Page 22 of Challenged by the Single Dad

Which was a good sign business-wise, but it meant that things would already be bumping. There would be no grace period for her to get oriented, or the lay of the land.

Also, what did this mean for Dom’s mood?

She went in through the receiving door like she’d been instructed, and said hello to the kitchen staff she recognized from last night, along with introducing herself to some new faces. Burke was back, as was Wyatt. They both beamed when she walked past them.

“That Caesar was delicious,” Burke said, pulling fries out of the deep fryer. “I had a dream about it.”

That made her laugh. “Well, I’m happy to make you another one tonight.”

“Promise?”

She shot him a wink. “On the house and everything.”

His chuckle was deep and booming as she pushed open the swinging door to the front of house, thewhirof the ticket machine greeting her as well as the boisterous laughter of several tables. The patio was packed and most the tables inside were occupied too.

“About time you showed up,” Dom said, looking frazzled as ever as he pressed the button for the bellini machine.

“I’m fifteen minutes early,” she said, stowing her purse, jacket, and phone under the bar and tying the apron back around her waist. She was in the same black jeans as yesterday, but a cute black tank top that had a lace back.

All he did was huff in response as the orders just kept coming in.

“I’m here to pick up a take-out order,” said a young man, maybe early twenties. “Under ‘Douglas.’”

“It’s right here,” Burke said from the food window.

Chloe exhaled, then grabbed the paper bag, double-checked the order and what was in it, and rang up the customer.

“Place is packed tonight,” he said, tapping his credit card. “You’re new here?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Second shift.”

“They’re not easing you in at all.”

All she could think about was the need to get to those other orders. “Throw ‘em in the deep end to see if they can swim, I guess.”

He flashed her a big smile. “Well, good luck.”

Thankfully, he either got the hint, or was just done with the small talk because he took his order and left. Chloe quickly washed her hands, then started on the ticket pile.

Renée joined she and Dom five minutes later. “Holy shit, the place is hopping,” she said, washing her hands and grabbing the next ticket. “Has it been like this all day?”

“Since noon,” Dom said. “Haven’t even had a chance to take a piss.”

Renée’s eyes bugged out. “Maybe you should go do that then?”

Dom glared at her, then at Chloe. Why the hell was he glaring at Chloe? She didn’t tell him to go pee.

“Hey,” Penny came up to the bar wearing a big smile. “Dream team is on tonight.” She gathered the drinks Chloe had just made and put them on her tray.

“We sure are,” Renée said. “Gonna make all them tips.”

Dom shot her another dirty look, but she just rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Dom. Go pee.”

“How do you get away with talking to him like that? Is he like your uncle or something?” Chloe asked, grabbing the next ticket, which was for a Sazerac. She reached for the brandy from the shelf behind her.

Chloe snorted. “Dom? No. I’ve just worked here forever and can give him the gears. He’s a grump with a heart of gold. Like a charred marshmallow or … a snail. A tough outer shell, but then pure goo on the inside.”

“A snail?” Chloe asked, amused as she put the brandy back and went on the hunt for the demerara syrup.

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