Page 67 of Hide and Keep

“Mr. Crue. I’m Ryan Koch. If there’s anything I can make for you, day or night, please don’t hesitate to come find me.”

“It’s just Crue. No Mr. So, you live here, too?”

“I do. I was out in the guesthouse up until yesterday.”

“If you miss the guesthouse so bad, I’m sure Father would let you move back out there. Crue’s already vacated it.”

“I’m finding I quite prefer the new arrangement. It makes me more accessible should you all require my assistance during the night for…anything.”

After a shrug, he returns to the end of the table while I try to figure out if there’s more to that last word. Is Ever fucking around with the chef?

He’s a handsome guy. Not exactly my type, considering he has a dick, but he’s the kind of guy I could see Ever go for.

His hands behind his back, he remains planted, staring at us soundlessly.

What the fuck?

I’ve eaten at restaurants before, none as upscale as the Munreauxs frequent I’m sure, but I’ve never seen one of thecooks leave the kitchen, especially not to watch me fucking eat. Taking her fork, Ever spears a single bean and bites it off the tines.

“Mm. Delicious.” Her tone is just as dry as Ryan’s was about her meal.

She could be trying to throw me off by intentionally being an asshole to him.

Or she could just be an asshole to everybody. Her actions so far have been extremely assholish.

Except today.

I cut off a piece of chicken, add a pecan as well as a wrinkled grape below it, then slather the whole thing in sauce before shoveling it in my mouth, my expectations high. Every single one of them is exceeded the second the flavors burst on my tongue, the different textures a whole other experience than what I’m used to. Whatisthis?

“It’s amazing,” I mumble out before my mouth is even empty, earning a grin from Ryan.

He turns his head to Ever. “Now that you don’t have to stick to such a strict diet, Miss Munreaux, hopefully you’ll allow me the honor of feeding you some, um, more.”

Feedingher? Does he mean cooking for her?

“So I can sound like Crue, moaning around a mouthful of food?”

“I didn’t moan,” I shoot back even though I have no idea if I did or not. I hope I didn’t. If I did, it’d be understandable. This guy’s skills are undeniable. Ryan Koch can cook.

“You moaned.”

I hold Ever’s eyes for a beat. I thought we called truce earlier. Why is she calling me out like this? The moan was obviously involuntary.

Those azure eyes drop to my mouth, making my throat go dry.

I have to clear it to tell Ryan, “It’s really good. Thanks, man.”

“Thankyou. I’ll leave you two, uh, to… Yes. To it.”

With a clumsy half-bow, he leaves the room.

Maybe he’s not as comfortable as I assumed. Maybe he’s awkward as hell, his words even more so.

“What kind of diet are you on?”

“The kind that keeps me in the air and off the ground. I’d rather eat this…” Ever gestures to her bland food. “…than ass.”

I almost choke on my five-star food. I thought she was going to say mat.I’d rather eat this thanmat.Not ass. That’s the second time she’s said something along those lines, but what does eating ass have to do with cheerleading?

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