* * *
Later in the week,I was pulverizing another innocent onion when Sophia walked into the back. I looked up at her with what had to be a menacing stare. Most of my employees had steered clear of me. I heard Stella tell them the beast had a thorn in his paw, and to go to her if they needed anything.
“Preston, I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s a couple out at table seven who asked me to let you know he’d like to speak to you.”
“What’s the reservation name?” My heart was pounding. The only couple I could think of who might ask for me were Nick’s parents.
“Allen,” she said.
I furrowed my brow and put down my knife. Wiping my hands on the towel I kept over my shoulder, I walked over to look out into the dining room. Sure enough, Michael Allen sat next to a beautiful young woman who looked at him like he’d hung the moon just for her.
It made me think about how Nick looked at me. Rubbing at the spot over my heart, I returned to my cutting board. “Tell him I’m unavailable right now, but I’ll be out shortly.”
She smiled and returned to the front of the house.
I went back to pulverizing the onion.
“Who’s that?” Stella asked from across the kitchen.
“Hismentor and my architect.” I couldn’t say his name, but she knew who I meant. Turning off the burner and plating up the Shrimp Scampi, Stella handed it off to David to deliver to the table. Then she made her way over to me after handing over the reins to Marco.
I let go of the knife and put both hands flat on the stainless steel counter. I dropped my head to my chest, willing the pain to go away.
Stella put her hand on my shoulder. “Come on,” she said, heading back to my office.
When I stepped in, she pulled out a shot glass and a bottle ofFireballwith the same yellow band around the top. Pouring me a shot, she motioned to it. “Drink up. It will settle your nerves.”
Had Alejandro not told her I knew about their special bottle for me? I took the shot and looked at her. “I need another one.”
She nodded and poured another one.
I tossed it back and slammed the glass down.
“One more,” I said, eyeing the bottle.
“Don’t get carried away here, buddy. We still have to work.”
I grinned at her. “How long have you and Ale-asshole been serving me cinnamon extract?”
She sat down across from me. “I don’t know about him, but I’ve been doing it for almost a year.”
I gaped at her. “Why would you do that to me?”
She finally smiled. “Because you only do that in high-stress situations when you actually need to think clearly.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Touché.”
“Why is his mentor here to talk to you? Do you think he’s okay? Or not okay?”
Panic rose, but I had to remind myself he wasn’t mine any longer.
“I don’t know. I guess I should go find out.”
Stella smiled. “I’d say so. Then figure out a way to fix things, Preston. You were so happy. And you deserve that with him, if he’ll take you back.”
I gave her a nod and headed out to the dining room. I looked around and was relieved that Sophia had seated them in a private corner.
Michael looked up at me as I approached, then stood to shake my hand. “Preston, this is my fiancée, Kristin.”
