Page 34 of A Little Harmless Pleasure

“It seems that your—what is her name?—Cynthia is more important than your business.”

Annoyance quickly transformed into anger, but he held on to it. They were within earshot of both the kitchen and a few tables. “Just a little information for you, Lee. I ownDupree’s.It ismybusiness, and I approve all hirings and firings. And a little advice—telling the boss what he should be doing, when you’ve only been here a month, isn’t the way to go about getting a raise.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Maylea stopped her. “Lee, I think you’re needed up front.” Lee looked back over her shoulder at May. “And so you can stop taking the credit, I was the one who made sure we had people here tonight and tomorrow.”

Without another word, Lee tossed Chris a look of condescension, then marched off to go back to work.

“Ahh,bra,” she said, using the familiar term Hawaiians used for close male friends or family members, “you’d better be careful with that one. She’s gonna leave claw marks.”

His smile dissolved into a frown. “What are you doing on your feet?”

She rolled her eyes and gestured to her sides. “I’m not on my feet. I am on crutches. There are other things of importance, like relieving oneself every now and then.”

Chris laughed. “I guess we should chat about firing her.”

“No, she’s gonna quit. Mark my words. Girl is a waste of space, and now that she knows you’re taken,bra,she won’t care. This way, we won’t have to pay unemployment.”

“You’re a cold-hearted woman, May.” He leaned forward and brushed her cheek with a brotherly kiss. “I’m glad we never got involved.”

A fine blush worked its way up her neck and into her face. “Chris, there was no way that could have happened.”

“Why is that?”

“You remind me of my brothers. That’s just…gross.”

“Just remember, let someone else close up.”

She nodded but didn’t meet his eyes.

“May…”

“I’ll do it. Back off,bra.” He stepped out of her way. After she passed, she paused and looked back over her shoulder. “Dennis took Cynthia something to eat a little while ago. Better watch out around her. The dogs are already sniffing.”

He smiled as he watched her hobble back into the main dining area. May might be young, but she was smart and never failed to tell him exactly what she was thinking. It was at times refreshing and other times frustrating.

He headed back to his office and found the door slightly open. Muted voices drifted through the opening. May hadn’t been wrong. He recognized Dennis’s voice. One of the chefs known for his string of tourist conquests. Jealousy, swift and unexpected, swept through Chris.

“So, one of the things you may not understand is how hard it is to concentrate in a commercial kitchen.”

“Really?”

Chris chuckled. Her voice dripped with sugar, the type you used to kill someone too stupid to understand sarcasm.

“Yes. It takes a lot to focus on your duties.”

“You don’t say?” There was a sharper edge to her tone, and Chris worried Dennis might be out of his depth. Six weeks ago, he doubted Cynthia would have butchered someone verbally, but now…he wasn’t so sure.

Just as he reached to push open the door, Dennis shoved his foot further in his mouth. “I know a woman with your background—”

“My background?” Cynthia’s pitch had risen, a sure sign of agitation. He knew she’d taken pride in her work at Anna’s shop. She wouldn’t take kindly to Dennis telling her who she was.

“I can tell that you haven’t really been introduced to our line of work. A lady such as yourself wouldn’t understand what it takes.”

Chris opened the door and decided to save his sous-chef from bodily harm. Cynthia was in his chair, practically breathing fire. Dennis sat on the corner of the desk, one arm resting on his leg.

“Dennis.”

He jumped off the desk and faced Chris, his fair skin flushing. The tone in Chris’s voice was enough to let Dennis know he’d overstepped his boundaries. The young man swallowed—hard.

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