Page 18 of Risk It All
I rolled my eyes playfully. Ray and Louise had been friends for as long as I could remember, so it didn’t surprise me that he’d told her. I’d find a way to get the information out of her.
I scooped a serving of cauliflower wings and brussels sprouts onto my plate and wasted no time taking my first bite.
“Oh my god,” I groaned, the words coming out garbled, and my eyes nearly rolled to the back of my head as I chewed. The sweet flavors from the honey mixed perfectly with the heat from the sriracha. Each piece of cauliflower was coated perfectly, too.
Apart from the compliments to Leo and Ray over the food, I don’t think we’deverbeen this quiet during a staff meeting. Just the clatter of forks and content hums. I looked over at Wes, who had a grin on his face instead of his usual scowl, although I supposed he’d been smiling a lot more since Jules came into his life. I’d put up with his grumpy ass for my whole life, and who knew he just needed Jules and some good food to cheer him up.
Leo stood next to Wes, arms crossed over his chest as he looked on. I wondered what he felt when people tasted his food. Had it gotten old by now? Did it give him a rush?
I couldn’t read his expression. His lips were pressed in a thin line, and there was a slight crease between his brows. He didn’t seem angry or upset. He almost looked…confused. Like he didn’t know what to feel.
I took another bite, watching him. When his eyes met mine, I swallowed my food along with the lump in my throat, but I didn’t look away.
Why was he here? I couldn’t escape that question, no matter how hard I tried to not think about it. About him.
He finally looked away when one of the servers asked him a question. I let out a sigh, spearing a cauliflower with my fork and taking another bite.
As delicious as the food was, I knew something that would make it even better. “I’m going to go get us some ranch,” I whispered to Louise before pushing my chair back and walking past the swinging door into the kitchen. I pulled open the door to the walk-in fridge. Not only was this where majority of the ingredients were stored, but it was perfect to step inside to cool off on a hot summer day.
I scanned the shelves, grabbed the container of house-made ranch, and made my way back out. I stopped when I saw Leo at the counter finalizing what looked like the salads.
“Need any help?” I asked.
He glanced over his shoulder, doing a double take. “What’re you holding?”
I lifted the container. “Ranch. For the wings.”
Displeased, he shook his head. “My food doesn’t need that.”
I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing at the way his lip curled in disgust. “Uh, well, you better get used to it, because our ranch is the best. I’d put it on everything if I could, not just the wings. I’ll probably put it on the salad. The burger tomorrow,” I taunted playfully.
He set the knife down and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please tell me you’re exaggerating.”
When I stayed silent, he ran a hand over his face with a groan, smoothing his mustache. “I hate the stuff. I’ve never liked it. I don’t understand the hype.”
My jaw dropped. He hated the best dipping sauce known to mankind.
“So, youdohave flaws,” I joked. “Actually, I don’t know if you can recover from that one.”
“Does it make it better or worse if I say I like blue cheese?” Leo asked as he squeezed a lemon wedge over each salad.
My eyes widened. “Worse.Wayworse.” I crossed the distance to him, still holding my ranch but using my free hand to grab one of the salad plates. He took the other three, two in one hand and one in the other. He made it look so easy with his large hands.
“You coming?” Leo asked, making me realize I’d been frozen in place and lost in thought.
I fucking wished.
“Yes, chef.” The two words effortlessly left my mouth as I followed behind him, and I nearly smacked into his back with how abruptly he stopped. Now, it was his turn to be frozen.
He glanced at me over his shoulder, a muscle in his jaw fluttering, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. Heat flared in his blue gaze. It was the same look as earlier today when he’d kept me from falling. When there’d only been inches between us.
Should I add those two words to the things we shouldn’t talk about?
We walked back to the table and stayed on opposite ends, making minimal conversation the rest of the evening.
Yet, I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before we were drawn together. I had zero control over it.
And that wasn’t a good sign.
