Page 40 of The Chef's Kiss
She rolled her eyes, one corner of her mouth hooking up. “I’m not an expert in restaurants, Hudson. But I don’t need to be. I know people. Being a part of my family … It’s about appearances. Which means figuring out what it is others want to see and making them see it. I got really good at that.”
My brow furrowed as I watched her, the stillness with which she sat. “You haven’t given me what I wanted to see.”
“Maybe with you, it’s more about what you need than what you want.” She shrugged. “I’m not scared of you like I imagine a lot of people are. I learned a long time ago not to be scared of anyone.”
“Then, who is the real Jorgina Ashford?” An hour ago, I yelled at her. Now, I couldn’t figure her out.
She didn’t lift her gaze as she said, “That’s not something you get to find out.”
We fell into silence then as we ate, and she continued scribbling notes down, occasionally murmuring things like, “We’ll talk to Sharon Cormoran about supplying fresh produce from her hydro farm.” And, “Jim Rylan has the best shrimp in town.”
She seemed to know everyone and what they could provide. We both finished our quesadillas, and she finally glanced at me. “That has to go on the menu.”
“A quesadilla?” Absolutely not.
She nodded. “It’s too good not to. I have a friend over in Hidden Cove who loves plantains. He’d flip for it.”
“I’ll take it into consideration.”
The look she sent me was half-incredulous and half-stubborn. “I’ll bet you it’s better than half this crap you want to put mushrooms on.”
“What’s wrong with mushrooms?”
“Everything.” She mimed gagging.
“Give me that.” I stole the notebook to get a peek at her notes. Her ideas weren’t half bad, but I wouldn’t tell her that. She wasn’t a chef, so most were just half-baked combinations of ingredients. I could transform them into something more.
“You made the right decision hiring me.” She leaned back in her chair.
“Oh yeah?” This had to be good.
She pulled out her phone and showed it to me. There was already a string of texts asking if she’d really been hired by the Outlander, as one of them called me.
She pointed to a name on the screen. “She’s been looking for a job that gives her mornings off to get her daughter to school.” And another. “He’s returning here for the summer from college and looking for a part-time gig.”
I hadn’t been able to draw a single application, and Jorgina had various people in mind for jobs only an hour after she started. “Do you know everyone in this town?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone in here?” A voice came from the front of the restaurant. It was a man I didn’t recognize, tall and imposing. I immediately went on guard.
“Can I help you?” I stood. “I’m sorry, but we won’t be open for a while. Are you looking for a job?”
He laughed at that, his expression amiable. “Actually, I have too many of those already. I came to talk to Jorgie.”
That didn’t sit right with me, especially when I glanced at her and she’d gone rigid.
“Jorgie is working right now.”
“It’s okay.” She sighed, getting to her feet. “It’s just my cousin.” She turned to him. “What do you want, Harrison?”
The man in question stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “To apologize. This morning, I know I butted into your business.” He cast a glance at me before returning his attention to her. “I wanted to make sure you were okay, and Conrad said you got a job here.”
“How—Lena,” she cursed. “Of course the Ashford telephone line is alive and well. Guess everyone will know soon. I’m fine. This morning was nothing. Is that all?”
He gave her a helpless shrug. “Now that you’re back in town, I thought maybe—”
“I’m not my brothers, Harrison. I don’t need the family to play nice with me just because I’ve returned. I’m still my father’s daughter.”
