Page 40 of Cookbooks and Demons

“I think I can identify the rest,” Helena agreed, nodding at the green beans and cheesypotatoes.

Éliott gave her a wink. “Anything else I can dofor you?”

“No, we’re good. Thank you,” she returned, keeping her eyes on the young man and not on the friend just behind him.

“Oh, not yet madame. I see you need more wine,” he added, tapping his nose before disappearing to gofetch it.

Once their server was gone, Rafferty held out his hand toward her. This time it felt like a challenge. Like he was waiting for her to stop this game now that he had said something she didn’t agree with. But she did believe it—her actions defined her, and she would not punish him for something as petty as having a differing opinion from her. So she gripped his hand, and they continued with their meal.

After the first bite of the quail, she had to release her hand to bring it to her mouth to prevent the juices from escaping. “Oh, my God, I’ve never… You know you hear that phrase, melt in your mouth good, but this thing is actually melting in my mouth. This isamazing.”

Rafferty chuckled as he cut another bite, and it was only then she realized she let go of his hand while he chewed. “Oh, damn sorry,” she said, reaching out to recapture it.

“It’s alright. I’m getting as much enjoyment watching you eat this than actually eating it,” he said warmly, the starbursts in his eyes dancing merrily.

“You think I’m this crazy about a tiny bird—you should watch me eat Thai food,”she said.

“Yes, I want that more than anything in the world,” he said. “I could spend the rest of my time here with you in this city, watching you stuff your face with every food imaginable.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I know you’re teasing, but I also think you mean that.”

He lifted a bite of the quail, offering it to her. Chuckling, she bit down on his fork, making a littlegrrsound. As she chewed, it occurred to her for one heartstopping moment,Am Iflirting?

The implications of that would have startled her, but her gaze got drawn away from their table and locked onto Chris, looking directly at her.

“Oh crap,” she said softly.

“What’s wrong?” Rafferty asked, following it to look past his shoulder. His own narrowed as he realized what was happening.

“Just ignore him,” he repeated slowly, but it wastoo late.

“He’s coming over here,” Helena said, alarmed, and Rafferty reclaimed her hand, not to take from her but to give her strength. Strangely, a warm feeling of calm did sweep through her, and she managed to take a deep fortifying breath before her friend made to their table.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” Chris hissed at her as soon as he was close enough.

“Hey!” Helena tried to say cheerfully, like she was happily surprised to see him, but it morphed into a protest as he planted his hands around her, one on the back of her chair and one on the table, boxing her in. His sudden weight made the silverware jump and attracted the attention of the few other people seated nearby. He toweredover her.

“Answer me—are you following me?” he demanded even while he turned and smiled an apology at the closest neighbors.

“What? No,” she started to say, but Chris didn’t even slowhis roll.

“I thought you were myfriend. I can’t believe you are doing this to me.” His face was so close to Helena’s, she could feel him spitting on her ashe spoke.

“You need to back away right now,” Rafferty warned. He had stood up and seized Chris’s wrist of the hand planted onthe table.

“Calm down, buddy. We’re friends,” Chris dismissed, shaking him off, then did a double take back at Rafferty. “Wait, you’re that caterer from that dinner she gave a few weeks ago.”

“Yes, Rafferty here is helping me try out different places to pick a caterer for a thing at work,” Helena explained quickly, not really understanding what was happening but desperate to get out of it as easily aspossible.

At that explanation, Chris did back off, looking confused and unsure. “Oh,” was all he said. “So… so this is a coincidence.” Then his eyes went wide as if he were just understanding the implications of his actions. He glanced back at his “date,” who was looking over their way with a clear expression of concern. Their table’s waiter stood next to her, frozen at the aggressive display. “Okay, Helena, I know how this looks—”

“Is everything alright here?” Éliott asked, cordially, but with a clear stance of someone who was ready to do what he must to protect his guests.

“Yeah,” Chris said, blinking at the sudden appearance of the waiter. “This is just one of my good friends. I didn’t know she was supposed to be here today,” he said, looking to Helena to corroborate it.

She nodded. “Yeah, yeah, we’re old friends. It was just a shock is all.”

Éliott nodded, though he clearly didn’t believe it, but also wanted to restore the serenity of the dining room. “Well, your current reservations are for two couples only and all of our four person tables are spoken for, so we cannot accommodate you sitting together. Therefore, I must be the bad guy and ask you to return to your party.” He smiled politely with the killer eyes of a nightclubbouncer.

---