Feels Like Family

“I was trying to look out for the restaurant’s best interests,” he said. “Something I thought would matter to you, you being Dana Sue’s good friend and all.”

“Of course that matters to me,” she retorted. “So, don’t you think the solution we worked out in there is the best thing for everybody?”

“Possibly,” he said. “But by Karen’s own admission, her friend was fired for being unreliable. In my book, that’s not a terrific recommendation, no matter what her skills are.”

“Not only a horse’s behind, but stubborn as a mule, too,” Helen muttered under her breath.

“I heard that,” he said.

“As I intended,” she replied, then studied him curiously. “I thought you liked Karen.”

“I like a lot of people I don’t want working in my kitchen,” he said. “Not if they’re not going to show up when they’re supposed to.”

Helen’s lips curved in a small smile and she resumed walking. “Does that also mean you don’t mind having someone you dislike working in your kitchen?”

“If they do the job well,” he said, his gaze narrowing as he strode beside her. “What’s your point?”

“You don’t seem overly fond of me at the moment.”

“Because you’re annoying the hell out of me right now.”

“And last night?” she teased.

“And last night,” he agreed.

“And yet we worked so well together. Interesting,” she said thoughtfully.

“What’s so interesting about that?”

“The way your mind works. Can I ask you something else?”

“I don’t imagine I can stop you, interrogation being one of your primary work skills.”

“How did the kiss fit in?” she asked, clearly catching him off guard. Color bloomed in his cheeks.

“I apologized for that,” he reminded her.

“I know, but what sparked it? A sudden attack of lust, the heat of the argument, a desire to get even because of the pie I’d tossed at you?”

“I wish to hell I knew,” he said.

“Come on. Think about it,” she prodded, stopping to look at him. “I just want to know so I can avoid triggering that particular response again.”

“You and me both,” he said, then studied her intently. “You seemed to be into it at the time.”

“I most certainly was not!” she replied indignantly.

“Bet I could prove what a liar you are.”

Now there was a challenge that was best avoided. And since she seemed to be increasingly off balance around Erik, maybe it was time to turn the tables. After all, the man was seriously cute when he was befuddled. Feeling downright daring, she reached up and pressed a kiss to his cheek, hoping to throw him even further off-kilter.

“Let me know when you figure out how we wound up with our lips locked,” she said. “We walked past my office five minutes ago and I need to get back there. See you.”

“Hold it!” he commanded before she could leave. “What about the apology you owe me?”

Helen frowned. “Excuse me?”

“That pie you tossed in my face,” he reminded her.

“You deserved it,” she said.

“Maybe you deserved that kiss,” he said. “Maybe I should take back that apology. After all, it could happen again.”

Helen gave him a hard look. “Don’t even think about it.”

There was a daring gleam in his eye as he took a step in her direction. She backed up and nearly tripped over a crack in the sidewalk.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry about the damn pie,” she said hurriedly. “Now I really do have to go.”

She spun around and took off in the direction of her office as fast as she could, given the three-inch heels she wore. Viewed from Erik’s vantage point, her haste probably wasn’t a pretty sight, but impressing him wasn’t real high on her priority list right now.

“Women!” Erik muttered as he watched Helen cut across the grass in an awkward gait and run up the front steps to her office.

But it wasn’t women in general who made him nuts. It was this woman. He needed to stay as far away from Helen as humanly possible. Maybe he could figure out some way to get Dana Sue to ban her from the kitchen at Sullivan’s. No, that was impossible, given Dana Sue’s apparent matchmaking scheme, which, now that he thought about it, had probably kicked into gear months ago, when Helen had first been drafted into kitchen duty. If he suggested now that Helen didn’t belong in the restaurant kitchen, he could all but guarantee that’s where she’d turn up. Better to keep his mouth shut.

When he got back to Sullivan’s, Karen and Dana Sue both avoided looking at him. He figured that wouldn’t last, either. Dana Sue’s curiosity would eventually get the better of her. When it came to cross-examining, she came in a close second to her attorney pal.

Thankfully he still had to finish the preparations for tonight’s dessert special, an apple bread pudding that had become a customer favorite. It was on the menu every Friday night. Working quickly, he assembled the ingredients, filled two large baking pans with the bread-and-apple mixture, then poured the blended liquid ingredients over the top and popped both pans in the oven. After baking, it would be cut into squares, then served warm with a caramel sauce, whipped cream or cinnamon ice cream, according to the customer’s preference.

Just as the pans went into the oven, he noticed Dana Sue studying him intently, but before she could accost him with questions, her husband walked in and her attention immediately shifted to him. Erik figured he owed the man a beer for his excellent timing.

“Hey, Erik, Karen,” Ronnie said as he made a beeline for his wife and pulled her into his arms. “Hey, you. How’s my favorite chef?”

Dana Sue glanced pointedly in Erik’s direction. “Actually I was about to suggest to Erik that we take a break before the dinner rush.”

“Too busy,” Erik said, heading toward the pantry in search of the ingredients for walnut brownies he could make now and freeze for later.

“Doing what?” Dana Sue asked, regarding him suspiciously.

“I thought I’d get a head start on next week and make up some brownies,” he told her.

Dana Sue beamed at him. “Sounds like an excuse to avoid talking to me.” She linked an arm through his. “Let’s take a break. Ronnie, how about bringing some iced tea out for all of us?”

Ronnie regarded Erik with sympathy. “Sorry, pal. She’s the boss.”

“At home, too?” Erik asked.

Ronnie grinned. “At home there’s a delicate balance of power that’s ever-changing,” he replied. “Unfortunately, for your sake, we’re in her restaurant now. I have zero standing here.”