Page 115 of Tasty Cherry

“I’m good.” I don’t want any more details. “There’s nothing to cater today. What is your assignment?”

“Nothing. That’s how we freed up time for the freezer,” Maverick says. “I’m just hanging out.”

“You’re moving to HR today, then. Suze will give you work.”

“Cool.” He heads for the door. “That Emily chick in HR is hot.”

Damn it. I should have sent him to maintenance.

But Mila’s with them this week. I don’t want him near her.

I want to tell him not to do anything stupid in HR, but he’s already gone.

I feel like I’m reeling. The wildness in the bridal suite, then abruptly being dumped into this meeting. I run my hand through my hair. It’s curled up from being wet.

Yeah, Chef Monique’s situation will be mine, eventually.

I text Mila. How’s Brooklyn?

It’s a minute before I hear.

Mila: She wants to know if he’s fired.

I shouldn’t answer that. It’s out of protocol. But I do.

Me: Not yet. Convince her to stay.

It’s a while before another one comes.

Mila: She’s calming down. Can she have the day off? Can you make that happen?

Another breach of protocol. Technically, this is Raya’s call, since she’s over the interns. But I do it anyway.

Me: Why don’t you and her go check on the pregnant donkeys when you feel up for it? I’ll tell Raya you two were needed out there and I pulled you from today’s rounds.

Mila: I like that. Thank you.

I sink back in my chair. One problem handled.

Now for the other.

Maverick has figured out about me and Mila. That’s a powerful secret.

I wonder who else knows.

37

MILA

Sebastian and I cool it for a few days, but when everything settles down after the Chef Monique situation, we’re back at it.

As the weeks pass, we feel invincible. We’re like addicts, sneaking together whenever we can. It’s part of the thrill.

It’s half-dark in the unused staff apartment, which I sometimes like to think of as ours. We discovered it three weeks ago and it became our go-to location.

But it’s our last day to use it, as Havannah hired a new social media coordinator. He’ll be arriving over the weekend to take it over until he can find an apartment.

I’ll miss having this space, which is easier to sneak into than empty guest rooms. No hall cameras. Nobody monitoring the door lock scans.