Page 26 of Desirous

I stand to leave, knowing I have to get back out to this asinine date. “He’s right, though. She’s never going to forgive me, so I need to accept that.”

He doesn’t continue the conversation, which tells me he thinks it’s time for me to cut my losses too. Maybe it wasn’t love after all. Hell, how would I know? I’ve never loved anyone in my life.

On my wayback to the table, I run into Kane just outside the kitchen entrance. I’m sure my father will clue him in on everything since I know how things work around here, so I give him a nod as I pass and assume he’ll head back to the office to find out just what the hell has been going on tonight.

But he grabs my arm before I can walk away, and when I turn to see what’s up, he silently waves me into the kitchen. I guess he wants his own personal rundown of the madness of this night.

“What’s up, Kane? You can get the details of this shitshow from my father. He’ll tell the story better than I even could, I bet.”

My uncle shakes his head as I walk with him through the kitchen doors. I follow him to the alcove away from the line and wonder what the hell is going on with him that he wants to talk to me back here.

Leaning in toward me, he whispers low in my ear, “I want you to make sure you don’t drink anything at that table when you go back out there. Do you understand me?”

“No. I don’t understand. Why can’t I drink anything at the table?”

“How well do you know the guy with the camera and the girl?” he asks cryptically, making me even more confused.

“What are you talking about, Kane? This whole thing tonight is pretend. I’m not with her and he’s the camera guy from the reality show filming our supposed date. I don’t know either of them well at all.”

He nods like anything I’ve said clears things up for him. “Okay. I think one or both of them are trying to sabotage you tonight.”

“Why?”

“I saw one of them slip something into your drink. I couldn’t tell who did it, but don’t drink anything at the table when you get back. In fact, I wouldn’t eat anything either.”

Staring at him in utter shock, I ask, “Are you serious?”

He frowns at me like he always does when he’s unhappy with something here. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

“No. Okay, thanks. I’m guessing it was Emma. Nothing like slipping a guy a roofie on your fake date.”

Then another thought occurs to me. Was she the one who poisoned the chicken dish Kat made? Emma’s about the same height with dark hair, so security might have mistakenly thought it was Kat when it was her.

I give Kane’s shoulder a thank you pat and head out to the table again. Emma looks upset, which isn’t surprising since I’ve been gone for nearly twenty minutes.

“Where were you? Randy told me you went to some room in the back. Why?”

Good. She doesn’t know Kat was here. At least I don’t have to explain that.

“Problems with my family. You know how they can get. Just one of the occupational hazards of working with people you’re related to. So what did you order me for dessert?”

She presses her lips together, clearly unhappy. “I ordered you what you said to get you, but I had them take it back because it would have been sitting here all this time. Maybe you can get them to bring them out again now that you’re back.”

At least she didn’t spike the dessert. After all that’s gone on tonight, I could go for something sweet.

After waving over our server Cherise, I turn my attention back to Emma to see if I can find out if she was the one who poisoned Kat’s dish and got her kicked off the show. “Did you enjoy your meal? The risotto is one of our customers’ favorites.”

Finally, she gives me a smile. “I did. I bet you make a great risotto.”

“If I do say so myself, I’ve been known to. I make a great chicken bourguignon too. That’s why I had Kat try to make it last week.”

I watch as Emma’s smile fades ever so slightly before she forces the corners of her mouth back up into a big smile. “You two were really fighting that day. That must be why she put the poison in it. She thought you’d be eating it the next day.”

Shaking my head, I put on my best hurt face. “That’s just so hard to believe. I thought we were getting along by the end of the day. We were laughing and joking around. I never thought she’dstay late and put something in the food. I wonder how no one saw her.”

Emma quickly fixes my intentionally incorrect statement. “No, she didn’t stay late. She went back that night.” She stops for a moment and then adds, “She probably knew she couldn’t do it if anyone was in the building. That’s why she waited until only the security guys were there.”

I reach for my glass of water and see Emma’s eyes get wide with excitement. “But how did she know when no one would be there? That’s what confuses me.”

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