I had been telling the truth when I told Blaze I wasn’t scared of Ezra. He didn’t intimidate me like he did most of the people that worked under the umbrella of EFB Enterprises. But he did have the power to say no.
What I really wanted, was a good week of service and profit under my belt before I explained all the reasons he needed to change everything. But it didn’t look like that was going to happen anytime soon.
I needed to hard sell this thing. And fast. Before the major change that happened was a closed sign in the front window.
I still had no idea why he thought I could be the one to save this place. Surely, he knew more talented and experienced chefs… Surely, there had been more prominent people interested in the position.
Bottom line, I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.
He walked into the kitchen looking all kinds of business. I smoothed my hair back in the wild messy bun that seemed like the best option this morning but I was now regretting, and adjusted the bandana I’d tied around the front.
“Hey, big brother,” I said to him, nerves already fluttering in my stomach.
His hard gaze relaxed some and he smiled at me. “How’s it going?”
I swallowed the oversized lump of fear in my throat and shrugged. “I’m still alive.”
“Have I told you lately that I’m beyond grateful for you?”
“Once or twice.” His words soothed some of the pain in my chest. “You know I’d do literally anything for you right? Like actually anything. A kidney. Half my liver. Seriously, running this restaurant for you is easy-peasy.”
His smile wobbled. “That’s good news, because I have another favor to ask of you.”
My eyes narrowed on instinct. This didn’t sound promising. And now he was fidgeting! Ezra never fidgeted. Like ever. He was always one hundred percent comfortable with who he was and what he wanted. “I’m nervous,” I admitted—because he looked nervous.
“Molly wants to host a brunch. At our place.”
“Okay…”
“This Sunday.”
“Okay…”
“She’d like you to come.”
“That sounds fun. I’d love to come.”
His hand swiped over his mouth, the telltale gesture that he was second-guessing himself. “The thing is, she’s invited a few other people.”
“Vera and Killian?”
“They’re on their honeymoon.”
“Oh, right. So, Wyatt and Kaya?”
He nodded. “And Vann Delane.”
Ezra’s anxiety made sense now. “Ah.”
“She told me not to make it a big deal. But she wanted you to have all the facts.” His hands dropped to his hips and he suddenly looked like our dad. “Is there something I need to know about you and Vann Delane?”
Oh lord, not this. I blinked at him innocently. “What do you mean?”
“Why did Molly want me to warn you about Vann Delane coming over?”
There were about three hundred things I’d rather do than talk to my brother about my effed up dating life. One was getting a Brazilian. Another was getting audited by an anal IRS agent. “Who knows. Molly gets stressed about weird stuff all the time.”
“That’s true.”
