“Sean.We agreed: no dating the staff!”
“No... You suggested a no-dating policy and I vehemently disagreed.”
She threw her arms up. “Did the fresh-produce fiasco teach you nothing?”
“Annalee is nothing like Haden. She’s very sweet—and we have sparks.” He winked.
Eew.Chloe closed the container and loaded another with leftover fruit. Her brother had sparks with 90percent of the female species, mostly because he was easy on the eyes. Too bad he was no good on the follow-through.
“When you break up with her, she’s gonna quit, and then I’ll have to go through the interview and training process all over again.”
“Who says I’m gonna break up with her?”
She speared him with a look. “Me and your extensive history of breaking up with every woman you date.”
His gaze fell to her take-out boxes and he lifted a sardonic brow. “Hungry?”
“Hush. These are for Liam. And don’t change the subject. If she quits, you’re hiring another server. It took me weeks to find her.”
“I thought Liam was such agreat cook.”
“If you must know, he’s down with the flu. Now, do we have an agreement or what?”
“What are you now, his nursemaid? He’s a grown man.”
“I’m just being neighborly. He doesn’t have any family here, in case you forgot.” Though he did seem to have a million people checking up on him. “And you haven’t agreed to our agreement.”
“Because I don’tagree. And by the way, news flash: you’re not his real girlfriend.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Thank you, Captain Obvious.” She moved to the fridge and waited for him to move. “Do you mind?”
He moved out of her way with all the speed of a drugged snail. “Last thing you need is to get the flu while your movie’s filming.”
“You know I never get sick.” She reached into the fridge and retrieved an unopened gallon of orange juice. Elliot had brought over groceries, but she’d used the last of Liam’s, and he needed all the vitamin C he could get.
“I hope you remember to restock that,” Sean said as she put the OJ and food containers in a bag and headed for the exit.
“And I hope you remember Annalee is a valued employee.” And with that she was out the door.
Chapter22
A rattling stirred Liam awake. He opened his eyes.
Chloe set a tray laden with food on the bed beside him. “Morning. How are you feeling today?”
“Fine,” he croaked.
She smiled. “Okay, tough guy. I’m sure you’re fit as a fiddle, but you have to be hungry. I brought dinner rolls from the restaurant and a selection of fruits. Have you had your meds yet?”
The fog in his brain cleared a bit. “Wait. How’d you get in?”
“I told you yesterday I’d take the key, remember? Oh, you don’t remember. Well, I need to check on you and there’s no reason for you to drag yourself to the door.”
He didn’t even have the energy to say he didn’t mind at all. That, in fact, he loved having her here. The house was so empty and quiet without her. “Time is it?”
“Almost ten.” She pressed her cool hand to his forehead.
He wanted to grab it and hold it there the rest of the day.
