Page 47 of Claiming a Demon

“Seven,” I murmured, itching to peek out again. It was seven on the dot and I could see the reserved table from here. Zach picked up my parents though, and my dad was slow moving, so they could be late.

Giving in to the urge, I cracked the door again. I was both relieved and anxious to see them being seated. Zach’s dads, who I’d only met over the phone, hovered over Dad, helping him sit and get comfortable. It was easy to see where Zach got his caring nature from. One of his dads was a doctor for children, the other his assistant. Zach pulled out a chair for my mom, shaking his head at his dads’ antics. His smile was what relaxed me enough to return to the kitchen. He didn’t look stressed in the slightest. He laughed at something Dad said, that gorgeous smiling lighting up the room.

Letting out a breath, I headed back to my station. Fish today. Mikhail was doing the meat for my table as a favor to me.

“They here?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Just sat down. They look happy.”

It was the first time I ever invited anyone out to my restaurant. It always felt too awkward before. I cooked enough at home, my parents didn’t need to come to my workplace. And my friends weren’t interested in upscale dining.

Mikhail rubbed his hands together with a grin. “Excellent. I can’t wait to meet them.”

I groaned, dropping my chin to my chest. I forgot about that. Mikhail’s condition for getting the table was that he was allowed to meet everyone. He heard me talk a lot about my mate and ever since I told him my dad taught me how to cook, he’s been chomping at the bit to meet them both.

Mikhail cackled. “Should’ve thought twice about bringing them here. You knew this was gonna happen. You’re just lucky I don’t have a chef's table back here.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” I scowled.

He snorted. “You’ve been so sassy lately. I’ve got your mate to thank for that, right? I think I should head out there now to meet him. Maybe make some suggestions on the menu. People love meeting the head chef, right?”

My mouth fell open. “Why are you so mean to me?”

He only cackled, disappearing into the dining room and leaving me alone to run the kitchen in his absence. I should have never started opening up more around him. He was worse than Felix sometimes.

I got lost in the work for a while, pushing the anxiety aside so I could get the orders out on time. I had plenty of back up, a full kitchen tonight, and there was already someone on fish to cover me once I left to join my family. When Mikhail came back way too long later, I shot him an irritated look.

“Took you long enough.”

He laughed. “Now, now. Be nice or I won’t let you help me with this.” He waved a ticket in the air, taunting me. Seriously. Way worse than Felix.

I put out my hand, raising my eyebrow when he didn’t immediately hand it over. He grinned.

“Say please.”

Rolling my eyes, I gritted out an irritated, “Please.”

Finally handing the ticket over to me, he waltzed past me with a smile. “I’ll get started on those meats. You call it out.”

Don’t argue with your boss, don’t argue with your boss. I ground my teeth, taking a few deep breaths to center myself before returning to my spot near the pass. But when I saw Mikhail’s grin, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Order up!”

* * *

ZACHARIAH

I couldn't tell who had been more nervous about today, Mal or my papa. He fretted the entire way here, about everything from us being late to meeting Mal’s parents. I was superbly glad that Mal was in the kitchen right now so I could settle his energy before Mal joined us.

“Papa, relax.”

He frowned at me. “But–”

Dad shook his head with a grin. “It’s fine, George. We’re not late just because it took a while to order. And it would’ve been rude to send the head chef away.”

Andreas chuckled, nodding his head in agreement. “Restaurants expect a certain amount of waiting before an order. No one will mind.”

To distract Papa from worrying too much, I turned my focus to Andreas and asked, “Did you work in a restaurant, too? Mal said he learned everything from you.”

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