My stepfather stops, his giant feet planted next to the counter. His eyes narrow into thin slits as he points to the man behind me.
“What the hell? Where’s Mateo? And who is this stranger in my kitchen?”
A plate plonks into the sink water, and I steal a glance at Jackson. He’s trying to shrink in on himself the way he always does when Dean yells.
I pull my shoulders back, ready to divert Dean’s attention. He’d never dare to hit me in front of other people, so I’m feeling relatively safe for now.
“Mateo quit.”
“What did you do?” Dean slaps his keys down on the bench.
I flinch but still manage to say, “Nothin’. He quit! He just walked out in the middle of the lunch rush.”
Dean’s bulky arms cross over his chest. “What did you say to him?”
“It was a customer complaint. The chicken was pink, and he was refusing to do a new plate of food. I told him that wasn’t okay, and then he just walked out.”
Dean’s nostrils flare, his dark gaze darting to Jackson. A clatter of cutlery hits the floor.
“Pick it up,” Dean barks.
Jackson jumps to while I shuffle to the side to create a barrier between Dean and my brother.
With a thick swallow, I blink a few times. My eyes are starting to itch and burn again.
“It all worked out okay, Dean,” Celia pipes up behind him.
He glances over his shoulder, and she pastes on her sunny smile.
“Annie used a little quick thinkin’ and found a replacement chef within minutes. All the diners have gone home happy. In fact, we actually got compliments on the food.”
I glance up to watch Michael’s face. A smile twitches his lips, and then he looks down and winks at me, setting a bunch of bubbles free in my chest.
“And where’d you find this chef?”
Dean’s question kills the bubbles, replacing them with an icy cold discomfort. I squirm on my feet and point over my shoulder. “Well, he… uh… we just…”
Michael steps around me, extending his hand. “Hello, sir. My name’s Michael Barrett. I was just passing through town, about to sit down and order myself some lunch when I heard there was need of help in the kitchen. I love to cook, and I’ve worked in a kitchen before, so I raised my hand.”
“Right.” Dean’s looking skeptical.
Dammit.
“You’re just passing through?” I hate the way Dean talks to people, makes them feel so small all the time.
I cross my arms, pinching them tight while Michael puts on an easy smile and looks as innocent as a lamb. “Yes, sir. Taking a couple of years off to travel the country. I pick up bits of work here and there.” He glances around the kitchen as though he’s just coming up with a new idea. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in keeping me on for a few weeks while you look for a new chef? I’m not on any kind of schedule, so I could stick around if it’s helpful. You could just pay cash under the table. I don’t need much.” He hitches his shoulder.
How can he stand there looking so unruffled while I’m sweating bullets beside him?
Dean’s eyes narrow. I don’t dare say anything. Dean’s cheap ass can never resist the chance to save a few pennies. Cash under the table means zero tax.
He’ll be considering this, and I might just sweeten the deal.
“Uh, Michael, I don’t suppose you have a place to stay, do you?”
He glances down at me, his bottom lip sticking out. “Not yet. I only strolled into town this morning, but if you could recommend somewhere…”
“Well…” I spin back to look at Dean, hoping my voice is as innocent sounding as Michael’s. “A while back, one our chefs used to live in the garage. There’s a little bedroom all set up for it. I mean, if you think it’s a good idea, we could maybe give him food and board, which would reduce your costs?”
Michael nods. “Suits me.”
Dean scratches his beard. “If I’m housin’ you and feedin’ you, I ain’t gonna pay you much.”
“I don’t need much to live off, sir.”
Dean loves being called sir.
My skin prickles, and I grip my arms a little tighter.
He’s definitely thinking about this, but he’ll only agree if he feels like he’s the one in control.
I add another layer of butter-me-up frosting and cross my fingers. “I mean, it’s obviously your decision. You’re the boss.” It’s like eating live scorpions to say that to him, but if it makes Dean nod, then I’ll suffer it.
Working his jaw to the side, he rubs his whiskers some more and starts counting something on his fingers. After a minute, he looks at Michael with a hard smile. “I’ll give you four dollars an hour plus food and board. Take it or leave it.”
“Four dollars?” I can’t stay quiet over that one. That’s just plain insulting.
“I’ll take it.”
“What?” I glance up at Michael, shocked by his easy smile. Dean’s offer is pitiful to say the least, but the grin on Michael’s face makes me feel like we’ve just won the lottery.
He’s staying.
He’s taking Dean’s shitty offer, and he’s staying.
Dean reaches out his hand, and Michael takes it. I watch the beefy fingers wrap around Michael’s long digits, and my stomach clenches.
“You screw up one time and you’re out the door.” Dean squeezes Michael’s hand real hard before letting go.
Without flinching, Michael nods at my stepfather. “Understood.”
And there it is.
I’ve been spared a hiding—hopefully—thanks to a tall, handsome stranger.
As Dean spins out of the kitchen, I gaze up at Michael, unable to hide my awe.
His smile grows a little wider, and he brushes his thumb gently over my cheek before turning back to prepare the grill for the evening shift.
I rest my fingers on the spot he touched, my insides going crazy.
Oh my Lord, Michael Barrett, you are so much more than good-lookin’.
23
Sunlight in the Darkest Night
I wipe the cookie crumbs from the edge of my lip and think about the feel of Annie’s skin beneath my thumb.
I probably shouldn’t have touched her, but she was just staring up at me like I was something special, and I couldn’t help myself.
She’s beautiful.
She’s fierce.
Standing up for me when Dean offered me that totally crap pay.
I didn’t care, but she was indignant. It only made me like her more.
It’s clear to see that Dean’s a problem. She’s afraid of him. So is Jackson. It makes me worry for what they might have gone through already. I hope he’s just a mouthy bully and nothing more. That’s bad enough, but when the fists come out, it takes things to a new level I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
The fact that Annie calls him Dean instead of Dad is telling. Unless she’s not his daughter. The age gap between Annie and Jackson could indicate a stepfather type situation. I’d love to find out more, but Annie’s pretty tight-lipped when it comes to that kind of thing.
I scrub a hand down my smooth face, feeling better. The whiskers were getting itchy and long. Now that I can be out in public, sort of, I took the chance to visit the general store and pick up a few supplies. It cost me fifty of Sloan’s dollars, which I had on me. The rest is now hidden in the very back corner underneath the bed. I collected it as soon as it got dark.