Page 13 of Challenged by the Single Dad

“I’m slicing limes?”

“Yeah, but why are you cutting them there?”

“Where?”

“In the flesh part.”

Her bottom lip dropped open. “I’m making a deliberate cut so that when we put the garnish on the glass it goes on nicely and we don’t have to just shove it on. I noticed when I made the vodka soda that the limes weren’t sliced and … I’ve always done it like this wherever I’ve worked. It’s more efficient.”

“No, it’s not. It’s taking you more time because you’re doing another cut. You’d be done by now if you weren’t wasting time doing that.”

Oh, this man.

She understood his lack of trust now that she knew about the other two servers. But he was splitting hairs at this point and looking for stupid reasons to probably fire her. Up until now—hell, including now—she’d been absolutely perfect. She hadn’t dropped a glass or messed up an order. Everything went out with speed, care, and precision. And the only reason she was still cutting up garnishes was because she kept getting pulled away to make more Caesars.

“I’m sorry, Dom,” she said gently. “I am going to disagree with you though. I am still cutting garnishes because I had to stop to make other drinks. Drinks that brought in money. This small extra step, however, is not a waste of time. In the long run it is more efficient and tidier. It stops juice from running down the outside of the glass and making it sticky. And maybe this will get me fired, but I’m also going to make the suggestion that we move the garnishes down to the counter and off the bar. The counter is much more sanitary. The bar is subjected to all the airborne sneezes, coughs, and dust from people putting on their coats and sweaters.”

His nostrils flared and his cheeks burned red. The man looked close to bursting a blood vessel in his eye.

But he didn’t say anything. She took his silence as a “yes,” and moved the tray of garnishes down to the counter and out of the range of sneezes. Then she went back to slicing her citrus.

She worked for another hour before Dom said she could take a break.

She didn’t want to take a break, but she took one because heaven forbid she argue with him about something else. The tension behind the bar was thick enough to spread on a bagel and garnish with capers and smoked salmon.

“Psst,” came a voice from the kitchen as she was grabbing her phone from her purse to check her messages.

She glanced up to find Burke at the food window and he was subtly not-so-subtly telling her she needed to come into the back.

She glanced at Dom, but he was laughing with a customer.

Talk about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

She ducked through the swinging doors. “What’s up?”

“How are you holding up?” Burke asked. “Dom hasn’t scared you off yet?”

“I’ve dealt with bigger bullies than Dom. It just makes the work atmosphere strained is all. But I can handle myself.”

“Yeah, you can.” Burke grinned.

“He’s making me go on a break though.”

Nodding, Burke used tongs to place delicious looking fries on a plate that had a club sandwich, then he put it in the food window. “So, staff get a free meal while on shift, and fifty percent off meals when they’re off shift. You also get a free after-shift drink. I’ve got a lull in the kitchen now. So tell me what you’d like and I’ll make it. On or off the menu.”

She blew out a breath through duck lips. “Oh, wow. I haven’t even looked at the menu yet. What do you recommend? Or better yet, surprise me.”

His eyes lit up. “Any allergies or foods you don’t like?”

“I don’t eat pork and I’m not a huge fan of savory dishes with really sweet elements. Like sweet Thai chili is fine, but I feel like sometimes the sweetness is too pronounced and it just doesn’t work. If that makes sense?”

Burke’s head bobbed. “No pork and not too sweet. I think I can work with that. Give me fifteen minutes?”

“I’m going to run to the washroom and check my phone.”

He was already grabbing vegetables and chopping. “Sounds good.”

So far, everyone in the restaurant had been incredibly nice to her. Everyone but Dom, that is.

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