“Come on, big sis. You’re a Weiss. Bad bitch up. You got this. I’m sure your head chef will do everything in his power to help you make Heights Bites a success. Best restaurant Smoky Heights has ever had, that’s for sure. Not hard to take that title, you should nab it on day one.”
Lexi freezes up beneath her sister’s touch—or maybe her words—and rolls her spine until she’s upright again.
“Right.”
“We were just working out how to be a little more farm-to-table. Homegrown herbs, maybe some chickens to farm if I can find a little land for it,” I say.
“Ooh, yes, love!” Aurora is already out the door, but her words float back to us. “Can’t wait to try it!”
“You’re a real prick, ya know that?” Lexi mutters when we’re alone again.
“New York chef sets aside lifelong dream to come help struggling café in a small town, despite ungrateful manager’sconstant barrage of failed insults. Not sure I’m the one coming off as a prick in this scenario.”
Lexi tilts her head to the side, thin nose scrunched up. “Mmm, I wouldn’t call it a café. It’s always been more of a diner.”
“Over my dead body are we calling it a diner.”
Those coffee brown eyes light up. “Is that all I have to do? Off you and all this is over?”
“Knowing you, Boss, you’re more likely togetoff on me. But I’m game for anything you wanna try,bella.”
It’s hard not to gloat when her cheeks pinken, but I manage to bite my smug smile back when she changes the subject.
“What lifelong dream?” She makes it sound like an insult, and my cock thickens at that tone from her.
My hands illustrate the signage I can see when I close my eyes. Metal and glass, with natural wood accents. “Salt + Spice. Executive Chef Wilder Amante.”
“Sounds like the kind of restaurant that should be in New York.”
One shoulder lifts and falls. “I always thought so.”
Uncrossing her leg, she’s quick to wag a finger at me. “Oh my God, do not pull that sad puppy dog shit on me, Chef. I willnotfeel sorry for you. You’re the one ruining my life by being here, not the other way around. Let’s get that straight right now.”
“And here I thought I was helping you live out your dream.”
“My dream is to continue my family’s legacy of a chill diner that our town can always count on. Not some fancy pet project from someone who’s spent ten minutes here and thinks he’s too good for the Heights.”
“Heard, Boss. We can keep it simple.” I tilt my head once. “But the people here also deserve to be delighted by their evening meal, and they clearly have taste.” My head jerks toward the computer screen, and the poll results still up on it.
Before she can go off like a teapot all over again, I jump back in.
“I’m gonna help you with the shit you’re still learning. I’ll be your personal tutor. But you’re gonna let me take your original menu and make it a little better. Small changes for big flavor.”
She side eyes me but doesn’t stop me.
“Over time, I’ll throw some other ideas at you. All I want is for you to give me a chance here, Lexi. We both want this place to smash it. Let me help you get there.”
“I’ve been an assistant manager before, Wilder. I know what I’m doing.”
I raise my brow at her and let silence hang in the room.
We both know wherever she came from, it didn’t teach her everything she needs to know to run a restaurant. She’s out here doing her best, but she doesn’t have to do it alone.
After a few heavy beats, she clears her throat.
“Maybe there’s a few things I’m still learning.” Lexi shifts in her chair.
“I can help you,” I tell her. “We can work together, Lexi. It doesn’t have to be a war.”
