think that, but it’s the only thing I can come up with.” She crossed her arms over her chest, looking uncomfortable, and then she dropped them. “It has to be someone in my kitchen. The Health Department has me on their shit list now, excuse my French, and they are determined to find something and pin it on me so they can fine the hell out of me and shut down this kitchen. I am not going down without a fight. I refuse to have someone think I have a dirty kitchen when it is anything but.”
I glanced around and saw nothing but spotless work areas and neatly stacked cooking equipment. Mike was doing the same thing. “Okay, so tell us how many people work here?”
“There are twelve of us here in the main kitchen.”
“Thirteen? You oversee twelve people?” I asked, and she hiked a brow.
“Yes, twelve. Why does that surprise you?”
“I’m just surprised that there are so many people that work in the kitchen. That was nothing against you, Ms. Davidson.”
She paused and swallowed. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. She had the right to be defensive, especially if someone was out to get her.
“Tell us about the people in the kitchen.” Mike urged her and then paused. “You don’t mind if I record this, do you? I know some people are camera shy, but it will give us a chance to look back over it after this and decide the best locations to put them.”
She looked at me. “I think I got over being camera shy a few weeks ago. Do what you need to do.” Mike gave me a questioning look but then turned on his recorder on his phone as she walked us around the area, pointing out what area was for what and who takes care of it.
“Do you have a measuring tape?” Mike asked her, and she shook her head.
“Sorry I don’t think so.”
“I have one in my console,” I told Mike and started to head toward the door, but he grabbed my arm and held his hand out.
“I’ll get it, just give me your keys.”
I almost told him that I’d do it, but at the last second, I handed him the key fob. Both Ali and I watched him leave, and I wondered if I was the only one to feel the tension building around us.
The door closed, and we both continued to stare at it. I finally cleared my throat. “You did a really good job with the dances. I hope you enjoyed yourself.”
She turned to me, a look of thankfulness on her features. As if she had been afraid to bring it up and was glad that I had. “Thank you, and you did too.” She gnawed on her bottom lip for a moment.
“It was fun.”
“It was,” she commented quietly and then lifted her green eyes to mine. “I’m sorry.”
Oh, the temptation to reach out and touch her was so strong. I shoved my hands into my pockets instead. “Hey, you had to do what you felt was right. I hope safe is working out for you.” Her lips parted in surprise, and I wanted to knock myself out for saying that. What an ass I was! I put my hand up. “I’m sorry. That was rude, but I do hope that you two are doing well and you are happy. Look, I’m going to go see what is taking him so long. I’ll make sure that someone else comes back to help Mike so that you don’t have to see me again. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
I rushed away from her before she could say a word, the entire time kicking myself in the ass. When I stepped outside, I found Mike leaning against the truck.
“What are you doing?”
“That didn’t take long.”
“What didn’t take long?”
“For you to run away.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Dude, I put two and two together. Both of you were acting strange, and when she mentioned being used to the cameras, I figured it out. She’s the one that you danced with on that show, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, so?”
He laughed as he pushed off the truck. “She’s also the one that twisted your head around your heart. I was hoping if I gave you two a few minutes, you could get yourself straightened out.”
“There is nothing to straighten out. She picked the other guy.”
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure after seeing the way she was watching you, that she sure