Page 57 of Coming Home to You
“See?”Erin says, flipping a hand at Bella.“Sweet as sugar.”
“She’s bred to kill, Erin.She just likes you.”And to prove my point, I give Bella a command and she immediately leaves Erin’s side and stands next to me, baring her teeth and letting out a low growl.“Now you see,” I say, poking back at Erin.
“Got it,” Erin says, backing away and shaking her head.
“I’ll see you back here in a bit,” I say as Erin heads out of the office.
“Later, sweets,” Erin responds, giving me a wave over her shoulder.
I check in with the kitchen staff and the servers and everything seems to be falling into place.I watch as one of the kitchen staff places a few more roses onto the already decorated cake, while another continues chopping strawberries for the strawberry poppy seed spinach salad that’s on the menu.There doesn’t seem to be a thing out of place, but like always, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.It’s just a hazard of the job.
And just as I’m about to let out the breath I feel like I’ve been holding for the last two days, I’m hit with it.
“Kelsey, I don’t know how this happened, I swear I checked the invoices and ordered everything,” my head chef, Marco says, looking down at an invoice he has in his hand.“But somehow we’re short the two pounds of fresh mozzarella for the herbed tomato and mozzarella bites.”
“Shit, Marco,” I say, and he cuts me off.
“Kelsey, I’m so sorry, I know this is the last thing you need.I swear I made sure everything was ordered and checked in correctly.It was all here yesterday morning.”I can hear the panic in his voice and I feel terrible.
“No, no, Marco, this is my fault,” I say, reassuring him and I see his body relax almost straight away.“I had one of the chefs make up a batch of Caprese salad yesterday for Erin and me.I meant to pick up the missing mozzarella this morning; I just forgot.I’ll head over to the supermarket right now.I already called ahead to make sure they put it off to the side for me.”
“No, Kelsey.Go home and get ready.I’ll pick it up,” Marco says before wiping his hands on a towel he has slung over his shoulder.
“I owe you.I really should pay you more,” I say, giving him a playful swat on the arm.
“You tell me that all the time,” he says, smiling as he strips off his chef’s coat.“And there’s a reason I stick around.You pay better than any restaurant within a twenty mile radius.”
“Thanks, Marco.I’ll be back soon.Call me if you need anything.”
“Will do, boss,” he says, flashing me the long-range walkie-talkie he has clipped to his pocket.
This was something Beck implemented before he headed back to Boston.He didn’t want more people than necessary having access to my cell number, so he purchased ten long-range walkie-talkies for my staff at the inn to use to get in contact with me.He was concerned about my number possibly getting back to Jason somehow and he didn’t want to take any chances.
So far they have proved somewhat useful and somewhat comical as Erin and I have now made up call names for ourselves.She uses them regularly to torment my staff at the inn with her inappropriate humor.
“Breaker, breaker one-nine, this is Ginger Snap.I’m looking for my pussy.Has anyone seen my pussy?Hairless and answers to the name of Sugar Lips,” Erin said as it echoed on every radio throughout the inn, prompting a riot of laughter from my kitchen staff and the teenage boys I hired to re-stain the front and back decks.
Sometimes I wonder how she ever got her job shaping the minds of small children, but I figure if she had to behave like a kindergarten teacher twenty-four seven, I’d probably really hate her.She definitely makes life interesting.
A couple of hours later, I’m freshly showered, changed, and waiting on the front porch of the inn for Erin.The wedding is set to begin in an hour and I’ve already done a sweep of the property to make sure everything is in place and ready to go.
When she walks up, my jaw nearly drops.She’s wearing an emerald green halter dress that makes her flawless pale skin stand out and her eyes glow.Paired with sky-high yellow heels and Erin’s signature smile, she looks stunning.I’m going to have to beat the guys off her with a stick tonight.
“Look at you, missy,” I say, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.“You look...hot.”
“Thank you,” she says.“Looking quite lovely yourself,” she adds with a nod.“Basic black always looks good on you.”
“Trying to keep it simple.I don’t want to distract from the bride, right?”I chose a plain, but still eye catching black strapless dress.
Erin winks at me and pulls out her phone.“Pictures for our boys?”she asks, and I smile brightly.Our boys…another step closer to her admitting she’s into Ryan.
We snap a few selfies before Erin commissions one of Finn’s deputies to take a few more of us.After she gets her phone back, she takes a quick shot of her cleavage and I shake my head at her.
She sends them off to Beck and Ryan and within seconds her phone chimes.Flashing her phone to me, we both laugh at Ryan’s response to the pictures.
Ryan: Holy fucking shit.Tell me you aren’t wearing panties under that dress, Red.
Erin: No panties, no bra.
