Page 17 of Risk It All
Because I’d dated his brother.
Leo cleared his throat and let go of my arm and hip, taking what felt like a million steps back to create distance between us. The same way he’d done three years ago.
His face was stoic when he said, “Staff meeting starts in five.” Any teasing or joking was long gone. He turned around and walked through the swinging door into the main bar area.
“Right,” I sighed.
I declined the call and texted Colin back.
Me
At work. Can’t talk.
I twisted my lips to the side. Colinnevercalled me out of the blue.
Me
Everything okay?
He quickly typed back.
Colin
Yeah. Just wanted to see how you’re doing.
Did you everjustwant to see how an ex was doing?
That was a conversation I didn’t want to touch with a ten-foot pole.
I slipped my phone into my bag, where it should’ve been from the beginning, and dropped it off in one of the cubbiesalong with my coat before following Leo out into the main area for the staff meeting.
For our weekly meeting, we usually pushed a couple of tables together to make one big one. Then Wes ran through the plans for the week. He’d told us last week that meetings going forward would include updates from Leo, too.
I took the empty seat next to Louise and huffed when I realized I’d left my granola bar in the yoga studio. I could run over to grab it, but it’d have to be after the meeting. And I wasstarving. I remembered to eat in the morning before teaching, but the afternoon often got away from me.
I leaned over toward Louise. “Did you bring a snack today?”
“No need, hon.” She gestured toward Ray and Leo walking toward us…with plates of food, likely what I’d smelled when I walked in. “Leo created the first menu of the season, and we’re doing a tasting today.”
“What? We are? How’d you know that?”
She shrugged. “Ray told me.”
As the food was set out in front of us, my stomach rumbled. I usually partially listened to Wes during these meetings—I made sure to catch the important details—but today all I could pay attention to was the food laid out in front of us.
Before I knew it, Wes had passed it over to Leo.
“Ray and I have been hard at work over the last couple of days getting Lake Ridge’s first menu prepared,” Leo explained. “We wanted to test it with you all first—both so you can give us your thoughts and feedback, but also so you know how to explain it to guests. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know.”
Leo uncrossed his arms and gestured toward the food. “We’ll start with the hot honey sriracha cauliflower wings and the flash-fried brussels sprouts. Then we’ll have the kale and grilled tofu salad. Tomorrow, you’ll try the braised mojo pork sandwichand the maple bacon cheeseburger. The appetizers Ray has been preparing will be available on the menu, too.”
I grabbed a stack of appetizer plates, taking one for myself and then passing the stack around. “This looksamazing. I’m going to need a nap after this,” I said to Louise.
She nodded with a laugh. “And that’s just the spring menu. Wait until you hear their other ideas.”
“Wait, you know already?” My eyes widened. “Ray told you?”
She zipped her lips closed with her fingers and smiled mischievously.
