Page 42 of Long Shot

“Thanks.” I think about what Beck said. “Emotion. Ugh.”

“I know, I know.”

“You’re okay with offering her a job as a chef?”

“Hell, yeah. Did you taste the stuff she made? It was fantastic.”

“I know.” I sigh. “How’s Sid?”

“To be honest, I think he’s pissed. Not that she took over, actually the opposite. I know he was worried he was going to lose his job, then things were looking up and now . . . he knows he can’t do it alone.”

“Maybe Reese would agree to just keep helping him? Not actually be the head chef or whatever we’d call it.”

“I don’t think it’s fair to expect her to be a serverandhelp in the kitchen.”

“No, I agree. And we’d have to pay her more. Danny was hesitant about taking on more staff.”

“It’s our decision,” Beck points out. “I’m sure Marco would feel the same. If you can get her to agree, we’ll back you up on this.”

“Thanks, man.” I suck in air. “Guess I’ll need to talk to her again.”

“Good luck with that.”

Yeah, I’m going to need luck. I’m also going to need to know the reason she doesn’t want to be a chef.

Reese

The banging on my door and subsequent ferocious barking by Jack make me pour coffee all over my kitchen counter the next morning. Damn, I thought I was so much less jumpy lately.

“Jesus!” I set down the coffeepot and grab a towel to stop the liquid from running onto the floor. “Jack, quiet!”

Who the hell is at my door? Still holding the towel, I march over and peered out.

Cade.

Frowning, I open the door to him. “Hi. What are you doing here?”

He scowls back at me. “I came to get you and Jack. We’re going to teach him to surf, remember?”

“I remember. I just didn’t think you’d want to do it after our, uh, discussion yesterday.”

“Why not?”

“You seemed angry.”

“That had nothing to do with Jack.”

I try not to smile. “I guess not.”

“So come on, let’s go.” He jerks his head. “We need to see if he can swim.”

I now notice he’s wearing a pair of black board shorts and long-sleeved gray T-shirt that hugs his broad chest and shoulders. “You’re going to go in the water?”

“Sure. To make sure he doesn’t drown.”

I bite my lip. I don’t want Jack to drown. I also don’t want to force him go in the water if he doesn’t want to. “I don’t know . . .”

“Let’s just try it.”

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