After two more episodes of The Office (first season, of course), they left. It’s not like the three of us could all share the one futon, but it still made me sad to lock the door behind them. I hurried to the window and watched them hail a cab. It pulled up to the curb and Julian opened the door for Jo, sweeping a kiss across her lips before they slid into the back together. They weren’t slobbering wildebeests. They were the cutest people in the entire world and they made me almost sick with envy every time I saw them doting over one another. When was the last time I’d had a relationship like that? I think I had shown that much affection to a Snicker’s ice cream bar once, but it had been a tragically one-sided affair. I’d never loved a man like she loved Julian.
I scrubbed away remnants of cheese from a plate and then caught movement to my right.
“No! You’re not allowed out!” I yelled at the cockroach. “God, at least wait until I leave.”
A loud knock sounded at the apartment door and I jumped, dropping the plate into the sink full of suds. Did Josephine forget her keys?
“Lily! Open up!”
Oh shit. The police?
“Lily!”
It wasn’t until my name was yelled a second time that I registered the familiar deep voice.
Dean motherfucking Harper was at my apartment. I’d have preferred the cops.
I swallowed and wiped my pruney hands on the dishrag beside the sink. Okay. He was at my apartment, which meant he probably wanted to talk to me. Or maybe he just needed to get a clipping of my hair for the voodoo doll he was undoubtedly creating so he could continue torturing me from afar.
I walked to the door as he kept hammering away on the thin particleboard.
“What do you want?” I asked, peering through the tiny peephole. He was leaning against the door with his head down. His dirty blond hair was disheveled and curling at the ends. He’d foregone his normal uniform for a t-shirt and running shorts. He looked sweaty, even through the peephole. Oh god. He’d run to my apartment.
“Just let me in. We need to talk.”
He already sounded pissed and we hadn’t even seen each other yet.
“Sorry, no hablo ingles.”
“Lily.”
“I don’t want any Girl Scout cookies. Go away.”
“Oh hello there!” a feminine voice chimed from down the hall. I stood on my tiptoes again and peered through the peephole. Oh dear lord, it was Ms. Whittaker, our landlady. Josephine had warned me about her immediately upon my arrival in New York City. She seemed old and endearing, but then she’d invited Jo to a party. She’d gone, assuming it would be a bunch of old people playing Monopoly. Instead, she’d found herself politely navigating her way through a swinger’s party. Ms. Whittaker was one kinky old lady.
“Oh hello,” Dean replied with a nod.
“Friend of Josephine’s?” she asked, pausing mid-step to take him in from head to toe. I held back a snicker.
“Something like that,” he answered.
She smirked and stepped closer. “Well, a friend of Josie’s is a friend of mine. Say, I host these parties every weekend up on the—”
“He doesn’t want to go to your weird swinger parties, Ms. Whittaker!” I yelled through the door.
She shrugged and offered him one final creepy smile before continuing down the stairs. “Mmm, I’ll let him make that decision on his own. I’m up on the top floor, sugar.”
Dean nodded and stepped back to clear a path for her.
“Have a good day, Lily. Don’t forget I need you and Josephine’s rent check by the end of next week.”
“Got it,” I said.
Once she was out of sight, I stepped away from the peephole, unlocked the door, and swung it open a few inches. I wedged my face between the door and the doorframe and waited for him to explain himself. His gaze slid down what was visible of my body, inspecting the oversized t-shirt I was wearing as a nightgown.
“You have ten seconds,” I declared.
“Cute shirt.”
“It’s my dad’s,” I explained, tugging at the hem. Had I known he was coming over, I would have gotten dressed, and maybe put on a helmet and shin guards—
anything to protect me in our inevitable battle.
The corner of his mouth curled up and he stepped forward pushing the door open with his palm.
“Hey! Just wait a second!” I yelled as he continued to see himself into my apartment. “I didn’t invite you in.”
I closed the door and then turned to him with an accusatory stare.
“Lily, the sooner you let me talk, the sooner I’ll be out of here.”
I flung my arms open. “Oh well please speak, because I can’t think of a single reason why you”—I stuck my finger in his chest—“being here”—I pointed the other finger at the ground—“makes any sense at all.”
He turned to walk through my apartment—which was a glorified shoebox—running his finger over the countertop before inspecting it. Are you kidding me? Who did he think he was? He turned back and stared at the futon, still pulled out flat with my pillow and butterfly blanket thrown haphazardly on top. Add that to the list of things I would have hidden had I known Dean was coming over.
“I’d like to hire you as a consultant for my new restaurant.” He spoke with utter sincerity.
Even still, I barked out a laugh. “Are you smoking crack?”
He frowned. “I’m serious. I don’t have any other options and neither do you.”
“The hell I do! Just yesterday I interviewed for four different jobs.”
Two of which were at Subway (different locations), but he didn’t need to know that.
He crossed his arms, standing his ground on our tiny battlefield. God he consumed the space, making it his own. His body wash filled the air, mixed with the sweat from his run. When he left, I’d have to light a thousand candles and invite the shaman that lived down the hall to rid the apartment of his aura.
“Julian is the primary investor for the project, and I don’t want our differences to jeopardize that. We might not ever learn to get along, but I can at least offer you a job.”
Wow. How very noble of him.
“Fuck you. I hope Julian walks and you lose the money.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Look, I’m not going to beg.”
I crossed my arms. “Then don’t.”
“The job comes with a thousand dollar signing bonus, benefits, and a starting salary of ninety thousand. If you prove your worth, I’ll likely consider you for future projects.”
His brown eyes seared into me, daring me to turn down the offer.
“And what about us?” I asked. “How are we going to work together?”
He took a deep breath, his broad chest rising and falling as he considered my question. “Y’know, I’ve dealt with several asshole contractors and plenty of bitchy wait staff. You, Lily Black, are nothing I haven’t handled before.”
A slow smirk spread across my lips. He thought he had me figured out. He thought he had the upper hand.
How cute.
“Well, seeing as how you’re out of options, make that a hundred thousand starting salary. And I want one percent of profits for any projects we collaborate on. And before you say I’m just taking advantage of your predicament, just wait a few weeks. Trust me—I’m worth every penny.”
The more I pushed him, the tighter he clenched his jaw.
“Deal. I’ll have my lawyer draw up the contract tomorrow. Meanwhile, there’s a team meeting in the morning at Provisions. Eight AM sharp,” he declared as he moved toward the door with long strides. He was done with me for the day. I kept my focus on the tiny window above my sink, trying hard to control my pounding heart. Just as I thought he’d yank open the door and make his exit out of my apartment, his hand hit my elbow. He gripped the soft skin just below the sleeve of my t-shirt.
I shivered at the sensation of his mouth behind my ear, too close for comfort.
“And just so we’re clear.” He spoke a
s a helpless ripple traveled down my spine. “This isn’t a truce.”
Chapter Fourteen
Lily
Being roommates with Josephine had certain perks. She was tall enough to reach the cereal boxes on the top shelf of our pantry and she had a never-ending supply of designer clothes. As an in-house blogger for Vogue, she got to raid their closet for her weekly blog posts. Next season’s Valentino? Special collection Manolo Blahniks? Nothing was off limits to her, which meant nothing was off limits to me.
“How about this sleeveless wrap dress with a cardigan in case you get chilly?”
I glanced up to see Josephine holding a sky blue dress. The cotton material looked soft enough to sleep in, but the cut and design made it fancy enough for work.
“It’s gorgeous, but will it be too long on me?”
“Nah. It’s way too short on me. That’s why I haven’t worn it yet.”
I held it up against my body and stepped in front of our floor-length mirror.
“Are you nervous?” Josephine asked, stepping up behind me.
“A little bit,” I admitted. “But Julian will be there to help ease the pain of working for Dean.”
Jo laughed. “I’m still kind of shocked you agreed.”
I arched a brow. “It’s not like restaurants were knocking down my door or anything. I pretended otherwise, but I didn’t really have a choice.”
She nodded. “Okay well, hurry up and change. We can share an Uber.”
I frowned. “What’s that, some kind of German energy drink?”
She closed her eyes, clearly embarrassed to know me. “It’s an app people use to find rides. It’s much faster and cheaper than using a taxi.”
I frowned. “So you find someone on the app and trust that they aren’t going to murder you the second you get in the back of their car?”
“They’re not random people. Most of them are just off-duty taxi drivers trying to make extra money.”
Right. Because off-duty taxi drivers are the most trustworthy people in the world.
“Sure, sounds good. On a totally unrelated note, do you think mace would fit in this clutch?”
…
When I stepped into Provisions the morning of my first team meeting, my heels echoed around the restaurant, announcing my presence to the unmanned hostess stand. The lights were half dimmed overhead and the empty dining room was quiet, save for the morning crew working to make the restaurant spotless.
I took the long way around the courtyard, admiring the trees, and then stepped into the hallway that led toward the back offices. I was only two steps in when voices spilled out into the hallway from the back manager’s office.
“Wait, wait, wait. She actually agreed to take the job?” a woman asked.
“Why wouldn’t she? It’s a great opportunity,” Dean replied. Obviously, I quickly pressed against the sidewall and listened.
“Well yeah that would be enough for anyone else, but not for someone that you’ve been such a dick to. Let me guess, you mentioned the fact that you have a mega boner for her?”
“Zoe, cut that shit out. I mean it.”
Zoe, the Provisions manager who’d hired me for my one and only shift tending bar.
“Yeah, you’re right, wouldn’t want her to know that you actually have a wittle baby grinch heart beneath that scrooge suit.”
“If I wanted to show someone my heart, I’d adopt a puppy.”
She grunted. “The idea of you with a dog is too scary to imagine.”
“Lost?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin when a voice spoke directly behind me. I’d been so focused on eavesdropping that I hadn’t noticed Julian until he was right behind me.
“Christ, Julian! Maybe announce yourself next time.”
He smirked. “LILY, IT IS I, JULIAN,” he boomed.
I narrowed my eyes. “Clever. Really clever.”
I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to see Zoe leaning out of the manager’s office.
“Get in here you two,” she said.
One look at her and Julian proved that I was one hundred percent overdressed for my first day on the job. Julian was in jeans and a button-down and Zoe was in white distressed overalls with a silky purple tank top underneath. Her colorful tattoos were on full display and she had a gold decorative ring adorning each one of her fingers. She looked like an Olsen twin, and I looked like a stuffy corporate lawyer in comparison.
“After you,” Julian said, extending his arm for me to lead the way. “Good morning so far?”
I nodded. “Your girlfriend had to teach me how to use Uber.”
He laughed. “Did she tell you that she used to think it was a dating app?”
“As fun as it is to listen to you two out there, we were supposed to start this meeting five minutes ago,” Dean called from his office.
Julian arched a brow and I tried my best to suppress my laughter.
“I hate to say it, but I doubt either of us will win employee of the month now,” I whispered.
“Damn. I really wanted that parking spot and a bad picture up on the wall,” Julian said with a wink.
His comment pushed me over the edge. I lost it to a fit of laughter just as we rounded the corner into Dean’s office. I was mid-laugh with my mouth open, clutching my chest, when my eyes locked on Dean. His sharp features were locked in a scowl, proving even further that the man was a walking time bomb.
His dark eyes followed me into his office and I swallowed down the last bit of my laughter. Whatever humor I’d felt only moments before had been sucked away by Mr. Tightass. Did he ever relax?
Chapter Fifteen
Dean
I’d been in a great mood that morning. After a seven mile run and a hot shower, I’d dressed in my favorite black suit. My white shirt was pressed and wrinkle free, and my shoes were shined to perfection. I’d had everything in control until I’d arrived at Provisions and Zoe had started in on the Lily crap again. She thought she was funny, but I needed every ounce of patience if I hoped to deal with Lily in a professional manner. Unfortunately, Zoe had worked me up just as Lily had arrived at the door of my office in a flirty blue dress, laughing at whatever joke Julian had just whispered to her.
The moment I saw her, adrenaline spiked my veins like my body was preparing for battle. My heart raced and I started to sweat. It wasn’t a reaction I was used to, and as a result, I was reacting the worst way possible: with anger.
“Take a seat,” I said, motioning to the four vacant chairs spread out in front of my desk. Four open chairs, and Lily took the one closest to mine. Her perfume was soft and floral, a scent that lingered in the air between us.
“Are we waiting on someone else?” Julian asked, drawing my attention to him for the first time since he’d walked into the office. Lily had completely eclipsed his entrance.
“Hunter,” I said.
Lily opened her mouth, but I knew what she was about to ask. “Hunter and Zoe have helped me with my last ten restaurants. The two veterans, along with fresh insight from you and Julian should make us a well-rounded team.”
“What exactly is Hunter’s role?” Julian asked, taking the open seat beside Lily. Zoe sat across from Lily, leaving the chair next to the door open for Hunter, whenever he finally arrived.
“He’ll help find a location for the restaurant, and then I’ll have him wear the hat of project manager during the build out.”
“So will he—”
Lily’s question was cut off by Hunter as he hurried into the office with sweat coating his brow.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” he announced, hands up in surrender. “I couldn’t find a parking spot anywhere.” His eyes cut around the room, taking in the two new members of the team. Julian garnered a quick onceover, but his eyes nearly fell out of his skull when he saw Lily.
“Oh shit, I didn’t think you’d already be starting. Who are the newbies?”
Lily and Julian exchanged a glance before standing to gr
eet Hunter.
“Julian Lefray, nice to meet you.” I watched them exchange a handshake and Hunter nodded, clearly recognizing the name.
“Right, Mr. Moneybags. Good to have you here, man.”
His hand dropped back to his side and then he turned toward Lily. His merino jacket could hardly button over his beer belly. The material strained as he bent forward for her hand, nearly breaking it off with his gusto.
“And who, may I ask, are you?”
Lily bristled at his veiled attempt at flirting. “Lily Black.”
“She’s the consultant I hired to help round out the food and drink menus, concept, and ambiance,” I spoke up, if only to get the show on the road. “This was all in yesterday’s email, Hunter. Now have a seat, we’re already running behind.”
His round cheeks reddened at my reprimand—that, or he was overheated from hustling to the meeting.
“Today won’t take long. We need to check schedules and confirm a good time for our weekly meetings. I’d also like to finalize a name for the restaurant—”
Lily frowned. “I’m sorry, could we rewind a bit? You haven’t even told me your vision for the restaurant yet. How am I supposed to help with a name if I don’t even know what type of food we’re serving?”
Fair enough. I leaned back in my chair. “I want to do a tapas bar with price points around fifteen dollars a dish.”
“Accessible prices by New York standards,” Zoe cut in.
Lily narrowed her eyes. “All right. Have you thought about whether this city really needs another tapas bar? Are you going to make it unique? Bring in flavors that separate us from other Spanish restaurants?” She didn’t bother letting me answer before continuing. “I think it should have an old-world feel to it with options for paella on the menu for those that want bigger serving sizes.”
She’d been there five minutes.
Five minutes and she was already giving me a headache.
What in the world had possessed me to hire her for this project?