou. Dillon’s words landed like landmines around us,falling with the heaviness of a waiting explosion.
God,why couldn’t I be a smoker? They congregated at the back of the building, wherethere was privacy. Where our boss didn’t walk into a conversation he had nobusiness hearing.
Instead,I had to hang out here, where the air was clear of lung cancer but strongly lackingin distance to the door. Damn.
Tohis credit, Wyatt didn’t say anything. Instead, he glared at me until myinsides started to melt.
“Hey,Wyatt,” Dillon said, breaking the awkward tension boiling between us. “What’sup?”
Hedidn’t take his eyes off me. “Are you planning on working tonight? Or are yougoing to hang out here until your shift’s over?”
Iattempted to swallow, but my throat had dried out to a husk and I couldn’tmanage it. “Here,” I decided. It seemed like a better option than walking backinside. “I’m going to hang out here all night.”
Hissneer hit me right in the gut, and a deep swell of panic and insecurity washedover me. I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. I wanted to walk away fromthis restaurant and never look back. I wanted to… I wanted to feel nothingwhenever Wyatt was involved.
Thatwas my biggest issue with him. He made me feel more than any other person onthe planet. When he disapproved of something I did, it killed me. When he gotirritated with me, it made me want to cry. When he approved of something I did,my spirit soared. When he touched me, I burned. When he kissed me, I exploded.
Myemotions were not neutral toward him. I was all over the place. With everyother person I could remain nonchalant, totally unaffected no matter theiropinion of me. At the very least I could defer to sarcasm without wanting tocry or run away.
Wyattbrought every single feeling out of me. All at once. I didn’t want to careabout him or what he thought. Yet, here I stood, a buzzing, flailing ball offeeling. If Dillon wasn’t here, I probably would have jumped the poor man andpicked up right where he’d left off earlier—meaning more kisses. So many morekisses.
Iwas also contemplating punching him in the kidneys.
Itwas really anyone’s guess what I would do. But the indecision inside me wasconcerning.
Heturned his glare on Dillon. “Can I have a minute with Kaya?”
Shecrossed her arms and glared back. “That depends. Are you going to be mean?”
Hisjaw ticked, and I had to fight to swallow again. Only for entirely differentreasons. Damn that jaw.
Damnthis boy.
“I’mnever mean to Kaya.”
Dillonrolled her eyes, and the confused, over-emotional crazy person inside me threwher hands in the air and cheered for good friends. “Please.”
Wyatt’sjaw ticked again. “Go inside, Dillon. I need to have a conversation with mysous chef.”
Shepointed a finger at him. “Be nice.”
Hishands dropped to his waist and he glared at the ground until she’d walked pasthim and disappeared in the building again.
“AmI in trouble?” My voice had more courage than I felt, but I was thankful forthe bravado.
Hishead lifted slowly, his eyes finding mine from behind thick lashes. “Youshouldn’t let her set you up. I’ve heard stories about the guys she dates.They’re losers.”
