Page 62 of The Texan's Secrets

Eight

Nico took a back door into the kitchen at RCW Steakhouse. He’d detoured on his way home to thank JJ for arranging Maggie’s wedding cake. Maggie had been vastly relieved by the arrangement, and Misha was delighted to have taken a problem off the shoulders of the bride.

They were into the dinner rush, and JJ stood in his chef’s uniform and hat in front of the long gas grill in the center of the big kitchen. The sizzle of steaks and sautéing vegetables combined with the clatter of pans and dishes as the kitchen staff efficiently moved around the kitchen preparing meals.

A spicy aroma was enticing to Nico, even though he’d had a huge slice of pizza just a few hours before.

“JJ?” Nico moved a little closer to the stove, careful to stay out of the way of the working staff members.

Waitstaff bustled in and out with meals and baskets of fragrant sourdough bread.

JJ smiled a greeting. “Hi, Nico.”

“I wanted to thank you and your mom for agreeing to do the cake,” Nico said.

JJ wiped his hands on a towel and gave an instruction to another chef before coming around the end of the stove.

He indicated a hallway off the kitchen, and the two men moved out of the way.

“Not a problem,” JJ said. “She’s excited to do it. I gave her Misha’s contact information so they could talk directly.”

“Misha’s trying to keep Maggie out of the fray for these last few days. It sounds like there’s plenty for a bride to worry about leading up to a big wedding.”

The few stories Misha had told had Nico considering the merits of eloping. Not that he had any plans to get married. Not anytime soon anyway. He blinked away an unexpected vision of Emilia in a white dress.

“It sounds like the social event of the season,” JJ said.

“The guest list is long.” Nico had heard details on that as well.

“You’re going?” JJ asked.

Nico nodded.

“Maggie sent my mom an invitation yesterday.”

Nico was impressed by Maggie’s gracious courtesy. “That’s nice. Fitting.”

“She asked me to be her plus one.”

“Then, I guess I’ll see you there.”

JJ looked slightly uncertain. “Will it be excessively formal?”

“No more than any other wedding. A jacket and tie should be enough. At least, that’s what I’m wearing.” Nico didn’t have an official role, so a tux sure wasn’t necessary. And given how many people there could potentially recognize him, the more he blended with the crowd, the better.

“I can do a jacket and tie,” JJ said with a relieved nod of his head.

A door opened at the end of the short hallway, and Rafe emerged from his office.

“I thought I heard your voice out here,” he said to Nico.

“I better get back to it,” JJ said with a nod to his boss.

“Thanks again,” Nico called as JJ headed back to the kitchen.

“What’s up?” Rafe asked.

“I wanted to thank JJ in person. It sounds like the wedding cake is well in hand.”

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