Page 26 of Tasty Cherry

He got me. “I’m glad you’re on our team, then. A nondisclosure was part of your paperwork.”

“Will any of us get to see the suite that is more rumor than fact?”

“The event manager will, for sure. Otherwise, it takes permission from Havannah to reveal its location.”

“Dang.”

Havannah approaches. “I haven’t met this young man yet.”

Owen stands a little taller. “Hello, ma’am.”

“Oh, please. It’s Havannah. You must be our Oklahoma representative.”

“I am.”

I leave them to it, turning around to find someone else to chat up.

“Oh!” Mila cries out in surprise as the edge of my plate bumps the side of her head. And…there’s Monique’s special dip in her hair, her dark strands streaked with white.

And that’s sending off all the dirty thoughts.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I should look where I’m going.”

Brooklyn bites her lip, trying not to laugh. She sets her plate on a chair and wipes at Mila’s hair with a napkin.

Mila avoids looking at me as Brooklyn works.

“It’s not bad,” Brooklyn says. “And you smell like an herb garden.”

Mila’s eyebrows draw together. “Thanks for the help.”

Brooklyn heads for the trash can at the end of the buffet, leaving me and Mila alone.

“I’m so sorry,” I say. “This has been quite the introduction, hasn’t it?”

Mila touches her hair. “It’s probably karma for hiding behind a potted plant.”

“This morning?” She must have been in the lobby. I didn’t look.

Her eyes cut left and right. “This is no place to talk about it.”

She’s right. “We should probably have a word later.”

“I guess.” She quickly switches topics as Brooklyn returns. “When will we find out our first rotation?”

“In the morning. We’ll meet back here and give out assignments.”

“Will all the interns be split?” Brooklyn asks.

“For some shifts, there is only one intern due to the work. The deli and the sandwich cart can’t handle a lot of extra people, for example. But sometimes, all five of you will help out, like during the donkey rotation. Jed is expecting some foals soon, and we’ll be sending you all out to help.”

“We get to take care of baby donkeys!” Brooklyn’s eyes light up.

“We thought it would be fun,” I say. “And it prevents us from having to pull anyone off the maintenance crew.”

“This is the best!” Brooklyn says.

Mila is quiet, staring at her plate. I can see I’m making her uncomfortable.

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