Page 68 of The Chef's Kiss
Even with everything that happened. I tried not to think about Jordan, about the constant calls I’d been getting all morning from New York area codes. But when I tried to fill my mind with anything else, all I could see was Jorgina’s tear-stained face when she came to me last night.
It was a far cry from the sarcasm and upbeat arguing I normally got from her, if that was even a thing. How could someone be so happy while they fought?
And then, there was that single moment in time, the one I’d tried my best to forget. A lapse in judgment. A mistake. Jorgina kissed me, and I didn’t push her away. I told myself I would have, that if she hadn’t run, I’d have stopped us.
But I’d never liked lying, even to myself.
I understood it, the need to be close to someone. She was scared, overwhelmed, alone. I was just here.
That explained her side. But what about me? Was I overwhelmed? Lonely? I didn’t think so, yet every time she looked at me with that impish smile, the one that said she was trying very hard not to take life too seriously, my heart sped up, and I couldn’t shift my eyes away as I should have.
It took me a moment to realize Pamela was still next to me. “You okay, Chef?” she asked. “You seemed a bit spooked last night too.”
“Fine,” I grunted. “Back to work.” Even I flinched at the harshness in my tone.
She gave me one last long look and headed off to the servers’ station to wipe down menus and prepare silverware.
Emery flounced toward me, and I had the sudden urge to turn away and escape back to the kitchen. “Morning, Chef.” The staff was here for some more training today in advance of our actual grand opening, even if that was pretty redundant now.
“Morning.” I eyed her curiously.
Instead of the ripped jeans and Henley she’d worn working at her mom’s meadery, Emery had come today in nice black pants and a silk green shirt. Business attire. Maybe she’d make a good to-go girl after all. “You did well last night.”
She grinned. “I know.”
Were all the Ashfords this infuriating? Her answer made me laugh. “But there’s still more to learn.”
“Oh, I know that too. Trust me, I’ve held too many jobs not to realize how different this one is.”
I didn’t need a reminder that she couldn’t keep a job unless she worked for her parents. “Did you need something?”
“Jorgina.”
“What about her?”
Emery sighed. “Something is wrong. Isn’t that super obvious? You obviously like her, so you should know that.”
I did know that. “I don’t … like her.”
She suppressed a smile, her lips pressing together. “I meant like as an employee, but this is an interesting development. I’ll definitely need to tell Carter that Jorgie’s boss is creeping on her.”
“I’m not.”
“Let’s be real, bro. I don’t know Jorgie, not really. Carter is the one member of that rotting Ashford branch I spend any time with and only because I think we’re the only ones in the family who know how to read.”
A surprised laugh escaped me. This kid was something else.
She went on. “But even I can see something isn’t right with her. After the success of last night, she should be happy.”
“She did do really well last night,” I said it absently, not realizing I spoke out loud.
“I meant me, dude. I managed not to mix up any of the orders for the servers, and I didn’t make anyone mad. That’s cause for celebration. Yet, she hasn’t even looked at me today, let alone offered a congratulations.”
The ringing of my phone saved me from this conversation. I pulled it out of my pocket and held it up. Emery shrugged and walked away.
The distraction made me fail to look at the screen before answering. “Chef Silverman speaking.”
“Hudson, last night was wonderful.” Jordan.
