Page 83 of The Promise Of You

“Nope! Just the recipe book. My uncle’s family is expecting my report by early next week,” I lie. “And that analysis needs to be part of it.”

He nods. “Talk to you for a second?” he asks, his chin pointing to the walk-in cooler.

“I’ll be in my office.”

Surprisingly, he follows me. I flop into my chair. “Take a seat,” I say. “What’s up?”

He leans his imposing stature against the door, towering over me instead of sitting at my level and effectively preventing anyone from coming in. I don’t know if that’s a strategy or second nature. I’m thinking the latter. “You’re getting awful cozy with Justin King.”

Um… define cozy? “What do you mean?” I cross my legs but catch myself before I cross my arms. I need him to feel like he can talk to me.

“The whole fair thing, that’s not something Kevin would have done. Ever. And it’s not because I don’t like it. I mean obviously, it’s not the right place to be for an establishment of our caliber. But besides that, Kevin would never have cozied up to King.”

“I’m confused,” I admit.

He narrows his eyes on me. “King has been trying to get the restaurant closed for a long time. Started before my time. Kevin told me about it. When King bought the building, Kevin already had the lease, and King tried to get out of it, but it was locked down. I’m not sure how, I don’t know the specifics, and it’s none of my business. But I know what Kevin told me, and I’m thinking he might not have told his widow, so maybe you don’t know either.”

“Go on,” I say, leaning back in my chair.

“For starters, you need to know King wants this space. To expand his pub, or for a wine bar for his sister. And he’s stopped at nothing to try get it. He’s sent us the health inspector under bullshit reasons. Took ages to repair a pipe leak that caused damage to our kitchen equipment. Had his friends post one-star reviews. Lets his dog shit on our portion of the sidewalk. You name it.”

“Okay,” I say, not sure what he wants me to do with this information.

“It may not seem like much, but I’m sure there was a lot more going on. That man,” he says, pointing to the wall separating us from the pub, “was constantly harassing him for no reason and didn’t act like a decent landlord. He stops at nothing to get what he wants.” His jaw twitches with anger. His nose and black eyes are testimony to Justin’s determination. Suddenly I’m back in the pub, Justin yelling at me when all he knew about me is that I was the new manager for the restaurant.

“I mean, there’s a reason why Kevin had a heart attack,” Samuel finishes, pushing himself from the door. “Days before it happened, King told Kevin it was only a matter of a few weeks for him to be shut down. Honestly, after Kevin passed, we were getting ready to close when you strutted in here with all your fancy ideas.”

Fancy ideas? As in, a menu costing? Cleaning the kitchen? I hide the sarcastic thoughts overwhelming me. The more I know Justin, the harder it is for me to believe what Samuel and Aunt Dawn are saying. Forget my attraction to the guy. He’s an all-around good person, and I’m not the only one to see it. “Thanks, Chef, appreciate the input.”

“Anytime,” he says, pushing himself from the door to leave.

“And, Chef? We’ll soon be opening seven days a week. I’m hiring all positions. You won’t have to work more days, unless you want to.”

He says nothing for a beat, then, “I’ll let you know.”

“Sure. Take your time.”

He nods and leaves, his slow, loud footsteps sounding through to the kitchen like he’s trying to mark his territory.

He didn’t express interest in the new hires. Didn’t ask to interview them.

Which can only mean he has no interest in the restaurant.

But Samuel’s admission that they were getting ready to close the restaurant nags at me. It fits with what Lynn said at the farm, but not with what Aunt Dawn and Brendan imparted to me. At all.

Then again, they knew nothing about how bad the restaurant’s situation was. They knew nothing, or didn’t tell me anything, about Uncle Kevin considering shutting down the restaurant. Or being forced into it.

Justin wants the space back. Could he have pushed Uncle Kevin too hard? Caused his heart attack, like Aunt Dawn and Samuel suggested?

Like I said to Justin my first day here, without really believing it myself.

But what if it was true?

Should I feel guilty for being attracted to Justin?

twenty-seven

Justin

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