Page 26 of Challenged by the Single Dad

“Especially if Jolene Dandy is the one spreading it,” Brooke added with a sarcastic tone. “They don’t call her ‘The Island Mouth’ for nothing.”

“It’s all been good things though,” Vica reassured. “The guys were raving about your Caesar drink. The one with the clam juice. So we came down here to try it.”

“And to also see how it’s been working with Dom,” Brooke said, her green eyes full of sympathy. “He’s not been in the best of moods lately.”

Chloe set her spoon down. “I … I’d be happy to make you guys some drinks.” She made to get up from her seat, but Vica rested a hand on her arm.

“Finish your dinner. We are in no rush. We can wait.” She caught Renée’s attention. “Can you put in a triple order of the Garlic Beer Fries for us, please?”

Renée nodded. “Coming up.”

“Is that one of Burke’s concoctions?” Brooke asked, leaning over to take a peek and sniff of Chloe’s dinner.

“It is. He said it was a Moroccan Chickpea Stew. It’s delicious.”

“Burke is a mastermind in the kitchen. I mean, Wyatt is too, but Burke just … he takes more risks that pay off more than not,” Justine said. “I remember this one dish he made me a few weeks ago …” she closed her eyes for a moment, “it was West African inspired and had two perfectly poached eggs on top, and lots of veggies. It was … I was in heaven.”

Chloe finished her dinner and got up from her stool, taking her bowl to the dish pit, then washing her hands behind the bar. “So, three Caesars?”

The three women exchanged looks as if having a conversation among themselves.

Justine nodded, then met her gaze with her brown eyes. “Yes, please.”

Chloe couldn’t quite put her finger on why these three women rattled her as much as they did. Besides the fact that they were gorgeous and outshone the freaking sun. But they were also married to, or at least with, the bosses—the owners of the business. Which made them Chloe’s bosses by proxy. So she wanted to impress them. But she also wanted to make sure she showed them the respect they deserved.

“Are you Canadian?” Justine asked, leaning against the bar as they all watched Chloe work. “My dad is, and we’d always go up to Quebec to visit his family.”

Chloe shook her head. “No. I’m from North Dakota. But I traveled through Alberta and British Columbia on my honeymoon, and that was the first time we had Caesars. I refused to go back to Bloody Marys after that.”

“Oh, so you’re married?” Brooke’s blonde brows lifted on her smooth forehead.

“I was. We are divorced now.”

The women nodded.

“Don’t be afraid of spice,” Vica said. “We are spicy women.”

That made the other two chuckle.

Brooke gave Vica a look. “Speak for yourselves, you hot Italian woman and sexy Asian lady. I’m a bland, weak-ass white girl. I can’t handle much heat.”

“I’ll add the Tabasco after I shake it then,” Chloe said. “How are you with horseradish?”

Brooke nodded. “Love it.”

Chloe finished up their drinks, then garnished them with the pickled beans. All three women’s eyes went wide as she set the pint glasses rimmed with celery salt in front of them.

“I’m very excited,” Brooke said, the first to pick up her glass. “But also nervous. Clam juice?”

“I think it will be very delicious and salty,” Vica said, bringing it to her lips.

“I’m used to eating all kinds of weird fish stuff.” Justine took a sip and her eyes lit up. “This is really good.”

Vica and Brooke both took sips and nodded.

“So good,” Brooke confirmed. “Way better than a Bloody Mary. Way more flavorful.”

“Oh, I love it.” Vica bit into a bean. “So salty, and fishy, and tomatoey.”

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