Page 295 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
I turn and step away, but then Mr. Elliott clears his throat, and I swing around to face him one more time.
“If it’s all right with you,” he says, “we do have some business to conduct. Would you mind if we take over one of your tables? It’s just some paperwork for Tatum to sign. It shouldn’t take long.”
I swallow against the knot in my throat, forcing my brain to be reasonable, to focus on the facts.
Number one? Tatum loves me.
Two, her father has a long history of both gaslighting and manipulating Tatum. Showing up with paperwork hoping to pressure her into signing is well within the realm of expected behavior.
Three, if Tatumdoeswant to sign on to do a television show with her dad, if she truly believes it will make her happy, I won’t stand in her way.
“Absolutely,” I say, managing a smile. “Whatever you need.”
I push into my kitchen to find my staff hovering around the door, completely oblivious to the storm clouds brewing in mychest. They quickly follow me, crowding around my office and firing off question after question.
“What’s he like?”
“Is he going to eat here?”
“Did you shake his hand?”
“Was it so amazing?”
I lift my hands, silencing their many questions. “That’s enough,” I say, my voice measured and controlled. “Back to work. That man is not here to see you or meet you or have anything to do with you.”
“Yeah but, while he’s here, he could probably sign my cookbook,” Zach says.
“Or one of the menus,” Derek adds.
“Or my chef’s coat,” Willow says.
I force a smile, even if I don’t feel like it. “There will be no signing of anything, at least not while you’re on the clock. What you do on your own time is up to you. But let’s all remember that Christopher Elliott is here asTatum’sfather, and first and foremost, our actions should respect her privacy.”
“Dude. Tatum’s father is Christopher Elliott?” Derek says from the back of the kitchen.
Willow reaches over and hits him on the back of the head. “Honestly, what planet do you live on?”
“The one where dinner service starts in forty-two minutes,” I say. “Don’t make me ask you again. Back to work.”
Zach claps his hand. “You heard him. Clock’s ticking. I want to see mise en place in every corner of this kitchen.” He looks at me. “Are you good?”
I clasp a hand around the back of my neck. “I uh—yeah, do you think you can send a couple of starters out?”
“Yeah. Absolutely.”
I nod. “Also, I think I need to step out for a minute. Can you handle things for a bit?”
He nods. “Of course. Take your time. Take the whole night off if you want. I’ve got this.”
I don’t hesitate to leave him because hedoeshave it. The last month of training has really elevated the way my kitchen operates, and that’s all thanks to Tatum.
When I make it to the back door, Tatum is just coming down the steps. She isn’t dressed for work, which makes me grateful, but I still wish she’d stayed upstairs a little longer, if only to make her father squirm for a while. Her eyes widen the second she sees me. “Hey! Are you okay?”
“Um.” I shake my head, trying to orient myself to her presence. “Tatum, your father is in the Hawthorne dining room.”
Her face blanches. “What?”
I nod. “He came to surprise you.”
