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“And West?” I raised an eyebrow. “It’s okay to have cravings.”

“We’re both happy to have a delicious meal. Much better than ramen or peanut butter and jelly. Or cereal.”

I made a pained noise. “No, mama, we’re not doing that again.”

This woman was going to drive me nuts. Cereal for dinner? Hell no. Not on my watch.

I pulled some steaks out, a half-baked idea forming in my head. I glanced at Joey and Brianna. They had the service in hand, but I wanted to make sure before I completely went off on my own cooking.

A quick glance at Logan and Sunshine showed the two of them looking pleased with themselves. Matchmaking jerks. I supposed, given where Sunshine worked, it was only a matter of time.

“What do you like to do?” Ember leaned against the counter.

“I basically live here.” I chuckled. “I’m boring when I get home. I play video games or watch movies and then go to bed and come here. Sometimes I experiment with food.”

She gestured at the steaks. “Are you going to eat lunch with me?”

“If I’m invited.” I sent her a sly look. She looked intrigued, but her shoulders were still stiff, like she was ready to bolt.

I could wait. I’d spent six months with her scent haunting me. Although now that I met her, my control was about to be severely tested.

“Of course you’re invited. Sunshine says there’s a little chef table around here?”

“Sure is.” I gestured in front of us, to the side of the serving window.

It was a tiny two-seater table we used for breaks, or when significant others came to visit. Joey’s pack stopped by to see him from time to time, and Logan was cool about letting us have visits with our loved ones. He knew better than most of us how grueling the chef’s life could be on your personal life.

Most of us chose not to have a personal life, but I was starting to see why Logan pulled back from working so much. We’d been in a kitchen together for almost ten years, and that man was like a brother I never had.

“That sounds fun.” She perked up. “It’s cute.”

“It is. Louise, Brianna’s alpha, likes to bring flowers in.”

“I can do that.” Ember’s face lit up, and it felt like I’d been punched. “My cousin Luna grows beautiful flowers. You should come see them.”

“I should. Only the best flowers for our chef’s table.”

“Exactly.” Ember eyed what I was doing on the stovetop.

I added some eggs.

“Where did you learn how to cook?”

“Hawaii.” A small pang of homesickness hit me. I loved California, loved being closer to my dad’s side of the family, but I missed the island life too. At least I still had the ocean. “My dad was in the Air Force, one of the first Mexican American pilots there. Met Mom, who’s Hawaiian, while he was there and fell in love. I grew up there but traveled a lot to Mexico or California. I went to culinary school in Honolulu, and then Logan took a chance on a punk kid fresh out of school for his new restaurant.”

“Don’t let him lie like that,” Logan hollered across the restaurant. “He pulled my ass out of the fire.”

“Ooooh, give me the details.” Ember’s eyes gleamed.

“Logan’s chef partner pulled out at the last minute—a week before opening—and left. I stepped in to help.”

It had been a chaotic time. Logan was a world-renowned chef, and I was fresh out of culinary school. I was certain I was going to royally screw up and let Logan down. Somehow, I didn’t. I made mistakes, of course, but the real work was just being there sometimes seven days a week for weeks at a time.

“Boy, did I learn a lot.” I chuckled.

“I bet you did.” Ember gave me an appreciative look, watching me move around the stove. Years of muscle memory kicked in and I didn’t have to pay strict attention to what I was doing. The steaks were browning nicely. I basted them with herbs and butter.

“What do these guys know about you from working with you that most people won’t?” Ember gestured at the room at large. She seemed curious but her posture was still stiff, and I wondered if she would have relaxed better if we’d been alone.