“Oh, I almost forgot,” Joesph looked up and smiled at Jamie.“I invited Mike to come and have a look at that wall and have brunch with us.”
“Oh hell.”Jamie rolled his eyes.“Not you too.”
“What?”Joesph feigned an innocent look.
“Mornin’ all.Another beautiful day in paradise.”Dexter had a big smile on his face.“You wouldn’t believe the grief I got from my cousin when I told him about our vacation.”
“Why?”Jamie looked puzzled.
“He’s afraid that his employees will start thinking they deserve a paid vacation.”Dexter laughed.“I told him that when all his employees worked here as long as most of us here, he should think about it.I thought he was going to blow a gasket!”
“Mornin’,” Walter said as he entered the kitchen.He looked around.“I’m looking forward to all the renovations, but I’m also a little sad.Sometimes it’s hard to let go.”
“It’s Alaska, so of course I’m going to take my heavy coat.”Florence flounced into the kitchen, Hazel right behind her.
“Okay.That’s a good point.Mornin’ everyone.”Hazel looked flushed.“It’s a beautiful day.”
“Well?”Florence snapped her gum.“What’s the game plan?”
Jamie frowned at her.“You resemble a cow chewing cud.”
Walter laughed and asked what he could do.
Florence narrowed her eyes at Jamie.“I’d slap the snot out of you if I didn’t love you, but you just keep on.I remember when you were this high,” she said, holding her hand just above her waist, “And if you think I don’t have dirt on you, you’d be wrong.Very,verywrong.”
Jamie had the decency to blush.“Okay, okay.”Hazel laughed at that.
“Walter, you’re with me.Salzy, why don’t you put those boxes together that you got the other day.Dexter, you and Timmy start on packing up as much of the kitchen as you can.”
“Morning,” Minnie said as she came in, Timmy close behind.“I’m not late, am I?”She looked around the room.
“No.Just in time.”Jamie thought she looked a lot better than she did yesterday.“I was just—”
“He was just barking out orders,” Florence said with a snooty look on her face, barely containing a smile.
“I’d like you ladies to start on the dining room.Packing up everything.”
Everyone nodded and started.
“Oh, remember I’m cooking brunch, so leave enough stuff for us to eat off of.”
“Walter, if you start cutting up potatoes, onions, and green peppers, they’ll be ready for me.I’m making potatoes O’Brien.”
“Yum,” Salzy said.“I love those.”He looked up from the tape dispenser contraption he’d gotten with the boxes.“Are those going on the menu?”
“Good morning.”Mike entered, letting the screen door close softly behind him.
Jamie felt his eyes roam over the big man.He was wearing khaki shorts.Tightkhaki shorts and a green T-shirt withArmyprinted on it.It was tight showing off his trim and what appeared to be a very fit body.Jamie felt like his mouth was full of sawdust.
“Morning, handsome,” Joesph appeared from the staff break room.
That seemed to break Jamie’s trance.He rolled his eyes.“Joesph, you may need a towel to wipe all the drool off your chin.”
Florence cackled.“And you said I flirted.Oh brother...”
