Page 24 of Broken Daddy

The truth is, out of everyone in my life, only Sienna knows how badly I want it all back.

Not Will—good riddance to that weasel.

But what I wouldn’t give for that moment all over again. Stepping into an empty restaurant, a clean slate, being able to dream, and make it my own. The excitement and fear of starting something completely new.

A place to call mine.

Unfortunately, I spent all my savings on culinary school, and then on that little restaurant Will sunk into the ground. I’m not going to be getting it back anytime soon, even with the exorbitant amount Nathan is paying me to be his personal chef.

“You’ll do great, Gen, I’m sure of it. And if you need anything, you know you can always call me. I’d offer to sneak you into the Fig’s kitchen, but…”

The conversation takes an awkward turn.

When Erik went to the Fig’s manager claiming I’d been verbally abusing the staff, Sienna wasn’t one of the lackeys who backed him up on the lie. But she hadn’t fought that hard, either, not wanting to put herself in the crosshairs.

I don’t blame her. It’s hard out there in our industry, harder still for a pastry chef to get a spot like the one she has at the Fig.

“It’s fine,” I say breezily. “How’s he doing, by the way? Happy with the throne he threw me off?”

Sienna laughs. “No, definitely not. He’s struggling. Half the staff doesn’t take him seriously, and the other half is convinced he’s going to stab them in the back, too. I don’t know. I don’t think he’ll last, Gen. They might be giving you a call soon.”

I snort.

“Yeah. If Saucer doesn’t get to me first. But really, I don’t think I’d go back.”

“No? You didn’t seem too thrilled about the whole personal chef job last time we chatted.”

My gut twists guiltily. I should be happy Russ helped me out, happier still that Nate gave me a job, despite…

Well, despite the fact he’s seen me a naked, moaning mess on several occasions now.

The odd thing is, I realize as Sienna rambles on, I kind ofamhappy.

It’s not so bad here. Sure, making waffles and scones and finding inventive ways to get a kid to eat more vegetables wasn’t the challenge I was expecting, but…

The pool house is cozy. And the company isn’t so bad, even if Nate is a total grump and storms around the house with fists clenched and shoulders hunched. It’s actually kind of entertaining.

I curl up on the pool house couch, feeling content for the first time in a long time.

This will do.

I can be happy here until whatever the next great adventure is. I might not get to live out my dream of opening a restaurant again, but working for Nate Sharpe gives me enough time to sort out a killer menu for Saucer.

And someday this will all be behind me. Just a fond, sexy, tempting memory.

Chapter12

Nathan

“I don’t care, Scott, you’re going to have to figure it out. I know companies typically avoid going to court. But I want to drag him through it for all he’s worth.”

“Nathan, that’s the thing. I doubt Nash is worth much if he was embezzling from Ironside. I think our best course of action is to just cut him loose and forget about it—”

The blood is practically boiling in my veins. Scott, sensing my rage, continues, “Besides, we don’t exactly have the money for a long, drawn out court battle right now. Do we?”

That puts a stop to the overload of anger that’s been coursing through me for the last fifteen minutes.

I stop pacing in my office, a buzz of anxiety moving through me from head to toe.

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