“Wow. Evie Monroe, in the flesh.”
He’s staring down at me, his gaze intense as I hear someone start talking to Chase, pulling him fromthisconversation. It makes me frown before I fix my face and smile.
“Yes. The one and only ... but I’m at a disadvantage. I don’t know your name. I guess we were seated too far away tonight.”
Or you didn’t want to meet me.Which is a real possibility from his body language.
He crosses his arms, smirking like he wants to keep his name a secret before he adds, “And that’s a shame ... because I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.”
What a weird thing to say.
Whoever this stranger is lets that statement hang out there for a second as I give an empty laugh, suddenly feeling awkward behind my smile. But then he winks.
“I mean, because I’ve heard so much about you from Chase. He never stops talking about you. I’m Eddie, by the way, the wayward sous chef.”
He doesn’t hold out his hand for me to shake like everyone else. Still, I smile, remembering where I’ve heard that name, deciding not to pull out any digs because I can’t tell if Eddie’s unfriendly or just British. So I play it safe and go with “Nice to meet you,” before Chase’s hand lands on his shoulder.
“What’d I miss?”
Eddie shakes his head. “Nothing. I was just about to tell her the story about you threatening to chop off your old sous’s hands if he so much as touched her plate ...” He leans in like he’s letting me in on a secret, but my head draws back. “Figured it’s a solid excuse for avoiding you tonight.”
He smiles. I don’t. Because while I’m positive that’s a true story, since it’s too on brand for Chase’s dramatics, it’s the way he’s saying it. Eddie doesn’t like me.
The smirk on Chase’s face doesn’t hide how much he enjoys that memory, as he shrugs nonchalantly. “She came to be fed the best.I’mthe best.”
There’s so many barbs I could throw, but I’m only focused on Eddie as he says, “You’d maim for her. Interesting.”
I manage a barely there smile as I step away. Weird British humor or just weird? Who’s to say, but what I do know is Eddie feels like a hard pass for me.
Chase motions to the door with his head.
“I’m going to walk him out before I have to get started on all those dishes. Wait around for me?”
I scrunch my nose. “Only if I don’t have to help. You didn’t purchase that subscription for this friendship.”
He laughs, nodding, and counters, “I’ll have to email for an upgrade,” as he guides Eddie to the side door.
“Sorry. Sold out,” I toss back, but I notice Eddie doesn’t laugh.
Well, then, no sense of humor means you are just weird.How are they friends?
With a sigh, I look around the table, noticing that for the most part it’s clean, before all the noise that’s quieted restarts as I’m hugged and goodbyes are said.
One by one, the guys leave out the side door, some patting Chase on the shoulder, others shaking his hand, but all of them congratulating him.
And then just like that, we’re alone, the slam of the metal door closing highlighting that fact.
“What an incredible night,” he rushes out, wiping his hands down his face. “Did you have fun?”
I smile. “I’m glad I was bullied into staying. But aren’t you going to ask me if I liked the food?”
He lifts a brow. “No. You all but licked your plate, and anything is an upgrade from the food you’re always complaining about eating on set. Plus, I know exactly what you like.”
I swallow, because the way he glances at me when he says that is bathed in insinuation. But he doesn’t elaborate, just grins while heading toward the double doors, motioning with his head for me to follow.
So I do.Dammit.I really need to start saying no to that little motion.
The moment I breeze through the doorway, he points to a few lights by the front windows. “Turn those off? The switch is by the front door.”
