Page 19 of Cowboy Elite 2: Mike

"Darlin', I feel reborn."

Charlotte squinted at him. "Is that good?"

"Better than good." He smiled, deep lines crinkling around his eyes as he looked over at Liv. "Young lady, you just made an old man remember what it feels like to be surprised. That's a gift."

Liv's throat went tight. She managed a nod.

The guests dug in.

Compliments flowed.

Joe lifted a slice in her direction. "I don't usually like chocolate past nine p.m., but I'd eat a tractor full of this."

Kenny gave a double nod and muttered, "Good fire," before finishing his third helping.

Mike, watching her beam quietly through it all, leaned over and whispered, "Told you."

It felt good to be at the top of her game again. To bask in the appreciation of a job well done. To feel like maybe, just maybe, she was building something real here.

The kitchen buzzed again later, as dishes were brought in, leftovers portioned for families, and compost bins filled with Pudge-defiled napkins.

Liv and Mike stood side by side, wiping down the long prep counter and stacking utensils.

"I think I survived," Liv said, reliving the whole evening with a kind of gleeful astonishment she wasn't used to.

"You more than survived." Mike smirked. "You made Kenny talk twice in one day. That's ceremonial achievement level right there."

Liv laughed and stepped around him, holding a catering size tray.

"I got it," Mike said, attempting to relieve her of the burden.

"I’ve got it," Liv said at the same time, continuing her forward motion.

They both pulled. The tray tipped. A bowl of leftover glaze slid sideways, and Liv lunged to catch it. Mike lunged the same direction.

They collided.

Stumbled backward.

Straight into the walk-in fridge.

The heavy door swung shut behind them with a soft, final click.

Liv froze. "Did we just get locked in here?"

Mike tested the handle. Rattled it.

He let out a low groan. "Yeah. Dammit. I told Joe to fix this latch last week."

"I'm not dying in a walk-in fridge," she said flatly.

"You won't. I've locked myself in here twice before. Someone will be by soon."

"Soon meaning...?"

"Could be ten minutes. Could be an hour."

"How does someone lock themselves in here twice?" Liv asked, rubbing her arms against the cold. Her sleeveless tank top was fine for a warm Texas evening, but not a cold food storage room.