Toronto Collection Volume 1 (Toronto Series #1-5)

by Heather Wardell

  A warm fuzzy feeling shimmering through me at this, I said, "You don't have other plans?"

  He shook his head. "I'm meeting with Lou tomorrow to get him going on Magma's dining room, and when you come back we can talk to him about the kitchen. My only other task is figuring out the weekend's tastings, and I need to hang out with my chef for that."

  I smiled, hoping it hid my disappointment. He wanted to "hang out" on a purely business level. I shouldn't have expected anything else, of course, but his support over my clot had briefly made me think of having more with him.

  I wouldn't have anything, though, with anyone, until after January sixth, when Charles and I would have been separated a year and we could get divorced and I could move on.

  "So, what do you say?"

  "Sounds good."

  And it was. He waited with me at the hospital for nearly three hours without complaint so I could get my shot then drove me to the medical supply store to pick up my support stockings.

  They were an experience: I'd never expected to need lessons to put on tights, but the ankles on the things were barely the size of a baby's wrist so they weren't easy to get on. The technician watched me struggling to pull them up wearing the nubby rubber gloves she'd provided. "Always put them on with the gloves, okay? You can't rip them with a nail or ring that way."

  "Got it," I panted. "Will this get any easier?"

  She smiled. "Give it a few days and you'll be a pro."

  Once I'd finally crammed myself into the stockings, I put my jeans back on and went out to pay the bill, grimacing as six hundred bucks for three pairs of tights hit my credit card.

  Kegan didn't speak until we were back in the car. "Need another advance?"

  I shook my head. "I'll be okay. Thanks, though, I appreciate it. And the time you're spending with me today, and the gifts, and—"

  "Stop, you'll make me blush. I'm glad to help. Oh, and submit the bill to the insurance company right away, okay? They take a month or so to pay out. It'll only be eighty percent, I think, but better than nothing."

  Definitely. We rode in silence, as I tried not to fidget at the tights' unfamiliar restrictiveness, then I said, to distract myself, "And everything's okay at Steel?"

  "Yup."

  I waited, but he didn't elaborate. "The repairs are going all right? And all the food was okay on the weekend? And—"

  "Mary. Define 'sick leave' for me."

  "Stuck at home worrying?"

  He laughed. "No worrying. I don't want you stressing over it."

  "I'm more stressed not knowing."

  "And I'm telling you everything's under control."

  His sincerity calmed me, and I felt even better when he added, "If you're up to it, I would like to discuss this weekend with you. But only if you can handle it."

  "I can."

  "Want me to take you out for dinner?"

  Before I could respond, he said what I was thinking. "No, wait, your leg's supposed to be elevated. Plan B. We could get sandwiches from Mildred and then do our menu work at one of our apartments so you can put it up."

  "Great plan." Anything that didn't involve me at home alone was a great plan.

  Mildred's coffee shop was only minutes away, and she was touchingly delighted to see me and worried about me. "Another blood clot, you poor girls."

  "Is your daughter doing all right?"

  She nodded. "She's been off the warfarin pills a few months now. Her leg swells a bit if she stands too long but otherwise she's fine." Her eyes brightened. "Do you have an email address, honey? I'll give it to her so she can send you a note."

  Not sure why Tanisha would want to do such a thing, I nonetheless wrote my address on the notepad she held out.

  "She needs a friend like you, needs to learn how to work to her potential." She laughed. "And maybe you need one like her, to stop you working occasionally."

  "Don't stop her working," Kegan said in mock alarm. "I need her."

  She frowned at him, and I didn't think it was mock. "Don't push her too hard."

  "He's not," I said awkwardly. "I want to work."

  She patted my head. "I'm sure you do. Teach Tanisha how to want it, okay?"

  I doubted Tanisha would want a friend, if we even ended up being friends, forcing her to work, but I smiled anyhow.

  Back in the car, with the sandwiches and the cookies Mildred had insisted we take, Kegan said, "So, my place or yours?"

  Mine was a disaster, and Brian showing up would be an even bigger disaster, but my menu notes were there. "How about a quick stop at mine and then yours?"

  After we drove the twenty-odd minutes to my apartment, chatting about the past and future tastings, he came upstairs with me, and I found to my surprise and delight that the support stockings made my leg much happier taking its first steps after sitting down for a while.

  "They should help, for the price," Kegan said as I unlocked my front door.

  "So true. Sorry about the mess."

  "I hear your cleaning lady has a blood clot, so no worries."

  I smiled at him. "You always know what to say."

  He gave a grunt of laughter. "Hardly. I'm famous for saying the wrong thing."

  "Not to me."

  Those deep blue eyes warmed. "Glad to hear it. Need help getting your things?"

  I didn't, so he stayed at the front door, which was good since the hall and kitchen were the least messy. I gathered my notes and my warfarin pills and returned to the door to find him down on one knee patting Saff who was weaving back and forth and rubbing against him.

  Kegan looked up at my arrival. "What's his name? He's cute."

  "He's Saffron, and he's shedding all over you."

  Indeed, Kegan's black dress pants had gone orange and shaggy in spots.

  He laughed. "If that's the worst thing that happens to me today I'm doing pretty well."

  I shook my head. "You have the best attitude."

  His face turned solemn. "I didn't always. I've been working on it."

  He took a breath to go on, and panic swept me as Brian's front door opened.

  Brian looked at Kegan, on one knee in front of me. "What the hell's this?"

  Kegan rose in a smooth motion. "You must be Mary's neighbor. I'm her new boss." He held out his hand.

  Brian, clearly feeling out of his depth, shook it, then turned to me. "How're you feeling?"

  I shrugged. "Better."

  "Good." Obviously wanting to get Kegan on his side, Brian told him, "She was bitchy on the weekend. Watch yourself."

  Kegan said coolly, "She's got a life-threatening health condition and apparently nobody to help her. I'd be bitchy too." Without waiting for a response he turned to me. "Ready to go?"

  I nodded and he moved forward, making Brian back out of my apartment. I locked the door and followed him to the stairwell, leaving Brian behind.

  Halfway down the stairs, Kegan stopped. "Sorry. He's your neighbor and I shouldn't be a jerk to him since it'll come back on you. Want me to go apologize?"

  I looked at him and realized he would. He'd go back up there and apologize for being snarky. Brian wouldn't, in a million years, apologize for calling me bitchy. I shook my head. "I think he deserved it."

  "Oh, so do I." He smiled at me. "But if it'd make your life easier, I'd apologize."

  I smiled back. "Let's just go eat our sandwiches."

  He squeezed my arm. "Got it."

  Chapter Nine

  I didn't quite stay home for the recommended two weeks. My doctor at the walk-in clinic listened to my pleas of needing to get back to work before I went insane and let me return two Mondays after my diagnosis.

  I'd been working throughout, of course, but not on my feet as I'd be at Steel and Magma. After our Wednesday hospital visit and menu planning session, Kegan and I had spent time together daily, working on tastings and designing Magma's menu. He'd even asked me for suggestions for Steel's, which I'd provided although I'd been afraid Isaac might take umbrage.

  T
he team had pulled off the four tastings I'd missed, making me both happy and uncomfortable although Kegan insisted they wouldn't have been able to without my behind-the-scenes work.

  He also insisted on sending Antonio to bring me to work my first day back so I wouldn't have to negotiate the subway, and though my leg truly felt better I gave in because I was a little afraid myself. The doctor assured me my warfarin levels were good and I shouldn't have any further trouble with the clot, but the MedicAlert bracelet around my wrist constantly reminded me of the risks of my condition.

  I took extra care with my makeup and smoothed my hair into an elegant twist for my first day back, feeling the need for a little confidence, and Antonio whistled when I walked up to him. "Nice, Miss Mary."

  "If you call me that one more time..."

  He laughed. "At least I'm not singing the song any more."

  That bloody 'Miss Mary Mack' skipping song, bane of my childhood. "True. But only because I punched you."

  He rubbed his arm as if it still hurt. "Trust me, I remember. But I have to say, you do look good. Sleek."

  I'd been going for cool and powerful, but I'd take sleek. "Thanks."

  When he let me out at Steel, I didn't feel any of those things. I felt nearly as nervous as I had for my interview. My clot had made the team work so much harder. Would they be angry? Unkind? Not in front of Kegan, I wouldn't expect, but secretly? Even if they didn't show it, would they resent me?

  In fact, they seemed delighted to have me back and it touched me so much I had to blink back tears. Dorothy squealed and grabbed me in a hug, and even Crystal smiled and said, "I'm so sorry you've been sick. But now that you're back and we don't have to worry about—"

  Kegan cut her off. "Don't dump too much on her right away. Can you all go take care of the laundry delivery?"

  Crystal didn't seem to mind his interruption; she gave him a simpering smile and said, "Of course, boss. Come on, you slackers."

  They followed her away, her followers looking amused and the rest not at all impressed at being called slackers, especially by her.

  I turned to Kegan, but before I could ask why he'd silenced Crystal, ask what he was hiding, he pulled open his office door and said, "Come see what I've done."

  I saw it at once. A new desk faced his, with a footstool tucked beneath it and shelves mounted on the wall beside it. The rolling chair and small filing cabinet completed the addition.

  "Like it? Now you have a place for your cookbooks, and you can sit and raise your leg at least a bit whenever it gets uncomfortable. No need to worry about where you can take a rest. We'll do the same thing at Magma."

  Crystal had told me during my first weekend on staff that Kegan considered his office private space so I shouldn't expect to spend much time there. That he'd do this for me, on top of everything else...

  Before I quite knew what I was doing I'd thrown my arms around his neck. "Thank you. So much."

  "You're welcome." He drew me closer. "I hope it helps."

  Sweet mercy, his embrace felt good. Nobody had held me since Brian back in February, and this blew that away. Kegan and I fit together like we'd been created to. The urge to bury my face in his well-muscled chest and hold onto him forever swept me, but instead I squeezed him tighter then made myself let go. "It does. I'll be okay."

  He patted my back and stepped away. "I have no doubt that you will. Now. Ready to talk menus for this weekend?"

  Since hugging him again, feeling his body against mine and breathing in that gloriously sexy cologne, wasn't on the agenda, I agreed, and he sat at his desk and I sat at mine and we worked through ideas and my notes and plans until lunch time.

  "Let me take you to the café. Mildred will be thrilled."

  She was, and also happy I'd be having dinner with her daughter that night. "You're welcome to come here."

  Tanisha had made it clear we wouldn't, saying in her last email, "We won't get a second to talk if she's there. I love Mom, but she just can't shut her mouth."

  I smiled at Mildred. "She has some restaurant she wants to try, but maybe we'll come here for dessert or coffee."

  "Sounds good." She turned on Kegan. "Listen, you. Take great care of this lady, you hear me?"

  "He doesn't have to—"

  "I'll do my best." He smiled at me.

  "Don't work her too hard. Especially don't try to—"

  "Mildred. We have to go."

  She blinked twice. "All right. I know when to shut up."

  "You don't," he said with affection. "And we all know it. See you later."

  She reached across the counter and cuffed him gently across the top of the head. "Get out of here before I throw you out."

  We all laughed and Kegan and I left. Partway along the sidewalk toward Steel, my curiosity got the better of me. "There's something you haven't told me, isn't there?"

  "Lots of things."

  I stopped. "Like what?"

  He turned to face me. "Like what I had for breakfast, and what color my socks are, and—"

  I rolled my eyes. "Mildred obviously knows something I don't know, and you shushed Crystal when she started to talk, and Dorothy was so excited to see me, and..." I frowned, realizing who I hadn't seen. "Where's Isaac?"

  He grimaced. "I didn't want to do this on your first day back. Thanks a lot, Mildred. Let's go to my office."

  I followed him in, nervous. Once we were seated, he said, "I had to fire him."

  "Why?"

  "He showed up an hour late on Friday, and—"

  "Which Friday?"

  "The day you were diagnosed. And yes, I fired him and didn't tell you," he said as I took a breath to complain. "But I didn't want you worrying. We did fine without him."

  I didn't like the secrecy but I had to admit, if only to myself, that I would have worried and probably insisted on coming in and I really had needed to let my leg recover. "So you were short me and him? The others must have worked so hard."

  He nodded. "I thanked them all, don't worry."

  Good, but I made a mental note to thank them myself. The tastings would have been ruined if they hadn't stepped up to the challenge.

  "Anyhow, Isaac insisted the schedule said he needed to be in at four. We checked and it didn't, but I let it go. Anyone can make a mistake. But then he was two hours late on Saturday."

  "Same excuse?"

  He grunted a chuckle. "No, he said I'd texted him to say I didn't need him until five. Even claimed he'd written back and I'd written back to that. None of which happened, of course."

  "Wow," I breathed. "How did he think he'd get away with it?"

  He shrugged. "I let him work because we needed him, but I confronted him afterwards. He was absolutely insistent, even begged me to pull out my phone and check. I got it out of my coat pocket since he wouldn't let it go, and of course there were no messages to or from him. None on his phone either. Then he just stood there and stared at me. I had no choice. A mistake is one thing but he looked me in the eye and lied and I can't accept that."

  "I can't believe he'd do that. It's crazy."

  "Crystal suggested he was high or drunk. I guess it's possible."

  I nodded, then realized something. "Now Steel has no chef."

  "That's what Mildred meant. She's afraid I'll try to get you to do both jobs." He gave me a smile. "So. Want to do both jobs? For a much higher salary, of course."

  Chef of two major restaurants? "I'm honored, but how would it work? And why not hire someone? Or promote someone maybe?"

  "Here's how I see it working. You'd revamp Steel's menu, and of course finish designing Magma's. I still need you at Magma monitoring its reno, but you can do menu work there. Magma's going to be a lot smaller than Steel so you probably don't need a sous-chef there but you certainly do at Steel. Even at Magma we'd make sure there's someone good working for you, so you'd be a bit less hands-on but still in charge. And as for hiring someone new..." He shook his head. "I will if I have to, but this doesn't feel like the right time to
bring in a new person. I'd rather have you."

  I hadn't even been with him a month. It felt a lot longer though, with all the time we'd spent working together, and apparently it did to him too. I loved that he thought so much of me, but had to say, "You wouldn't rather promote someone?"

  He tipped his head to one side. "Would you prefer that?"

  "No," I said at once, afraid he'd take back the offer, and he grinned. I grinned too. "I'd love to take them both on. But wouldn't promoting someone be easier?"

  He drummed his fingers on the desk then seemed to make a decision. "Here's the thing, and I'm trusting you to keep this to yourself."

  "Of course."

  "Nobody else is capable of it. Dorothy's the closest, I think, but she doesn't have the vision. She's fabulous when she's told what to do but she couldn't come up with anything when we needed a replacement for one of your dishes because the ingredients weren't available."

  I remembered that. Kegan had phoned me looking for a substitute, and I'd changed a few ingredients in one of my favorite recipes and he'd said the patrons loved it. So, not Dorothy. I hated it but made myself say, "Crystal?"

  He rubbed a hand across his forehead. "She expects it, I'm sure. She was basically the old chef's second-in-command until Isaac came along. But Dorothy at least tried to come up with something else. Crystal actually suggested canceling the tasting. No, I couldn't trust Crystal at Magma when I'm here. Or the other way around."

  But he did trust me. Happiness filled me.

  "Plus, I think the staff would be happier with you. I know Crystal annoys them."

  I thought back to the environment at that first tasting. "It's more than annoyance, I think. She really gets under their skins, and she was pretty rude to Isaac too."

  "So there's another reason, like we needed one, not to put her in charge instead of you."

  I wanted to say more, to make him understand exactly how toxic Crystal was, but he'd moved on. "So you'll be in charge of both kitchens, at least until after Valentine's Day when Magma will be open too. If we can continue after that, great. If it ends up being too much, which it might, I'll hire someone else for one place and you can keep the other."