Page 22 of Hard Knock Hero

I wasn’t even breathing. My eyes stared daggers at my fake brother.

“I can look into it,” Sawyer said stiffly. “Later. When the current crisis has been averted.”

Aiden suddenly broke into a wide smile. Lots of teeth. It came nowhere near his eyes. “Actually, this is a perfect opportunity. The diner hasn’t been busy lately, so Jessi has all kinds of supplies. Don’t you, sis?”

Sawyer and Scarlett both looked to me. I shrugged. “Absolutely. What do you need?”

Sawyer opened his mouth, but again Aiden spoke over him. “The Hartley Board of Trustees should host a free dinner at Jessi’s Diner tonight,” Aiden said. “To show everyone just how welcoming this town can be. Of course, I’m sure you’ll compensate her for the cost of the food. Your company could make it a charity tax deduction.”

“Sounds like a perfect solution,” Scarlett chimed in. “You wouldn’t mind, Jessi?”

Sawyer glanced between me and Aiden, while I was racking my brain for some way to get out of this. Owen had told us to keep a low profile. This was calling attention. A lot of it.

Aiden slung his arm around my shoulders. “She wouldn’t mind at all.”

* * *

After Sawyer and Scarlett had gone inside the sweet shop, I grabbed Aiden’s arm and started marching him down the street toward the diner. A few people watched us curiously. When we were far enough away from anyone else that we wouldn’t be overheard, I pushed my fake brother into a narrow passage between two buildings. Deep snow nearly swallowed my boots.

“Host a dinner tonight? I thought you were going to help if Chester’s brothers came around again. Not run my business for me!”

He leaned against the brick wall of the building behind him. “Sawyer Rigsby cares about public opinion. We’re using that against him.”

“How do you know anything about Sawyer Rigsby?”

“Owen told me.”

“You and Owen are besties now?”

Aiden’s eyebrow twitched sardonically. The man had some expressive eyebrows, considering the rest of him was so matter-of-fact. “This charity dinner will get Hartley back on your side. And even if the stranded tourists are getting a free meal, they’ll leave tips. They’ll be grateful for what you’re doing.”

“It…might not be a bad thought.” In fact, I wished I’d come up with it. It was kind of brilliant, actually. “But how the hell am I supposed to host a dinner for a hundred or more people on a few hours’ notice?” Sawyer had set the charity dinner for six o’clock. Guests wouldn’t come at a slow trickle like regular customers. It would have to be a buffet, food made to scale, and I had no experience with that.

“It’s not ideal, but I do this for a living. I’m the executive chef for a catering company.” Aiden said this like I already should’ve known it. As if I possessed more than a handful of details about this man. “I saw what was in your pantry and fridge this morning,” he went on. “We can do chicken parmesan. Pasta and vegetables on the side. I’ll keep it simple. Something hearty for a cold night.”

Okay, that did sound really good. And possibly even doable. “But Trace Novo isn’t a chef,” I said. “As far as I know, my brother doesn’t know how to cook an egg.”

“What does he do for a living? I was wondering about that.”

I rubbed the skin between my eyes. “Some kind of government work overseas. I barely know. My point was that I don’t like lying.”

“You’re the one who said I was your brother. What did you think would happen?”

I threw up my hands. “I wasn’t thinking!”

“I’m not a fan of lying, either. I’d much rather say nothing at all. But these people are fighting dirty against you, Jessi. You might have to get dirty, too. And you can’t feel bad about it. Last night, you said you were glad I stepped in. Right?”

I glanced out of the alley at the street. We were still alone. “Yes.”

“And it was my choice to get involved. So long as Iaminvolved, I’ll do whatever I can. I don’t half-ass things. But it’s your choice if we keep this going. If you want to call it off, then do it. Just be ready to deal with the consequences. Because there will be consequences, either way.”

I crossed my arms. “You’re arrogant, you know that? Maybe you do have something in common with my brother.”

“Maybe we should stop talking and get started on cooking. You’ve got over a hundred people coming to dinner tonight. In case you forgot.”

“You’re obnoxious too.”

“Drown me in compliments, why don’t you? Clock is ticking.”

---