Page 85 of The Promise Of You

For her.

I’ve seen what she’s capable of in a kitchen, and sure, that doesn’t make her a chef, but that makes her a restaurateur. Someone who understands how the end result should be. Someone who would be fantastic at gently guiding a young chef, or, why not, a team of cooks with manageable egos into producing quality food without any fuss or drama.

Damn, her food was good. Great.

And her mouth. Fuck! Her mouth. My finger on her plump lips, her hitched breath… I’m getting a hard-on again.

If Alex hadn’t come in, who knows what would have happened.

I need to get that shit under control. I can’t go there with her.

Or with anyone.

“Hey, man.”

“Uncle Justin!”

I jump at the familiar voices.

“Are we interrupting some daydreaming?” a third, teasing voice adds.

Chris and Alex are standing on the other side of the bar, watching me with amusement, while Chris’s daughter, Skye, darts to the hallway leading to my office, where she knows she’ll find Moose. When we’re full of tourists, he knows to retreat to the back, where his presence is not a health code violation. When it’s slower and mostly locals are around, my dog plops himself next to the door so people can get their daily dose of canine loving.

“Heard you had a productive morning,” Chris says as he pulls a stool out for Alex.

“I guess.”

“Oh yeah,” Alex says as she pulls out her phone.

Chris is standing next to her, boxing her with his arms on either side, his chin on the top of her head. He can’t get enough of her since they’re back together, and I get it. I totally get it.

I know the feeling.

“Holy shit,” Chris says. “That the new girl?” He cocks an eyebrow at me.

A slow grin spreads on Alex’s face.

I set my hands flat on the bar. “What can I get you guys?”

“W-w-wait,” Chris says. “You never said anything.”

“About what?” I look at Alex, mildly alarmed. Is Chris about to say something sexual and highly inappropriate about Chloe in front Alex? What is he thinking?

“About how you can’t keep your hands off her?”

I huff. The hell is he talking about?

“Or she’s checking you out every chance she gets?” He points at Alex’s phone.

Shit. Really? “Knock it off.” Pretending like he’s just pulling my leg, I go to the other side of the bar to fill an order for a couple who’s just arrived. But seriously? Now I can’t wait to see the video.

“Don’t worry, I’m editing those parts out,” Alex says when I return, her fingers flying on her phone. “There. All gone.”

My stomach bottoms out. What did she just do?

“Babe,” Chris growls, stifling laughter. “That was just plain cruel.”

Wait. Did she actually delete those parts or is she pretending she did only to test me?

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