Page 50 of Sawyer
On the Friday following Beverly’s visit, Dean picked up Sawyer’s business cards and headed over to the house. Doc would have to take the interruption.
It was the easier of the two roommates’ missions Dean had today. The other related to Madison and Kyle. Thea was worried about them, so Dean had promised to try and figure out what was going on.
When he let himself into the house, he sniffed the air. No freshly baked bread tickled his nose. Too bad. Until Thea’s bakery opened in February, she would be baking at Nanine’s in the early morning for the restaurant’s menu. Of course, they had to get her married first. Only a little over a week away now.
He and his Lady Jacs were engaged too, but they hadn’t set a date yet. Pairings by Pierre’s opening in March was their focus now as much as nesting, preparing for their move into their new apartment after the holidays.
He heard a strange sound coming from the direction of Kyle’s office and decided to check in with him. He stopped short at the closed door. A highly accented voice from inside—a female’s andnotMadison—had him pressing his ear to the door.
Was that Spanish?
That was enough to freak him out. Because what was Kyle thinking? He thought about calling out,You have another woman in there with you?But that wouldn’t give him the information he was looking for.
Knocking quickly, he opened the door and walked in. Sure enough, the voicewasspeaking Spanish, but there was no woman, thank God. Kyle broke off in the midst of repeating what was said the second he saw Dean.
“What the hell, man?” He punched a button on hiscomputer, silencing the speaker. “You wait for a response before you enter a room. Get the fuck out.”
Good roommates ignored things like common courtesy when they stumbled upon gems like this. “Are you learning Spanish?”
Kyle’s glare was icy—and a little terrifying. Dean decided not to sit on the edge of his fancy desk. He might get shoved off.
“Yeah, I am.” He hit another button on his computer and rose from his chair, the hard set of his shoulders another fuck-off-Dean message. “Do you need something? Like a common courtesy handbook?”
“I haven’t seen you this agitated in ten years. So, being your friend and roommate, I’m throwing good sense to the wind. Are you learning this because of Madison?”
Kyle’s mouth thinned. “You’re pushing, Dean, and I’m not sure this conversation is useful.”
The salt was already in the wound, but maybe a friendly conversation would flush it out. “Thea said Chef Rico has been coming by the restaurant a lot. He and Madison have been speaking Spanish. Thea says he’s taught her a few words. It’s cute. But obviously not to you.”
His friend’s jaw was ticking.
“Nothing?” he pressed, wishing he could nudge Kyle in the ribs or something to remind them they were chums, but he’d probably deck him. “Come on. We’re your friends, and we know what’s going on. I know we agreed not to say anything, but maybe that’s the wrong move. Because you’ve been…shuttered. The fact that you look like you want to sock me says it all. Thea’s been telling me for days how much she’s worried about you—and Madison too.”
Kyle heaved out a breath, his hands fisted by his sides.
“Talk. Don’t talk,” Dean continued, prepared to turn the guilt screws. “But I don’t think you like Thea worrying about you guys any more than I do. Her head should be in theclouds about getting married. Her new bakery. But last night she pulled me aside to talk about you two and wrung wrinkles all over the cute little sash of her dress.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.” Dean paused a long beat, watching the skin practically stretch across Kyle’s anguished face. “What can I do? I’d offer to beat up Chef Rico so he can’t swing by the restaurant anymore, but that dude looks like he could take down a VIP bouncer from lifting all those heavy cooking pots. Besides, it’s not my way. Also, Madison isn’t really into him from what Thea tells me. Chef Rico shows up with gifts?—”
“Hang on,” Kyle interrupted, his blue eyes fiery. “How do you know that?”
Aha. Progress. “When I asked Thea whether Madison stops working when he’s around, she said she actually works harder. Thea is so sweet. She thinks it’s because Madison is so stressed. But we both know she’d take a quick break and be more engaging if she were interested. Besides, I asked Pierre about Chef Rico.”
“Unbelievable.” But his friend’s twisted mouth curved. “Reconnaissance by parrot. Our midnight run to Phoebe’s gallery really unlocked your inner James Bond.”
“That dude is cool—even if I don’t like all of the versions of the franchise. But yeah, not only did it seem practical, but I figured you’d want the inside scoop. Who knows Madison’s heart better than Pierre?”
Kyle’s mouth went flat again, and Dean knew he’d blundered. Kyle would want that to be him.
“Fine,” he answered tightly. “Tell me what our little mascot said.”
Dean eased himself onto the arm of one of the leather chairs. “He said she finds his visits more than a little annoying. He told me in Madison’s voice and I quote, ‘He’s so not my boyfriend.’ You’ll be thrilled to know that while Chef Ricohas tried to win over Pierre—dude brought him Marcona almonds—he hasn’t succeeded.”
“They went salsa dancing,” Kyle grudgingly shared. “Her and Rico.”
Well, shit, no wonder Kyle was upset. “News to me. When?”
