Page 73 of A Perfect Match
"I'm on a mission," I explain, gesturing to the half-cleaned windows."Operation Let There Be Light."
He chuckles, moving closer to inspect my work."It’s crazy how much a clean window can change a place.”
I come to my feet and carefully descend the stairs.“You taking a break?”
“Lunch service calmed down so I figured I’d see how you were doing.You want any help?”
I hesitate, torn between my stubborn independence and the practical reality that this job would go much faster with an extra set of hands.
"You don't have a restaurant to run?"I ask instead of answering directly.
"Brady's handling things for the next hour."He picks up a clean cloth from my supply pile."So, which window am I tackling?"
I point to one at the base of the loft stairs."That one's next on my list."
"On it."He rolls up his sleeves another notch and gets to work.I try to bite back the smile that threatens to take over my face as I go back up to the loft and my half-clean window.
This is nice.Reallynice.
We clean in companionable silence for a while, the only sounds our scrubbing and the occasional satisfied sigh when a particularly stubborn spot finally gives way.
"So," Kru says eventually, "you checked the Bayshore Best standings today?"
I glance down from my perch, surprised."How did you know?"
"Just assuming you check as compulsively as I do.Congrats on holding on to second place."
"For now," I sigh."That Golden Pear dish is killing it."
"It's the blue cheese," Kru says thoughtfully."The surprise savory element with the sweet apple.People go crazy for that contrast."
"I know."I attack a particularly dirty spot on my window."It makes me want to think outside the box and beat them.”
"Your s'mores torte is incredible as is."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but it won’t make me forget that you're still trying to beat me," I remind him.
He shrugs, a mischievous glint in his eye."All's fair in love and Bayshore Best.”
The casual mention of love makes my stomach do a little flip that I resolutely ignore.
After a moment, Kru adds, “I toyed around with the marshmallow delivery you dropped off the other day.They were all amazing but I think the nutmeg one was next-level.I’m officially adding your nutmeg-infused marshmallow to the lobster dish."
I gasp.“That sounds wonderful.Now I need to try it again.”
“Anytime, Maven.You’re gonna love it,” Kru says.“Though I’m nervous your brothers will come after me if I beat you in the competition.Or if they find out I’m your landlord twice over.”
I wince, unable to entirely dismiss the possibility."They'll come around," I say, though I'm not convinced myself."Probably."
"After they break my kneecaps, maybe," he mutters.
"They wouldn't—" I start, then reconsider."Okay, Griffin might.But the others would just threaten to."
"Very reassuring."He finishes his window and moves to the next."Have you thought about when you're going to tell them about this place?"
I focus very intently on a spot of dirt."I'm working on it."
"Which means 'not yet,'" he translates.
