Page 25 of Izzy
Todd needed someone to taste his new savory pastry. Puff pastry was difficult to make. Very labor-intensive, but he liked that it wasn't easy. He'd also screwed up the pastry three times by working with it too much and allowing the butter to melt. Finally, he'd realized he needed to put the dough in the refrigerator between kneading sessions. It took longer but the pastry was as perfect as he could make it.
He'd made a leek and pancetta turnover and needed someone to tell him if it was a good flavor combination.
Todd carried the plate through the mansion, searching for a taste-tester. He didn't even care if it was Evan. Anyone.
"Hello. Am I seriously the only person in the house?"
He didn't dare enter Seryn and Mitchell's private wing, but he did linger in the hall just outside for longer than he probably should have if he wanted to keep living.
Seryn was one scary dude. Todd had never been more scared of someone in his life or more glad they were friends. But friendship wouldn't keep him alive if he broke the in the house rules.
Todd sighed and headed back toward the kitchen. It sucked to wait but that was all he could do.
"Hello." Someone called from behind him.
He turned in time to see a man coming toward him. He carried a rag and a bottle of furniture cleaner. He smiled but it seemed strained.
He was also familiar. It took Todd a moment to realize where he'd seen him. If he were draped over a motorcycle, it would have come to him a lot faster.
"MagicMan365."
Magic Man nodded. "StirringUpLove42. The orange roll was delicious. My favorite thing ever."
"I'm still trying to perfect the smores cookies. When I do, you'll get the first one." Todd's love language was feeding people. And there was something about the guy that tugged at his nurturing instinct.
Todd held out his hand. "I'm Todd."
"The chef. I know." He wiped his hand on his pants and took the offered hand. "Ulises."
"What a pretty name?" A pretty name for a pretty man was what he should have said, but it would have come off as a line. Todd would have meant it though.
Ulises blushed. His cheeks turned pink. "Thank you."
"You're the housekeeper here?" The evidence was clear but he still had to ask because he hoped it wasn't true. It wasn't a good idea to date someone he worked with. He'd done something similar before by dating the boss's brother and lost his job because of it. But Todd couldn't deny the attraction. It was a conundrum.
"Would you try my pastry?" Was it just Todd or did that sound sexual?
Ulises sucked in a breath. So it wasn't just Todd. Great.
Todd's cheeks heated. He held up the plate. "My pastry."
Ulises nodded. "I know what you meant."
"Are you sure because I know you heard the innuendo too. Not that I meant to put one there. It just sort of came out. And I'll shut up now before I make it worse. And I can. Make it worse, I mean." God.Stop talking, Todd.
The pink never left his cheeks even though Ulises chuckled. "Let's go into the kitchen."
Ulises moved around Todd. "Do you like being the chef here?"
Todd followed. "It's great. My dream job."
"I'm glad you feel that way. Seryn and Mitch are great to work for. They've been amazing to me."
"How long have you worked for Seryn? It must have been a while if he lets you into their wing."
When they got to the kitchen, Ulises sat at the island. "Seryn and I belong to the same club, so we've known each other for several years. I've been his housekeeper for the last two years. What about you? How did you end up as a private chef to someone like Seryn?"
Todd didn't want to go into the story. It was complicated. But the way Ulises spoke of Seryn implied he knew what Seryn did for a living. Todd couldn't picture Ulises being a part of any situation where killing someone was involved. Ulises did seem as if he hadn't had it easy, though.
