Page 76 of You Chive Me Crazy
As the day went on, the crowds grew. Even Dr. Bonebrake stopped by for the free potato I offered him, which he absolutely loved.
Thank goodness our energy didn’t dwindle. We just worked harder and faster, trying to keep the line from getting too long. And despite the surrounding chaos, we kept our senses of humor.
My heart skipped a beat every time Lucas’s hand brushed against mine. There had always been a magnetic pull between us. Even now, the chemistry was growing with every order we worked on. We danced around each other while we restocked the toppings bins, and while I grabbed more potatoes from the roaster, all while enjoying each other’s company, without letting the attraction between us distract us from getting the orders right.
Finally, when the line was much shorter, it was the perfect time for each of us to take lunch breaks, one at a time.
“Okay, scoot aside for just a second, if you don’t mind,” I said to Lucas, playfully bumping him with my hip.
“Don’t mind at all,” he said, chuckling, watching me as I danced around him.
I grabbed a baked potato, split it in half, laid it out flat on the food tray, then prepared my best-selling item on the menu, adding blackened chicken, béchamel sauce, garlic butter, and crispy fried onions.
I handed it to Lucas and smiled. “It’s lunchtime. Take a quick break to regenerate with some carbs. It’s about time that you try my potatoes, Mr. Critic.”
He hesitated, but then finally grabbed it. “Uh . . . you know I’m not a big fan of potatoes.”
“I know.” I smirked. “But you’ve never had my potatoes, have you? No, you haven’t. Now eat before you stress me out. ”
Lucas gave me a salute, then parked himself at the table behind my food truck, staring down at the potato like a kid who’d been told he had to finish his vegetables if he wanted to have dessert. He picked at it a few times, then glanced at me inside the food truck.
“Eat!” I called out. “I’m watching you.”
Rolando chuckled. “Is he driving you crazy?”
“What else is new?” I added garlic butter to the next potato, then topped it with braised steak and sautéed mushrooms.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’d prepared orders by myself. I could handle it, as long as the line stayed short.
I glanced back again at Lucas, watching him finally take his first bite of the baked potato, holding my breath as I waited for his reaction. But instead of saying something or looking back at me and giving me a thumbs up, he just chewed slowly, his face completely unreadable.
Men, I thought to myself.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he tilted his head to the side, studying the potato and toppings likeMonkinvestigating a crime scene.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Well?” I called out, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.
Lucas chewed, his brow furrowed in thought, not taking his eyes off the potato. “Well, what?”
Honestly, the man was going to give me an ulcer.
My potatoes weren’t for everyone, but his opinion mattered to me. And I was going to pull a muscle in my neck, the way I kept peering back and forth at him every few seconds.
Did he not like my creation? I felt a knot forming in my stomach as I watched him eat in complete silence, wondering if I had made a mistake and given him the wrong item on the menu.
Then, finally, his face suddenly lit up.
He had a look of surprise and pleasure, nodding vigorously.
I took that as a good sign, and my shoulders relaxed, but I still wanted to hear words coming out of his mouth.
“Say something, you idiot,” Rolando said. “Can’t you see you’re killing the woman with your silence?”
“Thankyou!” I said, pointing to Rolando. “Someone who gets it!”
“It’s just . . .” Lucas shrugged. “You surprised me, Zoe. I’m speechless.”
