Page 227 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
She breathes out a chuckle. “It must be so exhausting,” she says. “Doing all that work while lugging aroundsuchan enormous ego. The muscle definition in your shoulders is probably something else.”
It’s finally my turn to smirk. “I’ll show you my shoulder definition if you show me your granny panties.”
“Okay, I give up,” Zach says as he backs away. “I’m going home unless either of you still needs me here?”
“We don’t need you,” Tatum and I say in unison.
Zach mutters something unintelligible on his way out the door, but all I care about is that he’s gone.
Tatum crosses her arms and gives me a saucy look. “Still dreaming about my underwear, are you? Maybe you should get out more, Lennox. Get your mind off of something that isnevergoing to happen.”
Theneverhits me differently than it would have two weeks ago. I don’t know exactly what it means. I just know Tatum Elliott is getting under my skin.
I lean even closer, close enough to see the flecks of gold in Tatum’s gray-blue eyes. “It’snevergoing to happen?” I repeat. I tilt my head like I’m studying her. “Do you promise?”
Her expression hardens—all but her eyes. Those stay bright and flirty, like she’s enjoying this exchange as much as I am. “A promise, a solemn vow, a guarantee,” she says. “Whatever you want to call it.”
My eyes drop to her lips, but I force them back up. Because she saidnever. Because there isnothinghappening between us. Because I am definitelynotthinking about kissing Tatum Elliott.
Kissing her would be madness.
Ridiculous.
Reckless.
I shift and lean back, clearing my throat and making a mental note to never stare into Tatum’s eyes.
“Well that’s a relief,” I finally say.
“Definitely a relief,” she echoes. She mirrors my posture, standing opposite me across the counter. “So glad we’re on the same page.”
I swallow. Itdoesfeel like we’re on the same page, but I’m not sure it’s the one we’re admitting to out loud.
“So, you and Zach?” I ask on impulse, wanting to know why they seemed so familiar with each other, but still regretting the words as soon as they’re out of my mouth. Mostly because I sound jealous, and I’d rather not give Tatum that kind of satisfaction.
“We’re just friends,” she says. “Not that it’s any business of yours.”
I shrug like I’m only mildly interested. Like this doesn’t feel like the most important conversation I’ve ever had with Tatum. “It’s my business if you’re distracting my sous chef.”
“By being hisfriend? Is this the rule you have with your employees? No friendshipping allowed?”
I purse my lips. She’s got me there. I don’t really care if people on my staff date, so long as it doesn’t interfere with their work, so I have zero grounds for questioning her.
“I don’t care who you’re friends with,” I say. “I was just curious. You can do whatever you want.” I look at the discarded bowl on the counter between us. “Just as long as you don’t actually servethatanywhere.”
Her gaze follows mine, but it skates right over the bowl and lands on the list of notes I was reviewing before she and Zach interrupted me. She leans sideways like she’s trying to read the list, and I snatch it away from view. I close the notebook and drop it onto the stool beside me.
Tatum’s tone shifts and her eyes soften. “I used to do the same thing,” she says, like she’s already forgotten our previous conversation. “Go over complaints at the end of the night.”
“More like compliments,” I say a little too quickly.
She nods, but then she tilts her head, considering me for a long moment. “Lennox, if you ever want to talk about anything work-related, I’m happy to listen.”
I lift an eyebrow. We talk about work-related things all the time, which means she’s hinting at something specific.
Apparently, an eyebrow lift is all the encouragement Tatum needs.
“I’m not saying you need my help,” she says, wringing her hands in a way that makes me think she’s nervous. “But I did spend five years running a kitchen twice the size of yours, and I know a few things about efficiency. And it’s possible Imayhave noticed a thing or two that might make things easier on you.”
