can’t hide how I feel,” we sang as I pulled into the parking space.
I cut the engine and turned to face him in the quiet, even though it still felt like the notes were lingering between us. His eyes searched mine, and I met them, okay with sitting here and being seen completely.
“I knew it,” he finally said.
“Knew what?”
“That you were something special. And I just keep finding more layers.”
I had no defenses left against this man. None. And I didn’t care.
His phone vibrated, and he looked down at it. Smiling, he handed it to me. It showed a text from Anneke.
You’re in trouble for waking me up. Also, GIRLFRIEND? Unilateral?! I loooooove her.
I knew he was showing me so I could understand that he and Anneke were only friends, but it still gave me a jealous pang that he was texting her about this stuff. Friendships between men and women often turned to more, didn’t they?
I wouldn’t know. I had lots of friends, but not a lot of people who I let get close to me. I didn’t have a guy friend on the level of Chloe, and maybe I would feel differently about it if I did. But I couldn’t forget Aaron’s voice saying, “He’s had a hard time getting over her.”
Still, being weirdly possessive veered toward irrational crush territory, and not this-is-a-grown-up-relationship behavior, so I smiled at Miles and didn’t comment.
“I’ll wait with you for your Lyft,” I said instead. “What should we do while we wait?” His eyes glinted, and I laughed. “Besides that. I meant what we should talk about.”
“Let’s talk about how you’re going to drop by the Turnaround after work so we can mess around.”
“Miles!”
“On the piano,” he said, giving me a scandalized look. “What did you think I meant?”
I punched him in the arm.
“Fine. Let’s talk about the chef search, and how it’s hard in different ways than I expected.”
I thought about suggesting Dylan again, but he seemed pretty intent on proving himself at Redbird, so I didn’t. Instead, I listened to Miles as he listed the top three candidates he had in mind.
“Anyway,” he concluded after he’d described all three of them, “I’d love to go with Le Anh, but I almost worry that she’s too ambitious. Like her version of modern classics might skew too far from the basics. I get nervous when people start throwing around the word ‘deconstructed.’ Makes me think I’m going to get a pile of ingredients on my plate.”
“Have your two top candidates come in and cook for you. A main and sides plus a dessert, see what they can do.”
“Is that insulting? To put them in there and make them play Top Chef?”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said. “Have them come in on different nights, bring in people who know what they’re talking about to try the food with you, then make a decision from there. If they each want the job, they won’t mind doing it. Pay them well and it’ll make it worth their time no matter what.”
“You’re brilliant,” he said. “Now will you help me find people who can try the food with me?”
“You’re from here. You know people.”
“Right, but this is a ploy to get to know more of your circle.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’ve already met my entire inner circle. Pick two weeknights, not back-to-back, and I might be able to get Dylan to come. Chloe knows food. You’ll definitely want her opinion. And if Miss Mary is in town, I’ll see if she and Mr. Douglas want to come down. Jerome might even be willing to stop in as well.”
“You’re the best.”
“I know. Your Lyft is here,” I said as it pulled up in front of the building. “I’ll drop by the club after work.”
He leaned forward and kissed me, soft and sweet, like it was the easiest thing in the world. I still felt a tiny bit shy about it, unsure yet if I was supposed to get in his space that way without an invitation.
“Just so you know,” Miles said climbing out of the car but leaning in to talk to me, “I’m going to steal every free minute you’ll give me, so you’re going to have to speak up loudly when you need me to back off.”
I climbed from the car and met his gaze over the roof. “See you after work, Miles. Today, tomorrow, and the day after too.”
He slid his hands into his pockets and turned toward the Lyft with a