Page 89 of Cookbooks and Demons

Chapter 46

Do It Fast or Do It Right

Rafferty backed away then, his face disappearing into the darkness, and Helena couldn’t help feeling like she had made a terriblemistake.

“Thank you,” she said lamely. “Um, what should wedo now?”

“You need to take me to the kitchen and grant me the authority to cook in there,” he said, again with that cold, impersonal tone.

“Oh. Right,” she said and slid her hand around the door until she foundthe knob.

She was so ready to get out of that horrible room that she opened the door faster than was prudent. Plunging them back into the light, it blinded her fora moment.

“Helena? What are you doing in there?”

Jumping at the voice, she realized Yosef stood right in front of her. She tried to back up, but Rafferty came right up behind her, blockingher path.

Yosef looked from her to him and back to her. “They said you came back here to call for help… that we don’t have a chef?”

“Yes, yes, I did. I called for help,” she agreed, motioning to the demon behind her. “You remember Rafferty. He cooked at my dinner party a few months ago. He’s come tohelp me.”

“Oh,” Yosef said, looking unconvinced. “What were you two doing back there?”

“Making out,” Rafferty said, so completely deadpan that Yosef had no choice but to take it for the truth. Especially when he looked to Helena for confirmation and she blushed.

“Well, wouldn’t you? If your boyfriend came to save the day,”she said.

Yosef blinked rapidly, then shook his head. “Okay, fine. We don’t have time for this. Let’s just go.” And he pivoted to head back toward the kitchens, leaving Helena and Rafferty to follow.

“How is Scarlet?” she asked, catching up with Yosef to walk beside him. Rafferty followed behindquietly.

“She should be in a hospital bed, but she convinced her doctor to let her make her speech tonight.Thenshe swears she’ll go, but I doubt it.” Yosef stopped and ran his hand through his hair, mussing it up.“Dammit.”

“Hey, hey,” Helena said, setting her hand to his back. “It’s going to be okay. She’s going to be alright.” But Yosef shook herhand off.

“No, she’s not,” he said sharply. “Dammit. I was born in the wrong time…”

“You really do love her?” Helena said.

Yosef whirled on her. “What the hell does that mean?” he demanded but didn’t give her a chance to clarify. “Of course I love her. You think because she’s so much older than me that what? I’m just after her money or something?”

“I didn’t mean—” Helena tried to say, putting her hands up in surrender, but Yosef kept coming until Rafferty’s hand on his chest stopped him.

“We don’t have time for this,” Rafferty reminded him evenly.

Yosef took a step back and straightened. “I’m sorry. The stress is getting to me,” he said lamely. “I will … just take a minute to collect myself.” He turned and walked off, much to Helena’s relief.

“Let’s get,” Rafferty said, turning in that direction.

She wanted to thank him for intervening, but he didn’t give her the opportunity to as he pushed into the kitchen.

The wait staff still stood there chatting with each other and waiting for someone to give them instructions.

“Everyone,” Helena called, commanding the attention again. Gratifyingly, they all turned to her. “I am really sorry for all of the confusion but thank you all for sticking around.”

“We are still getting paid, right?” one of the waiters asked from the middle of the crowd, with several of them “yeah”-ing in agreement.

“Yes, of course. Nothing else has changed,” she assured. “Except this. I called in re-enforcements.” She turned to Rafferty and gestured to him. “This is Rafferty. He is in charge of this kitchen. You will follow his directions.”

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