Page 48 of Sinfully Shameless Chef

I scowl at her. “Yes.”

She tickles my side just like she used to when we were little and she was trying to get me to laugh. “Of course, I’ll help you.”

Greer pouts. “Dammit. I want to go shopping, too. But I’m going to be tied up with pregame stuff all day tomorrow.”

Bash presses a kiss to her temple. “You could always step down as coach and let me do it. It would free you up.”

She elbows him in the ribs, and he feigns injury. Greer rolls her eyes. “That’s never going to happen, buddy.”

It’s still hard to believe that Bash is here now. And so happy. Same with Rach. These two have managed to get their shit together in a way I never will, to get past what we all experienced as children to let someone in and let someone love them.

How do they do that?

I almost broke into hives just offering that tiny insight to Izzy the other night, yet these two have given themselves completely to someone else.

It’s insanity. I want no part of it.

Another flash of movement at the door has several of us turning toward it. Bash’s gaze meets mine, and he raises an eyebrow. I shrug. It could be anything, but he can’t just let it go and heads in that direction to check it out.

He always was the protective one. When he was around, that is. When he wasn’t out on the ice with Dad, getting trained to become one of the greatest hockey players of all time by one of the greatest hockey players of all time.

Bash can check it out. I’m confident he can handle anything he finds out there. Instead of worrying about some nosy neighbors, I turn to head back into the kitchen to grab plates and silverware for Rachel, but multiple sets of footsteps behind me stop me in my tracks.

Shit.

I sense her before I see her. Even with my back to them, Isabella’s presence fills the room and makes my skin heat and cock stir.

“Jamo! Look who I found outside.”

The last person I want to see right now because she’s the only person I do want to see. I can’t let the family witness that. That would raise too many questions I don’t have answers to. Open up discussions I am not prepared to have.

I plaster on my most neutral expression and turn to face them. Izzy looks naturally beautiful as always, in a flowing black tank-top, black and white yoga pants, Chuck Taylor’s, and her blond hair piled high on her head in a messy bun more like a crown fit for a queen.

She smiles nervously, twisting her hands in front of her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just walking by, and…”

Just walking by…

A tiny grin pulls at my lips despite my best efforts to remain unaffected by her. “Everyone…this is Izzy. She’s opening the restaurant directly next door.”

Everyone’s eyes widen. Even Flynn and Greer. Clearly, Bash and Rach have informed them of our recent conversations about the chef next door and our antics. Though no one has any idea what that all led to the other night.

Bash flashes her a grin. “It’s wonderful to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you already.”

Izzy’s head whips toward him. “What? Where would you have heard…”

Her eyes dart over to me, and I chug my wine and swallow what suddenly feels like cement.

“Guys, I need to get to work if we want to eat anytime soon.”

Rachel scoots over to Isabella and extends a hand. “I’m Rachel. These two assholes are my brothers. Want to join us for dinner?”

Thank God I had already swallowed my wine; otherwise, I would have just choked on it.

What the hell is Rachel doing? Trying to torture me?

Izzy throws up her hands. “Oh, no.” She shakes her head with wide eyes. “I couldn’t intrude on a family dinner.”

Greer waves a hand dismissively and approaches them to slip her arm through Izzy’s. “Nonsense. I’m Greer—this one’s wife.” She motions to Bash with the hand holding her wine glass. “The more, the merrier. Right, Jameson?”

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