She scrunches her nose, shaking her head. “Oh, you are such a drama king. It was right where Samuel would finish the burgers, so he could plate it up right there and save time.”
That’s not something you can shortcut.
My brows cinch, concern knocking the humor right out of the voice in my head. Is this her first time in a kitchen? Is she in over her head?
My dad always said I was too soft for the family business, but this girl is pulling on my heartstrings more than most. So fiercely defensive, protecting herself from criticism, when she doesn’t seem to realize the dozen different pitfalls that were waiting all throughout the restaurant just last week. Limp lettuce was far from the worst of it.
“Are you done avoiding me now?” I ask her.
She huffs, turning her head and not answering me.
“Because we should do a walkthrough together.” I tap the clipboard next to me. “A lot of stuff we need to go over before the final inspection.”
“Do we have to?”
“Yes. But whether or not there’s a happy ending is up to you.” Might’ve been too soon to push it with her, but I guess my streak that’s addicted to danger was feeling ignored.
She drops her head back, like only a scream to the universe can help her now, but she doesn’t let one out.
“Kidding.”
“Not funny,” she grits out.
I change the subject, cutting her some slack.
“When is the inspection?” I ask her. “I haven’t been able to reach the inspector over the phone. They keep transferring me, but it rings and rings and the guy never picks up.”
“It’s not scheduled yet,” she says, crossing her foot over her other knee and starting to jiggle her leg.
I lurch forward. “It’s what? Lexi, we’re a week from opening. What are you waiting for?”
“My chef to get abducted by aliens.”
“I’m all about a little probing—” I start.
“Of course you are,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“—but we can’t open without that certificate. You should’ve booked that two months ago.”
“Relax.” She waves a hand at me and pulls out her phone. With one hand she types out a message, while the other reaches for a Diet Coke on the corner of the desk.
I stand from the chair behind the computer and pace, hands behind my head, elbows out. In my life I’ve never had an inspection get scheduled in under six weeks.
And out here, I don’t even have the connections to get us some sort of forgery. I’d hate to have to use that network at all, but what other option do we have? If we don’t have a certificate,we can’t serve food. I assumed she already had the inspection scheduled, or I’d have knocked down this door she was hiding behind all last week.
Her rasp interrupts my plan to try to find a black market network in the middle of the Smokies.
“He’ll be here tomorrow at two.” Lexi says, then pops her gum loudly.
I turn, jaw dropped. “Che cazzo, Lexi. Just like that?”
Her chin dips once. “He was just waiting on my text.”
Well, fuck me.
“Then first thing tomorrow morning,” I tell her. “You and me. Kitchen. We need to be ready.”
That fire flickers to life in her eyes again, determination burning there. “This place will be flawless in time.”
