Page 80 of One Big Little Secret

I’ll keep shamelessly loving a burger bursting with stringy cheese and grease.

“Fine,” I say. “This is for the spring menu? It’s coming up fast.”

“I have a few more ideas. I’d like to try out the places in person first just to get a feel. You asked me not to change anything without data backing it up.”

“So you’re a food critic now?” I chuckle. “Any changes are supposed to be guest-led.” And I suppose these are in a roundabout way. “Fine. But what about the restaurants we’re abandoning?”

“I’ve thought about that. They don’t care what dishes they provide as long as The Cardinal gets their business. Aside from the pizza—and I know that’s a wild-card—we’re still featuring alot of food from the same places as before. Just fordifferentfood.”

“For a similar price?”

She smiles. I try like hell not to notice the way one cheek dimples. It gives her a lopsided look that’s irritatingly charming.

I must keep a leash on my dick.

“The restaurants won’t be taking any losses, that’s for sure,” she says. “And it might help prevent food waste—some folks have been going out rather than eating at The Cardinal, which this new menu might help avoid.”

I hold up my hands. “All right, I see your point. I told you to follow the data. If it says changing up the food works, then let’s go for it.”

“A vote of confidence? From you?”

Her dimple shows up again. I want to bite the back of my wrist.

“I’m not incapable of compliments, you know.” I glance at her menu draft before leaning back in my chair, pushing it onto the back two legs. “I’ll admit, you surprised me.”

“You mean surprised you without letting my kid ruin another suit?”

I can’t help smiling.

“It was a rocky start. It doesn’t mean shit now.” Understatement of the year.

“I thought you were going to fire me right there,” she says wryly.

“I wanted to. But you came here with a recommendation that carries some weight. I had to give you a chance.”

“And how much do you regret that now?”

My smile disappears.

She doesn’t understand.

I don’t regret it at all—and that thought makes me slam the chair back on all fours.

“You’re doing well. Everything I’d expect in this role, plus churning out new ideas that matter,” I tell her. “The Cardinal’s better with your care and we’re looking profitable. I’d be a damn fool to regret anything.”

“I feel like there’s a but coming…” Her gaze flicks away.

“Nobutthis time. I’ll even admit Arlo seems like a good kid—if he’d just rein in his sugar highs and cool it on the nicknames.”

“Oh, like Grumpybutt? You’re still mad?” She laughs. “I mean, it was bad of him, but you’ve got to admit it suited you.”

“I don’t have to admitanything.” I shake my head. “You realize you’re talking to the fun one out of my brothers, right?”

The guy who never gets taken seriously,I don’t say.

“You?” She blinks at me.

“Who else? Archer’s life has been about business before therewasa business. He’s too sensible and he has a lump of coal where his heart should be. Dex, he was the workaholic. Way more than me back in his bachelor days, if you can believe.” I shrug because it’s not true anymore. “I’m the little brother. The guy who has to work twice as hard if I want their punk asses to take me seriously.”

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