I delegated because stopping to do everything myself would’ve killed the floor. Shay handled the blue drink batch ratio after I adjusted it once. Taryn controlled the wait and social questions. Mari ran cannoli like dessert owed her money. Dusty ran glasses, shells, and towels with only two suspicious comments about fate. Nico stayed on the jobs I gave him and nowhere else.
Nico caught the next jam before it reached the host stand.
“Host stand first,” he said.
Two tourists changed course without complaint.
Taryn smiled without breaking stride. “Waterfront manners. I love growth.”
Nico glanced at me.
I gave him one quick nod.
He went still for half a second, like that tiny approval had hit somewhere under the linen.
That was good.
Let him suffer too.
At seven forty, I ducked into the back hall to grab the deposit envelopes from the office drawer. Nico followed with the empty shell tray.
“I didn’t ask for an escort,” I said.
“No. You asked for dry shells.”
“Those are empty.”
“I’m returning them.”
“You’re very committed to pastry logistics.”
“I’m committed to not taking over.”
That stopped me at the office door.
The hallway was narrow, the bar loud behind us, and his shirt was damp at the throat from heat and work. He wasn’t wet from the ocean this time. He was overheated from my bar, my rush, and my instructions.
That was an excellent visual and a terrible use of my management time.
Nico set the empty tray on the shelf and kept his hands to himself.
My gaze dropped to his mouth.
His voice lowered. “Nella, we don’t have time.”
“I hate when you’re responsible.”
“I’m learning to hate it too.”
My fingers brushed the scarf at my neck. His eyes followed the movement, and the air between us tightened.
The mark was mostly hidden. Not from shame. From customers, family, and the fact that I didn’t need someone asking whether the shark drink came with matching dental work.
Nico didn’t touch it.
That made the heat worse.
“When this is over,” he said, “and you tell me yes, I want my mouth on every place I’ve spent all day not touching.”
