‘I almost didn’t,’ she said in a deadpan tone, recalling her recent humiliation.
‘No, I mean, I didn’t think you’d agree to come out.’
‘I figured you’d probably just stay out there all night until I agreed.’
His chuckle spread a warm glow across her skin. ‘I’m not some weird stalker.’
‘No, but you’re persistent.’
‘It’s the only way to get anything you really want out of life.’
She wasn’t sure how to respond to that so she decided to change the topic. ‘Have you had any further updates on Dylan?’
‘Yeah, I called him the other day and he sounded a bit more positive than the last time I spoke with him. He’s started his physio. I think they have another operation to do soon andthen they’ll have a better idea of how much use he’ll have of his hand.’
‘It’ll be a long process—poor kid. That chef of yours certainly seems to have a temper. I hope he’s settled down after the other week.’
Nick sent her a quick glance.
‘He didn’t seem particularly worried about Dylan, only covering his own backside,’ she explained.
‘He’s not the easiest person in the world to get along with.’
‘He sounds like a jerk.’
Nick gave a small grunt in agreement. ‘My sister keeps reminding me he’s a creative,’ he said, rolling his eyes. ‘I can’t argue with his talent and experience where cooking’s concerned, but as a person, he’s an arsehole.’
‘So in the interview you were happy to overlook his personality for his cooking ability?’ she asked doubtfully and saw Nick shrug.
‘All chefs have a bit of a temper—kinda goes with the territory. The more qualified they are, the bigger the ego, I think.’
‘How did you get someone like him to accept a position in a place like Barkley? I mean, if he’s worked all over the world and has such a huge reputation.’
‘He’s a friend of the family. When his career took a nosedive a while back, he pretty much lost everything. He was in a bad way. My sister gave him the job … she’s my not so silent partner,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t the worst idea she’s ever had. I was looking for a chef. He was a recovering alcoholic who needed something to focus on. He’d burned all his bridges with everyone he’d ever worked with and was sitting at rock bottom.’
‘Well, that was nice of you.’
‘Not really,’ he said, grinning. ‘I picked up a world-class chef for my restaurant for next to nothing.’
‘I think you took a risk that you didn’t have to in order to help him out.’
‘Yeah, maybe. I’m not sure if I did the right thing or not. He’s hard work.’
‘Do you still think he had something to do with Dylan’s accident?’
When he looked across at her, she hurried to explain, ‘That day I dropped in and he was yelling at the other kitchen hand … you two were having an argument.’
‘Dylan confirmed he’d been run through the safety checks and his hand just slipped. But Saville’s been warned—if I catch him drinking, he’ll be out. I haven’t been able to prove anything, but I’ve been keeping an eye on him. It’d suck for my business plan if he had to go, but I wouldn’t be entirely cut up about it. He’s a pain in my arse—in everyone’s arses. I’m about this close,’ he said, lifting one hand off the steering wheel, ‘to having a mutiny on my hands with the rest of the staff over the way he carries on sometimes.’
She could imagine it had to be difficult for someone with an international career such as Jeremy Saville to suddenly find himself at rock bottom in a little place like Barkley—yet, celebrity or not, the guy was a recovering alcoholic and that in itself would be an ongoing issue. She made a note to try and catch Saville alone some time and see if he wanted any referrals to programs and support groups run through the hospital.
When they parked out the back of the restaurant, Nick told her to wait while he ran around the front of the vehicle and opened her door for her.
‘Don’t want you thinking I can’t be a gentleman or anything.’ He winked.
‘I’ve never thought that.’
‘Somehow I get the feeling I have a lot to prove to you, Jenny Hayward.’
The seriousness of his tone caught her a little off guard, and neither of them moved from the close proximity they found themselves in. Another car pulling into the carpark ended the moment and Nick stepped back, closing the door behind her.
