Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(65)

Either that, or maybe he was just trying to practice that chemistry he said the show needed. Either way, she had to play along.

She shook the separator and the egg white slipped through the wire rings into the container below. “See how easy that was?” she said, with her own wide cheesy smile.

Daniel chuckled. “So Edie says you used to live in Chicago. Whereabouts?”

He couldn’t have broken the ice with a more uncomfortable question. Chicago was so long ago. She didn’t remember much as it was. Memories did come in bits and pieces sometimes. Here and there. Wrigley and Soldier fields. Shedd Aquarium. Some images and flashes when she least expected them. Mostly dreams. Sometimes nightmares. She didn’t want to talk about it.

“I was four when my grandmother and I moved to Michigan. I don’t remember much before that.” Frustration fed its way into her system. Her hands shook.

Come on, Serah, he’s just making small talk.

Yeah, right.

She cracked the egg on the side of the bowl and flung the egg into the separator. The yolk split in protest, sliding in with the whites. “Damn it.”

“Thank goodness we’re not taping yet.”

Serah flung the slimy egg off her fingers and reached for some paper towels. “Haven’t done that in a while. Luckily we’re not making meringue.” Her nerves more settled, she reached for another egg. Taking extra care, she broke and separated the egg with ease. Whew.

“And I thought we’d have a local connection. I’ll have to find another thing we have in common.”

“Sorry about that. My memories of Chicago… well there aren’t many to talk about.” She dropped the eggs into Daniel’s bowl.

“Oh. Too bad, you would’ve loved it.”

“Chicago’s only three hours away. I used to go there all the time during my shopaholic days.”

“Shopping isn’t all Chicago has to offer.”

Could have fooled her. She always felt uncomfortable in that city, despite the killer deals. Something always prickled her skin when she neared the city. Like something lingered there. Something evil. Which was too bad. It truly was a lovely town.

“To be honest, all that traffic freaks me out.” No lie there. She could barely manage the roads of River City. Stick her in an even bigger city and she was doomed. She tried it once. Never again. “A couple of years ago, I decided to go to Chicago by myself. I ended up getting in an accident on the Dan Ryan. I won’t drive there alone again.”

“Not a good time, I bet. Sorry that happened to you.” Daniel flashed a reassuring smile. But just how reassuring was it? “I’d be happy to show you around town. You wouldn’t have to drive at all.”

“That’s a nice offer. I’ll keep it in mind.” She pointed down at the bowl. “These eggs aren’t going to whisk themselves.” She shoved a whisk into Daniel’s hand.

“Oh, man. I’m going to end up with arm strain,” Daniel said with a smirk.

“No one ever said cooking was easy.” She grinned. “Continue whisking until it’s smooth.”

“I see how you are, making your guest do all the work.”

Serah shrugged. “You’re the one who said you never made this before. I was just helping you out.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

“Seriously, you’ve been doing this show for how long and you’ve never made tiramisu?”

Daniel whipped the mixture with expert precision. “I was just waiting for the right moment.”

“Guess that time is now.”

“I can’t wait to see how it turns out.”

“You’ll have to wait a few hours for the custard to set.”

“Well, that sucks.”

“I know, right.” She looked into the bowl. The frothy mixture formed large, fluffy peaks. “The filling is just about done, so you’re almost there.”

Daniel tapped the whisk on the side of the bowl, allowing the mixture to plop inside. “What’s next?”

“We have to soak the ladyfingers.” Serah took a seat at the counter and grabbed the package of ladyfingers. Ripping open the plastic, she sucked in a deep breath. She needed to tell him sooner or later. It might as well be now. “So I talked with Lucy, Rafe, and Matthias.”

Daniel set down the whisk and bowl. “And?”

“Lucy and Matthias stay.”

“Sally’s going to freak,” Daniel said with a shake of his head. “But I’ll talk to her.”

“That’s all I’m asking for.”

“Okay. Well, let’s finish this up. I have a few errands I need to run, so I can use the down time to do that.”

“Sounds like a plan.” She just hoped Rafe had his phantoms lined up in time.

***

“I’ve located Nigel and Rupert.” Rafael’s voice boomed in the phone. “They said they have about five or six other phantoms that they can send.”

Matthias nodded. “Good.”

“I know you are not someone who enjoys working in the background, but right now it’s for the best.”

“I was just going to check on Serah anyway.”

“Where’s Lucy?”

“She had an important client who came into the shop unexpectedly.”