Page 5

“I don’t know.” Sliding my hands into the front pockets of my trousers, I smiled widely.
She blinked.
Several seconds passed as she ran her tongue across her teeth and closed her eyes for a count of five. When she looked back at me, she had a polite, almost saccharine smile on her face. “Excuse me. Did I hear you sayyou don’t know?”
“Yes.” Inclining my head, I waited to see how she’d handle that.
She didn’t disappoint me.
She advanced on me, faces locked.
Her eyes, a dark and velvety blue, like the expanse of a Texas sky if you could get out of the city far enough to escape the lights, narrowed slightly on mine.
She didn’t blink. “It’s Friday night during opening week. An employee of the kitchen should always know where the kitchen manager or head chef is.” She angled her head slightly, one brow lifting.
She wasn’t wrong.
But since I didn’t exactlyworkhere, I wasn’t sure the criticism applied.
She was still glaring at me, waiting for a response.
“Give me a second.” Tapping my Bluetooth, I waited until my assistant picked up. “Hey, I’m in the Crystal kitchen. Neither Tito nor…” Damn. The name escaped me.
The brunette with the too-sexy mouth and efficiently neat manicure watched me closely.
“Jeannie?” Miranda offered in my ear.
“Yes. Neither Tito nor Jeannie are around, and I think there might be an issue in the Prism Hall. Track them down. Now.”
Ending the call, I smiled. “I’m typically busy handling…bigger fires, but my assistant will have Tito and Jeannie here within the next two minutes. Or less.”
Her lids flickered slightly, and a faint blush bloomed on her high cheekbones.
“I’m Maximus,” I said, offering my hand. “Welcome to my hotel.”
Her blush deepened, and it was a joy to watch that full mouth open. “Well.” She drew the word out as she slowly accepted my hand. After a short, perfunctory shake, she said, “I certainly feel foolish now. I apologize.”
Looking around and still not seeing JeannieorTito, I had to give her credit. She wasn’t wrong.
“You’re right about having the kitchen manager or head chef on hand at all times to deal with fires. If you tell me the problem, maybe I or somebody else here can help.” I glanced around.
Behind me, someone cleared their throat. “The sous chef got injured, Mr.…ah, Maximus.”
I turned to find the speaker. Tito had slipped into the kitchen, and he gave me an apologetic look, his olive complexion flushed. “I’m sorry, sir. Shaniqua was on the line, chopping up strawberries, and she cut her hand. It was kinda bad, and….”
He broke off, his teeth catching his lower lip as he looked away.
“And…?”
“I saw the blood and just about passed out, boss. I’m sorry.”
“And how’s Shaniqua doing?”
He sipped from a nearly empty water bottle before answering. “Jeannie called an ambulance. It’s on its way.”
“All right. Someone stays with Shaniqua until the medics come. Try to keep her from bleeding all over the place. Make sure she has everything she needs.”
I gestured to the brunette. “I didn’t catch your name?”