Page 18 of Until Ireland

“Good, because neither am I,” I said, trying to hold back a laugh. “The condition was for you to come here and work for me. See, I’ll give you the recipe if you can make it just like our head chef, Sacha Matthieu.” I motioned to the man who joined us after plating up a dish for a customer.

“Shit.” Jackson’s shoulders slumped then he gave a weak chuckle. “I read this whole situation wrong. Sorry about the earlier comment, man. Can we chalk it up to me being dead fucking tired?”

“Nothing to it,” I replied. “How long have you been in culinary school?” We walked over to the counter where Sacha put out all the ingredients for the risotto.

“This is my second year, so I’m past all the simple tasks. I’ve been a sous chef at the school for about three months, learning the process and helping out when the school takes on catering gigs with the upper classmen, and such.”

“Impressive,” Sacha murmured. “I will show you how to make this once, then I want you to follow the instructions on your own and make it the same way. Oui?”

“Yes, Chef,” Jackson said then glanced at me. “Are you sure my sister only wanted risotto?”

I grinned. “Yeah. She said it was the best she’d ever eaten and promised to knock all of my strikes off if I gave her the recipe.”

Jackson snorted. “Sounds like her.”

“Also, if you can make it as well as Sacha does, I’m offering you a weekend job. I don’t want to interfere with your schooling, so I figured Friday nights and Saturdays, maybe Sunday brunch would give you some cash and some experience in a Five Star restaurant.”

“Holy shit,” Jackson deadpanned, then stumbled as he tried to speak. “Thank you, Mack—er Mr. Redman. I appreciate it. Truly.”

“It’s Mack, and you’re welcome. Now, impress me.”

Chapter Four

Ireland

The heavy beatof drums combined with Dave Grohl screamingIn Your Honorthrough the garage speakers wasn’t doing a lick of good with my pounding headache. After I had control of the music for the last couple of days, Hunter had made a point to get to the shop early so he chose what was played.

Asshole.He was always late, and the one time,the one time,I was by no more than five minutes, he decided to be the responsible sibling and show up forty-five minutes before the shop should be opened to customers.

I’m so screwed,I told myself while rubbing my temples. If he kept with his music choices, at some point, I’d have to stage a coup. I couldn’t take much more of this.

As it was, Mack’s Aston Martin was up on the lift, patiently waiting for me to begin running a diagnostic, however, it’d have to wait until my third cup of coffee was finished. Maybe not even then.

I sighed. Mack... Last night was—unexpected. Not in a bad way either. I’d been wary the first day I met Mack, so allowing myself to relax around him and enjoy the evening opened my eyes to the possibilities. Not to mention what happened once I went up to his apartment with him. I groaned. I never, ever had sex or even fooled around on the first date, but with Mack it had been natural. I should’ve been nervous, however the minute his mouth touched mine, all thoughts fled from my mind. We didn’t even have sex either. When we did, because I knew at some point we would, I’d be ruined. I’d met my match with Mack Redman. The idea should’ve scared the shit out of me, yet it didn’t.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

“Yo,” Landon hollered out from the open bay. “Heads up.”

I glanced up as he stepped into the main area of the garage, a big bag in his arm filled with food for breakfast. When he threw the tin foil package at me, I lifted my hand to snag it out of the air. It was warm still, and the smell made my stomach churn. I wasn’t quite sure if it was due to being hungry or the alcohol I indulged in last night. “Thanks?” I grimaced.

Landon pointed at the sandwich I held in my hands. “This is the perfect hangover cure. It’s a toasted everything bagel filled with a fried egg, greasy bacon, and gooey cheese.”

To me, it sounded like a normal breakfast. “Okay.”

“Here.” Hunter placed a bottle of water on my desk as I tucked into my food. “I shouldn’t have to say this, but you do know you should be drinking water not coffee. The caffeine will only make your hangover worse.”

“Know-it-all,” I mumbled before taking another small bite. The salt of the bacon hit the sharpness of the cheddar along with the egg. I sighed, eating a bit more. I didn’t want to push myself and end up puking my guts up behind the garage.

“Nah, just older and wiser when it comes to hangovers.”

This was true.

Although I loved the wine, last night was a fluke. I rarely got drunk. It just wasn’t my thing. I liked having control of my body and mind. Being drunk usually led to doing something stupid, and I already had enough stupid in my life.

Landon took a bite of his sandwich before saying, “You didn’t come home last night.”

I cocked a brow at my second oldest brother. What was his point? I didn’t mention to any of them when they stayed out. It happened often with both of them. Jackson couldn’t legally drink, but he seemed more focused on schooling than sex. Although, I could be wrong with him.

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