Part 2 (1/2)

When her tray was empty, she hurried back to the kitchen, almost colliding with another server at the swinging door. She spun into the kitchen and slid her tray onto the counter in front of Jori, hoping she looked much smoother than she felt.

She leaned against the counter and waited while Jori garnished another half dozen plates and transferred them to the tray. Watching her brother and sister expertly wield a knife had always impressed her. Their motions were deft and quick.

But somehow watching Jori's slender hands move quickly and confi dently over the plates was different. As fi ngers tipped with nails kept short and neat manipulated the tender fl esh of strawberry slices, she imagined them against her own skin.

When Jori reached for the melted chocolate, Sawyer turned away, unable to watch anymore. Jesus, who knew food could be so dangerous?

”All set,” Jori said from behind her. Sawyer grabbed the tray without looking at her and headed back to the dining room. By the time she'd once again pa.s.sed out the desserts, she had calmed * 25 *

her racing heart, but it had taken more than a few minutes out of Jori's presence to regain her senses.

”Ready for more?” Jori asked without looking up when Sawyer returned to the kitchen once more.

”Am I ever,” she mumbled, her gaze once again drawn to Jori's hands. She wondered when she had developed an unnatural obsession with hands. Her imagination was working overtime and her libido was having no trouble keeping pace.

”What?” Jori glanced up.

”Um, yeah. I've got one table left.” She averted her eyes, hoping the l.u.s.t churning in her stomach wasn't evident there.

”Jesus, what a night. I forgot how much work waiting tables was.” Sawyer perched on a stool at the bar, her elbows resting on the polished surface. The last guests had left over an hour ago, and she had helped Erica get the dining room back in order. She reached back and rubbed at a knot in the muscle where her neck and shoulders met. It had been several years and twice as many careers since she'd had a job that required so much physical strain.

”Are you still sure you want to come back tomorrow night?”

Erica asked, moving behind the bar and getting a bottle of water from the cooler. She took a bit of pleasure in her sister's discomfort, knowing she had expected to breeze right through the evening and obviously failed to do so. She didn't want Sawyer to struggle, but she was tired of seeing her always land on her feet.

She had been surprised when Sawyer sought her out during the salad course to tell her she had reconsidered and now wanted to continue working at Drake's.

Before Sawyer could answer, the door from the kitchen swung open and Brady walked through, leading Jori toward * 26 *

them. Erica watched as Sawyer's eyes immediately tracked to the pastry chef.

”Yeah, I'm sure,” Sawyer murmured.

”How about a beer, sis?” Brady called as he slid onto the stool next to Sawyer. ”And get the lady whatever she wants.” He hooked a thumb in Jori's direction.

”I really should get going,” Jori said.

”The fund-raiser was a big success. It should be good for business. Relax and celebrate with us,” Erica suggested, sliding a local microbrew across the bar to her brother. ”What can I get you?”

”Just water, please.” Jori sat next to Brady.

Erica s.h.i.+fted her gaze between Jori and Sawyer, wondering what was going on in her sister's head. She certainly didn't want her pastry chef getting involved with Sawyer. Jori was sweet and a great addition to Drake's, and Erica didn't want to see her get hurt. Maybe she was being selfi sh, but she also didn't want to risk losing an employee when it ended. It would end, Erica was certain. Sawyer had a bad track record with women. It wasn't that she was a player. She apparently made honest attempts at relations.h.i.+ps, but her short attention span prevented her from sticking around when the initial glow wore off. And Erica had watched one too many women, namely a good friend of hers, fall victim to Sawyer's fi ckleness.

Brady draped his arm over Sawyer's shoulders and beamed across the bar at her. ”It's so great that we're all working together.

It took you long enough to come around,” he said, squeezing Sawyer.

”I don't think this is a permanent move, Brady,” Erica interjected. Despite Sawyer's a.s.sertion that she planned to stick around, Erica still had her doubts. She would lose interest in Jori or the job, either of which would end her commitment to Drake's.

* 27 *

He looked expectantly at Sawyer, who just shrugged. ”Oh, come on. This place is in your blood. I don't know why you keep trying to fi ght it,” he said, dismissing her indecision.

”Are you kidding me? In my blood? This place has never meant to me what it means to you guys,” Sawyer argued.

”Then why haven't you stayed at any other job?” Brady wasn't letting her off the hook.

”Jesus, Brady, get off my back. What is it with this family?

Does everyone think they can just nag me until I give in?” Still sensitive from having her mother manipulate her so easily, Sawyer fought to keep her voice from rising. So what if she'd had a few jobs in the past several years. Why did they all think that gave them the right to dictate how she should live her life?

She glanced at Jori and bit back a retort. Her siblings sure knew how to make her seem irresponsible, and though she wanted to defend herself she decided that now wasn't the time. Jori was staring at her water as if she wished the fl oor would open up and swallow her. She hadn't spent any time around the three of them, so she couldn't know that the sniping was typical behavior for the Drake siblings.

”Well, I'm beat, and if you expect me to do this again tomorrow, I need some sleep.” Sawyer stood.

”Be here by four.”

”Okay.”

”I should go, too.” Jori rose.

Brady followed. ”I'll walk you ladies out. Don't forget to lock up before you go upstairs, Erica.”

The top fl oor of the building had been converted into a loft-style apartment that their parents had moved into after their children were all grown and had occupied until they retired. Tia had liked being close to the restaurant, and when Erica took over as manager, she'd moved in upstairs.

”Hey, Sawyer, how about a ride home? I was supposed to call Paige to pick me up when we got done. But she'd have to * 28 *

wake the boys and get them out,” Brady said as they walked out the back door.

”Sure.” Sawyer fi shed her keys from the pocket of her worn leather jacket and disengaged the automatic locks. ”What's wrong with your truck?”

”I think it's the transmission. I dropped it off at the garage yesterday.”

”When are you going to trade that thing in?” She didn't expect a response. Brady loved the old Ford, and she knew he'd keep patching it until his mechanic told him there was no hope.

”What about you, Jori? Do you need a ride?”

”I'll grab a cab.”

”Nonsense,” Brady said, pulling open the pa.s.senger door.

”Sawyer will drive you home. You're in Green Hills, right? You two are practically neighbors.”

Sawyer slid behind the wheel and put the top down. ”I hope you don't mind. It's a beautiful night and I thought we could enjoy it.”