“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 greet 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?

“Lily, why don’t you let me explain the entire concept before you start offering ideas? This meeting won’t take long if you just listen for a few minutes.”

Her jaw dropped and her bright eyes narrowed on me. I’d called her out in front of everyone, but she deserved it. She was a consultant. I was the boss.

“By all means, take it away.”

Julian whispered something to her, and she smiled. Another private joke at my expense. Why was it so infuriating that Julian made her smile? Because it was at my expense?

Or because I wanted to switch places with him?

Chapter Sixteen

Lily