Taz
Taz was even more pissed off now than before he had a taste of sweet little Kai. He was an ass for doing that to her, but he just needed to prove his point to her. He wanted to ruin her for all other guys, but instead, he might have just pushed her into the arms of that college asshole who was going to show up there tonight for dinner.
“Shit,” he grumbled to himself. He must have said that a few hundred times in the past thirty minutes. He looked out into the dining room to find Kai rushing around the tables, getting everything set up for tonight. He thought about calling her back to the kitchen and telling her that he was an ass, but he was betting that she already knew that about him.
“You want to tell me what the hell happened in here earlier?” Ryker asked, pushing his way back through the two-way kitchen door.
“Sorry, boss,” Ryker said. “Not sure what you’re talking about,” he lied. He knew what Ryker was pissed off about, but he and Kai weren’t his boss’ business.
Ryker pointed at Taz, “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Taz. This is the fucking kitchen, for Christ’s sake. My fucking kitchen,” he reminded. Yeah, that was a shit move on Taz’s part. He knew better than to do something like have sex in the fucking kitchen. It was supposed to be sanitary, not have a hot piece of ass on the stainless-steel countertops. That part he’d apologize for.
“I’m sorry about using the kitchen that way, boss,” he said. “But I won’t apologize for what happened between Kai and me. We’re adults and what we did doesn’t concern you.”
“Sure does,” Ryker challenged. “You and Kai are my employees.”
“I know that,” Taz said. “But you don’t have any rules about employees not dating. Hell, you dated Harlow when she was your waitress, and you were her boss. I’d say that trumps what Kai and I are doing.”
“What is it that you two are doing, exactly?” Ryker asked.
“Again, not to be rude, but it’s none of your business, boss,” Taz said. “We’re both adults and what’s happening between the two of us is our business.” Poor Ryker looked mad enough to spit nails and Taz almost felt bad for the guy—almost.
“And what happens when you get bored with Kai and move onto one of the bar flies around here?” Ryker asked. “I’ll be down a waitress and a damn good employee. Not to mention that my wife will be out a friend, and that makes me involved in this mess. It’s just a disaster waiting to happen, Taz,” he insisted.
“I won’t get bored with Kai,” Taz said. “In fact, we aren’t even together. We’re just fooling around, and she knows the score.” He hoped that he was right, and that Kai was still on board with his plan of no strings attached, but he kind of pushed the limits with her in the kitchen earlier.
“You’re an idiot if you believe what you just said, Taz. Kai isn’t a hook-up kind of woman. She’s looking for a relationship,” Ryker said.
“Who the hell are you, man? How would you know what Kai is looking for?” Taz asked.
“Because, as I said earlier, she’s friends with my wife and they tell each other stuff. Kai wants to find someone to have a relationship with, not someone to give her a quickie in the kitchen. Open your eyes, man,” Ryker shouted.
“Listen, boss,” Taz breathed, “I’d love to stand around her and discuss my sex life with you, but I have to get ready for tonight.”
“Sure,” Ryker said, “just think about what I said. I don’t want to see either of you hurt.”
“It won’t happen, boss,” Taz said. “I’ve got this covered.” He was lying because after hearing Ryker’s theory about Kai wanting a relationship, he wasn’t sure that he had anything covered.
* * *
Taz felt like a masochist with the way that he looked out of the kitchen every few minutes, to see if Kai’s date had shown up. He felt like an ass for hoping that the guy didn’t show up, but that’s what he was doing. His heart felt as though it would beat out of his damn chest when he looked out of the kitchen and saw Kai sitting in the corner of the bar with a guy who looked like a total douche. He was wearing a button-down shirt and khakis—fucking khakis. He was not the guy for Kai, not that he'd be the one to tell her that.
“Can I get two specials?” Harlow asked.
“What are you doing waiting tables?” he asked. She had been a waitress at the bar before marrying Ryker, but since then, she just helped him run the place, giving up waiting tables.
“I’m filling in for Kai,” she said. “She has a date,” Harlow loudly whispered.
“So I see,” Taz grumbled. He plated the special and handed them to Harlow.
“This looks great, Taz,” she said. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but Harlow was up to something. She always smiled at him like that when she was up to no good.
“What are you up to, Harlow?” he asked. She stared him down, pressing her lips together and he knew that he had guessed correctly. “You’re up to something.”
“Am not,” she challenged. “Besides, I think it’s good to see someone knock you on your ass for a change. When I feel for Ryker, you gave me a ton of shit.”
“Wait—I’m not falling on my ass for anyone. What the hell are you talking about?” he asked.
“You and Kai,” she said. “Ryker and I heard what you did earlier. You like her, Taz, and don’t bother trying to tell me that you don’t. I can see how you look at her. You have feelings for her and now, you’re going to fuck it all up by letting her believe that you don’t.” Harlow pointed out to the bar, “She’s on a fucking date, Taz.”