“There’s a problem in the kitchen, and someone is drunk and yelling at the bar.” I groaned and raced out along with him. After having security toss Mrs. Redkins for berating her husband at top volume, then Mr. Redkins for being stupid enough to tell her where to find him, I went to the kitchen.
It turned out Marco was already helping by washing dishes in between running errands, and two other staff members were out and feeling ill, so I rolled up my sleeves to help any way I could. We had everyone in the house to feed, plus guests who came in and ordered food with their evening activities. I was elbow deep in sudsy water in the dish room when Patton came tearing into the kitchen. He gaped for a second as if in shock and shook his head.
“What?” I snapped.
“I’ve never seen you doing anything like this.”
Sighing, I stood up and shook the water off my hands. I barely restrained myself from smacking him. “Every job in this hotel is my job. I can cook our entire menu, too.” He tossed me a towel with a smile that slipped right back off his face, and I dried my hands. “Now what?”
“There’s someone asking for you at the front.” He shrugged a shoulder.
“What’s their issue?”
“They want to see you?” He frowned and tilted his head like a confused puppy.
For a second I blinked, and my mind blanked. Brooks didn’t actually come back here for me, did he?
Patton hustled off, and I followed him to the front of the house. Brooks stood with his elbow leaned against the spotless front desk, and Lemonade sat nicely at his feet, the perfect girl. My breath caught and a thrill leaped in my chest. He was as handsome now as he’d been when I’d first caught sight of him, but I squashed the ridiculous excitement.
Yes, I’d ended up loving what we’d done together, but nothing had changed.
There was a staff shortage and I needed to take care of it.
As I scanned the room, a habit of mine to constantly be on the lookout, the bartender for the night, Fen, waved his hand to get my attention from where he leaned across the bar. He had his black hair combed to the side and could have stepped out of a magazine with his clingy green silk shirt. I sighed. Mother had picked him to hire because he always looked high-class, and it took a lot to rattle him; the way he jerked around his hand to get my attention concerned me twice as much coming from him as it would have anyone else.
My chest squeezed. It would be nice to just go. Leave. Not have any of these impending disasters be my problem. I walked over to Brooks feeling very old and beaten down.
“Hello, Brooks.” I had no idea what else to say.
He perked up and a smile curled his lips. Lemonade sat straighter and whined. “Darcy?”
“I apologize on behalf of the Courtesan, but I am not available. Would you like me to find someone for your evening pleasure?” My face burned, and Patton stared from about three steps away, hearing everything I said. I cleared my throat.
Brooks only grinned. “I told you I’d be here.”
“And I told you I can’t go.”
“Why?”
I wanted to scream. My hands clenched into fists. “Staffing issues. Clients coming in nonstop all day. You’d think it was a Friday, not a Monday. I don’t even know what Fen wants, but I’m sure it’s urgent.” Brooks quirked his eyebrows. “Our bartender. He looks like he’s in the process of having a meltdown over there. It’s trouble, whatever it is.” I sighed.
“Dude, you sound stressed.” Patton gave me something that resembled a smile, but was all teeth, and I narrowed my eyes to ward off his nosiness, but it didn’t work. He was too invested in acquiring some juicy gossip to run.
I scowled at him. “Go check with Fen for me.”
Reluctantly Patton moved away to follow orders.
“That’s it. Delegate,” Brooks said with a smirk. “Come on.” He gestured at the front doors. “I have a car waiting.”
Longing slammed me. The sunshine that spilled through the glass doors was golden and perfect, and it had been a long time since I’d spent an evening doing something other than work. I glanced down, though, and sighed. “I’m a mess. I’ve been in the kitchen.”
“I don’t care.” He smiled.
My impatient huffing only made him chuckle. I switched to biting my cheek so he wouldn’t be able to hear me being irritated, but that only made him laugh harder, as if he knew anyway. Brooks stepped closer and grasped my shoulder. I shivered, and warmth hit my center as he trailed his fingers down my arm to take my hand.
Patton rushed to me and pointed back toward Fen. “The alcohol delivery was late and we’re low on, like, everything.”
Running a hand over my face, I held in a growl. “Take the card from the drawer at the desk and have Fen make a list. Go buy what we need to get through tonight. Don’t be shy about it. We’ll settle up the bookkeeping later. I want everyone to get what they want. Not one customer leaves without their favorite drink.”
