Page 12 of In Good Company

“Tell me the real reason you’re hell-bent on getting that cute server to be your private chef.”

I grunt, hating the way he called her cute. Cute doesn’t even begin to describe her. She’s breathtaking, with her big brown eyes that are hard to look away from and her high cheekbones that are pink from the sun.

“Don’t talk about her that way,” I scold, running my hand over my mouth.

He raises his arms defensively. “Since when do you care if I call someone cute?”

“She’s Ollie’s ex-girlfriend…and my future chef.”

“Ah.” Jude’s eyebrows pull in on his forehead as he thinks my response over carefully. “You still haven’t answered me.”

I narrow my eyes at him. He doesn’t normally question me about things. Of course, he chooses this instance to analyze something I want.

“Her food is incredible, and Thomas was also impressed. So when he asked if she was looking for something more permanent for the summer, I got the idea that she should be my private chef instead of anyone else’s.”

“And when you get an idea in your head, there’s nothing that stops you.”

This makes me smile as relief washes over me. I know him well enough to know that’ll be enough explanation for him—at least for now. “Exactly.”

He reaches out to clap me on the back. “I’m looking forward to watching this play out. She’s not convinced so easily, is she?”

I bark out a laugh. “I gave her my card a week ago and told her I’d pay double whatever Thomas offered. Haven’t heard from her all week.”

“So that’s why you were determined to sit in her section? So you could talk to her again?”

“Yes, I thought after thinking about it for a week, she’d say yes when I asked her again. I was obviously wrong.”

Jude runs his hand through the short strands of his light brown hair. “I like her already.”

I fall back in my chair with a sigh. I don’t tell him I’ve only had two encounters with her this summer, and I’m right there with him…there’s something about her that intrigues me.

Even though I know I probably shouldn’t be.

SEVEN

LUCY

“I’m mad you didn’t tell me you knew Callahan Hastings,” Charlotte scolds, slamming the door to her locker. Luckily, we’re the only two people in the employee locker room, so no one else can hear her.

“I don’t know him. Not very well, at least.” I look at my reflection in my locker mirror, wiping underneath my eyes from where my mascara has smudged from the long workday.

Charlotte laughs, grabbing the corner of my locker and opening it wide so I’m forced to meet her eyes. “He specifically requested you. Clearly, you know each other. Anytime I’ve ever served him, he barely looked me in the eye, let alone cared enough to remember my name.”

I sigh, my shoulders sagging a bit in defeat. I know if I tell Charlotte that Cal has also offered me a job for the summer, she’ll think I’m crazy for not agreeing to it right away. Especially if she finds out how much I’ve been offered. “Cal’s my ex’s brother. We met a few times. Got along fine. There’s not much to it.”

Charlotte’s green eyes widen. “Wait, you’ve never mentioned an ex.”

I laugh. “For goodreason.”

She slowly nods in understanding. “I get it. We all have those asshole exes we prefer not to mention.”

“Exactly. Cal’s brother isn’t even worth discussing.”

She raises a blonde eyebrow excitedly. “But Calisworth discussing. So tell me the deets. Why would he request you to be his waitress? Just being his brother’s ex doesn’t make sense.”

I take a seat on the cherrywood bench between the sets of lockers. I’m used to being on my feet for long hours at a time, but the shoes we’re required to wear at Pembroke aren’t the most comfortable. My feet ache, but I know Charlotte won’t let me leave until I tell her more.

“He offered me a job as his private chef.”

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