Page 54 of Timeless: Encore

I’ve asked her how she feels about what happened. She blows it off. Not in a mean way. More indifferent. Or, “I’m too busy to worry about it.”

“Same old. Same old,” is her direct quote.

I want to believe her. She’s so relaxed. Controlled. Focused.Excited. Yet, something doesn’t make sense. How can she be so calm about Faye’s special brand of assholery? She said some pretty unforgivable things …

Unless …

Fuck. I’m super conflicted. There’s no denying it’s crunch time for the restaurant. Her whole team is working as hard as she is. I’m trying to support whatever she needs to get Gus open on time. For now, that means taking care of Mia, which is a joy and pleasure.

I’m definitely the one winning in this situation.

I pull into the back lot and park my Aston Martin next to Fee’s Toyota Highlander. Glance over at her tote bag. Hate myself for what I’m about to do and yet, I do it anyway.

Because I’ve got to know.

I look inside. Poke around. It’s mostly filled with brochures. Business cards. A couple of notebooks. Bottle of 222s, over-the-counter painkillers from Canada. Pens. Thermometers. Hair ties. Sample menus. A fancy chocolate bar. Aw, a little daffodil keychain I gave her for her twenty-eighth birthday.

Thank God.

I fucking hate myself for snooping in Fee’s things. It’s just … She’s so composed. Should she be? Am I being an asshole?

God, I don’t know.

“Zane?” Justice knocks on my window. “Are you okay?”

Shit. I motion for him to move so I can get out. “Yo, Justice. Uh, yeah. I just have to drop Fee’s bag off, she left it at home.”

“Oh, that’s awesome. She said she left a couple of recipes we worked on yesterday at home. I think they’re going to make it on the menu, we need some more practice to be sure.” He holds out his fist.

I make a fist and knock mine to his. “Cool. Glad to help. Plus, it gives me a chance to give my wife a kiss, so I’m all for her leaving something behind.”

“Man, I don’t know how you guys do it.” Justice shakes his head as we walk into the back entrance. “Relationships are tough for full-time chefs.”

I’m not about to discuss my relationship with one of Fee’s employees, but I’m happy to let him ramble on about his own experiences. “Yeah? Have you lost a significant other because of your job?”

“Nah, I don’t do relationships.” He takes off his jacket and puts it in his locker.

I crane my head to look for Fee. “You’re missing out, man.”

“Someone’s going to grab your heart one day, Justice.” Wolf appears in the doorway to the office. “Trust me when I say, you’ll be powerless.”

Justice waggles his eyebrows. “Not a chance, I like power too much. If you know what I mean.”

I can’t help but laugh.

Fee must hear the commotion. She pokes her head out of the office. God, she’s pretty. Her pink hair is tied into two braids. Pouty lips. Chef coat with “Fiona” emblazed about her left boob. I’m a little moony, it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve seen her in the daylight. She’s long gone by the time Mia and I wake up.

“Oh, thank you, Zaney.” She reaches out and takes her tote. “Wanna try something? In my office?”

Holy crap, she walked us into that one.

Of course, her entire brigade makes “woo-ing” noises and slapping sounds, to her great embarrassment.

Not mine, though. “Children, children. If you aren’t trying something in the office, you’re not living.” I clap my hands together three times. “Back to business. While I try whatever Fiona has in store for me.”

“Jesus.” Fee can’t help but laugh along. “They already worship the ground you walk on, do you always have to be so fucking cool?”

I hook my arm around her neck. “I was born cool.”

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