Kenzie
It felt good to finally have my restaurant up and running. With the steady stream of business, weeks after opening, it appeared to be a hit on Phoenix’s culinary scene. My menu had gone over well, even though it was a lot different than the one I had planned for the CHG Seaport Hotel. I had to stop thinking about New York City, and more importantly, Jonas Courtland. It’d taken me a while the last time, but the change of scenery had helped until Tori was born. It was likely our daughter who kept him alive in my memories.
“When you grow up, are you going to get married and have kids like Mommy and Daddy?”she’d asked me just the night before.
Little did she know, but I already had a child, and she was it. I couldn’t tell her that, so I had pulled her into my arms. “I am grown up,” I’d reminded her.
“Then you should get married, too.”
She flashed me one of her sheepish grins, and I just shook my head in amusement. Even at her age, she thought she had life all figured out. I once thought that I had, too. I then met a smooth-talking gigolo, and life went downhill from there. Despite the pain Jonas left me with, he also provided the child who was now my niece, and I wouldn’t have traded her for anything in the world.
I didn’t have time to think about Tori any longer, or the man who helped me create her. I had a dinner rush to tend to, so I took one last look at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, washed my hands, then headed to the back to grab an apron. I would help the chefs with the initial crowd, then I needed to get on inventory. I’d learned rather quickly that owning a restaurant was a lot more work than I had thought. I loved to cook though, so I made time to do that as often as I could. It was a Thursday night, and the start to what had been successful weekend numbers so far.
When I walked back to the kitchen, I could see Alejandro working on the lobster bisque. I always tried to use locally sourced items, but that would’ve cut seafood off of my menu. It was always a prevalent part of my dishes, so I had them sent to me from Maine. It was a bit pricey, but since I saved so much on other food costs, it was worth it.
I grabbed a small spoon and smiled up at him. “May I?
“Sure thing, boss,” he told me, then stepped back.
I dipped my spoon into the pot and pulled it out, making sure to include a piece of lobster along with the soup. I brought it to my mouth and nearly moaned out loud. It was succulent with a hint of sweetness, and the taste was luscious and buttery. It was delicious, although it was lacking a little of something.
“It just needs a pinch or two of salt,” I told him, then tossed the spoon into the sink.
I moved along to the prep area where all the vegetables and garnishes were being chopped. I jumped in and diced up some cilantro, before looking at the tickets coming in. It wasn’t long before they multiplied. I started off by assisting the expeditors with the dishes. I wanted each one to be consistent on looks, so I spent a great deal of time making sure the presentation was perfect. From there, I went down the line and helped where needed. Once the tickets slowed down, it was time to begin with inventory.
I shrugged off my apron and had it in my hands when I left the kitchen. I tossed it into the hamper and was on my way to my office, when one of the waitstaff called my name.
“Is there something wrong, Julia?”
“There’s someone out front asking for you. He’s been here for a while now, and I think he wants to compliment the chef on his dish.”
Happy to hear that, I smiled. “What number is his table?”
“Twenty-one,” she replied, then turned and headed back to the dining room.
I loved talking with the customers, and I usually made it a point to go out front multiple times a night, where I would go table to table and chat with each of them. It wasn’t odd to have someone want to compliment the chef, so I followed Julia out to the dining room. Once I entered it, however, I came to an abrupt stop. There, at table twenty-one, was a redhead male. It didn’t even matter that he was turned with his back to me. I knew exactly who it was.
My heart raced, and I clutched the edge of the counter to ward off the lightheadedness threatening to consume me. Jonas Courtland. What was he doing here? And how did he find me? There could only be one person, and I planned to have a few choice words with her soon. For now, I was rooted in place, partially in fear, but mostly in shock.
I tried to remember the last time I had seen him, and all I could recall was how I had lost my temper. I had thrown things at him, broke down crying, and sprinted in disbelief. I had said everything I had needed to say then, and I had no plans on rehashing any of it now. Spotting Julia, I motioned for her to come to me.
Once she did, I kept my voice at a low whisper. “Will you tell him the chef has left for the night and won’t be back for a few days?”
“But—” she started to protest before I interrupted.
“Please, just do this for me. I know that person and he is no more interested in talking to the chef about his meal as I am in humoring him. Just tell him, and make sure he leaves.”
She gave me a nod, then walked over to him. I ducked back into the safety of the kitchen, but stayed at the door to watch through it. I half expected him to settle his check and leave, but he stayed seated. Julia soon entered the kitchen area where I stood.
“He’s ordered dessert, and coffee to follow.”
I wanted to tell her to decline his order and send him packing, but then he’d know I was here. I didn’t know what he wanted from me, but he wouldn’t get it. I wouldn’t even care if he came to tell me that he’d sent Leeann packing and wanted me to open a place at the CHG Seaport Hotel after all. He could go to hell and rot there for all I cared.
I walked back to my office and flopped down into my chair.
It seemed like every time things were going good in my life, he’d reappear and blow it all to pieces. I’d worked so hard over the last month to get this place up and running, and I was the talk of the city. Granted, small Arizona restaurants rarely reached Manhattan status and allure, but I was doing well for myself. I’d even applied for an apartment and planned to move at the end of the month. I hated leaving Tori, but I had imposed on my family long enough. The apartment was close by Desert Pointe Grille, so I could even walk to and from work, and at least here in Arizona, I didn’t have to worry about being mugged while doing so.
I placed my elbows onto the top of my desk, then dropped my face into my hands. I wanted to cry, as irrational as it was. I couldn’t think of any reason why he returned unless he wanted another pound of my flesh. An impending sense of dread filled me as so many thoughts swirled around in my head. Reece had to have told him where I was, but why? There was only one way to find out, so I dialed her number and listened to it as it rang. When she didn’t answer, I waited for her voicemail message to finish before speaking.