Burn (Heat #1)(21)

"Does it seem too short to you?" She gestures toward me. "Your ass is hanging out a bit."

"I thought that's the way you wanted it." I arch my back, jutting my ass out even farther. "Where am I supposed to wear this thing?"

"We're going to Florida in four months for my brother's wedding." She twirls her finger in the air. "You can wear it there."

I turn so I'm facing the wall. "What the hell kind of wedding is it? You're sure I can't wear a dress?"

"Right side, please," she says with a giggle. "I'm going to sew a dress for you to wear to the wedding. This is for when we hit the beach."

"You need to let me pay for the material for all these outfits, Soph." I relax once she's taken the last picture. "You're saving me a bundle in wardrobe costs."

"I like designing, Den." She studies her phone. "I don't want you to pay for any of it. You only charge me three hundred dollars a month for rent. You know that's a steal, right?"

I do know that. I also know that having her here is worth way more than that. I don't have siblings. I've lost touch with most of my friends. Sophia is like family to me now and if she asked or needed it, I'd let her stay with me for free.

"At least let me buy your lunch." I breeze past her on the way to my room. "I can eat with you. I work a late shift today. I don't have to be at work until three."

"I'd never turn down free food. You know me better than that."

***

"Why are you here?" My gaze zeroes in on the plate in front of him. It's my dish. It's the halibut that I was so proud of but now seeing it touching his lips, it feels tainted.

"I heard your dish made the lunch menu, babe." His chin lifts as his eyes lock on mine. "I had to come down and try it out for myself."

He hasn't changed at all since I walked out of his life. His blonde hair is still cut short, his blue eyes as mesmerizing as they were the first time I saw them.

That feels like a lifetime ago now. I was at a deli, ordering a sandwich and he was next in line. He suggested I add avocado to it, I scoffed at the idea. By the next night, we were tangled together in the bed in his apartment.

"I don't want you here, Brendon."

He smirks, the way he always did when my opinion or feelings didn't align with his. "I can eat lunch wherever I want. Today I'm doing it here."

"I want you to leave." I step closer to the table. "You shouldn't be here."

"Why not?" He chuckles. "I thought you'd be happy to see me. I know you've missed me, Den. I've missed you."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I bite back the temptation to scream at him to leave. I want nothing more but we're in the middle of Nova. The lunch crowd is dispersing but there are still dozens of people enjoying a leisurely meal. My co-workers are here too and even though Tyler left before I arrived, I know he'll be back soon. Darrell told me as much.

"I don't miss you," I say tightly. "I've moved on. My life is different now."

He straightens in his seat, his fingers pulling on the edge of the linen napkin covering his lap. He's wearing jeans and a blue dress shirt, open at the collar. He's tanned, relaxed and as women stream out of the restaurant, they do a double take to soak in a second look at him. I can't blame them. It's what drew me to him in the first place. What they can't see is the selfish heart that beats within him.

"You should come back to Axel." His jaw tenses. "I'm offering you a senior chef position right now."

It's nothing more than bait. He knows that's what I want. He also knows that despite the fact that I only graduated from culinary school a few months ago, that I'm just as skilled as he is. I proved that in spades to him when we were working side-by-side.

"I'm happy here." I tap my foot on the floor as I stand in place. "I'll never work with you again."

"You sound so sure of yourself." His voice is raspy. He turns to look toward the kitchen. "What's keeping you here? Is it Monroe?"

I won't go there with him. I refuse to. We may have shared something for a brief moment of time but that's dead now. If I had any doubt of that, I don't anymore. I feel nothing for him. Any residual longing or regret is gone. "I like it here, Brendon. This is where I belong now."

He rises from his chair, his eyes level with mine. "You don't belong here. You're better than this place."

"No." I shake my head. "You've got it wrong. They appreciate me here."

"If they appreciated you, they would have told you this halibut is over-seasoned." He tosses his napkin onto his virtually untouched plate. "I'll give you carte blanche at Axel. You can choose the menu, cook what you want. I'll see to it that you get what you deserve if you come back to work for me."

"She's not coming back to work for you." A deep voice interrupts from behind me. "You had your chance. You f*cked it up."

I turn toward Tyler. His expression is full of challenge, his eyes angry and focused.

"Don't speak for her," Brendon seethes under his breath. "You don't realize who she really is. You've only seen one part of her."