Hishead bobbled back and forth as he decided. “You can have one week. Next Monday,Sarita is closed over lunch. Is that enough time?”
“Yes.”No. “I can’t wait.”Oh my God!“This will be so much fun.”I’m going to die.
Hissmile was knowing, making it—and him—evil as he turned and walked away.
Heknew Monday wasn’t enough time to put together the ten to sixteen course mealthat would change his life and make him hire me at Sarita. It was nowhere nearenough time, but that was probably his design. I couldn’t help but think backto my conversation with Dillon, praying and hoping she was right, that hewasn’t sexist, that he wanted to hire Vera.
Becauseif Vera had a shot, then so did I.
Hopefully.
Maybe.
We’dsoon find out.
Iturned to Vera and gave her a shaky smile.
“Oh,my god!” she squealed before I could talk. “That was amazing!”
“Ithink I’m going to puke.”
Sheput her hands on my shoulders and shook my body roughly, apparently not caringabout my puke warning. “You’re going to rock the shit out of this interview!”
“Ithink I should sit down.”
“Doyou know how he, like, never does that? Like ever? I’ve never seen him take aninterview like that. Never. I mean, last I knew, he was planning on hiringheadhunters to look for the replacement. I know there are people interested inthe job, but he’s very particular this time around.”
“Areyou trying to make me feel better?” I shook my head rapidly. “You’re not makingme feel better.”
Hersmile stretched. “You’ve got so much work to do.”
“Ifeel like you’re enjoying this.”
Shelaughed, the sadistic little nymph. “So much. This is so entertaining to me.”
“Ihate you.”
Shelaughed harder, but it quickly died. “What about Wyatt? Have you told him youwere trying for this job? Do you think he’ll write you a letter of recommendation?Or sabotage you to get you to stay?”
Coveringmy face with my hands, I groaned. “Oh my God. Wyatt. He doesn’t know anything.He’s going to freak out.”
Herlips pressed together in a frown. “What do you think he’s going to say?”
Ithought about how sweet he’d been lately. How kind. I thought about his dinnerreservation for my parents. I thought about the way he’d been relentlesslypursuing me. His smiles. His kisses. His mouth on me in my most intimate ofplaces.
Andthen I thought about how much he relied on me. Needed me in the kitchen. Beggedfor me not to leave him…
Myanswer was obvious. “I have absolutely no clue.”
ChapterNineteen
Can we talk outside of Lilou?
Ithad been a simple enough text on my part. Straightforward. To the point. Withoutinnuendo.
As in a date?Had been his stellar reply.Breakfast tomorrow? Benny said he’d coverdeliveries.
Healready had substitutes in place?
