Chapter Seven

“Chauncy!” I shouted.

The cook looked up from where he’d been mixing ingredients in a bowl, blinking at me. “Yeah?”

“Tell me that’s not for the stuffed mushrooms. I told you to use the garlic olive oil. And you used too much! Jesus, how much did you put in there?”

He looked down at the bottle of regular olive oil next to the bowl. “Oh. Sorry. My bad.”

“Make it again.”

“What? Come on, I just finished this! It’s just oil, bro.”

“It’ll change the entire flavor of the…oh just get out of the way. Let me do it. Go help Steven.”

I shoved Chauncy out of the way, dumped the mixture in the trash and started over, my hands moving at double speed. It was the grand opening night party at Elfy Choices, and I was starting to understand why chefs were always dick-holes. This was frustrating work when you had to rely on other people.

Even so, things were running smoothly so far. The garden was packed with people, all lit up and gorgeous, fountains flowing, guests laughing and getting drunk on Robert’s cocktails. Everyone seemed to like the food, and we hadn’t yet fallen behind, but we would if Thing One and Thing Two in the kitchen didn’t get their shit together.

But I was glad to be busy. The crowd in the garden was thick enough that even when I went up front to help Robert serve drinks I wasn’t focusing on anyone in particular. But I had seen that Corey and his friends and the whole ex-boyfriend posse were there. Oddly, despite my meltdown the other day, I couldn’t make myself give a shit about Corey, who he was with, or what he was doing. Because when my mind wasn’t filled with tapas and cocktails and how frustrating the cooks were, I was thinking about The Other Stengel.

I had behaved myself and refrained from calling or texting Duncan after that bathroom kissy meltdown moment. I’d been known to hound Corey with calls back when I’d felt even slightly insecure, so this was a big step for me. I was proud of myself because I’d kissed my fucking boss and I was doing my damn best not to freak out over it. But regardless, I’d kind of expected to hear from Duncan after, whether it be an ‘Are you all right’ or ‘Sorry that was inappropriate’ or some such shit. But nothing. Radio silence.

But we’d talked at work since then. He’d been in and out over the past week, mostly setting up the garden bar for tonight. He hadn’t avoided me, but our conversations were all business, with a few friendly smiles and the occasional lingering gaze. But the subject of the kiss was never broached, by either of us.

It dawned on me that maybe it was just not that big a deal to Duncan. I tried to count the things I actually knew about him. He was Corey’s uncle. He was seductive and elegant. He was bisexual. He had people in his life he’d slept with recently, because I’d met them. He didn’t seem prone to monogamy. And I couldn’t for the life of me figure out if he was interested in me or if I was just another nymph in his enchanted forest.

Before I’d gotten serious with Corey, he used to tell me I was too hung up on sex and what it meant and my skewed visions of monogamy. Pretentious asshole. But perhaps the apple didn’t fall far from the uncle-tree. Maybe to Duncan, a kiss was just a kiss. And the fact that I was his employee? Well, Duncan didn’t like rules unless he made them himself.

I finished my mushrooms and stuck them in the oven, made sure Chauncy and Steven were on target with orders, then went and helped Robert out front at the bar. We didn’t get many party guests actually coming over to order drinks, because Duncan’s sparkling elven wait staff kept returning with empty trays to fill, then they were off again, passing out drinks to the crowd.

I was in my modified wood nymph ensemble, but Robert was dressed as a full-on elf, complete with pointed ear tips. He looked handsome and radiant, and the two of us had a good rhythm together as we worked to keep the ship steady and refreshments flowing.

“Hello, wingless.”

I looked up into Duncan’s beautiful eyes. He looked tanned and handsome in a white shirt with black pants, silver chain around his neck, light brown hair shiny and a bit windblown. “Hey.” I chuckled. “Much better without the wings.”

I was still nymphed-out in my leafy costume with my makeup and crown of twigs, but the wings were gone and I felt a million pounds lighter for it.

“Things going okay?” he asked. “Anything I can help with?”

“We’ve got it under control.” I smiled and gestured toward the crowd. “Looks like you do, too. Successful evening.”

“Don’t jinx it, Zach. Oh, um…by the way.” He glanced over at Robert, who was busy reloading a tray for one of the elf waitresses, then turned his gaze back to mine. “You know Corey and his crew are here, right?”

I sighed and rolled my eyes as I cut fruit garnish for Robert’s cocktails, replenishing the bin. “Yeah. I’m good, Duncan. It was just a shock that day. Temporary meltdown. I’m happy for Corey. Truly.”

“Glad to hear it. If you need help, send one of the elves to find me.” He knocked twice on the bar, and started to turn away.

“Are we good?” I blurted out.

Duncan slowly turned back to face me. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

“Just checking. Because of, you know.”

He rested his elbows on the bar and leaned closer to me. “The kiss?”

“Yeah.” I chuckled. “That.”

“We’re fine. If you’re bothered by it, just pretend it never happened. You were having a bad day.”

“Is that what you’re doing? Pretending it never happened?”

Duncan looked surprised for a moment, brows rising. Then a grin crept slowly up his face. “Not a chance.” He pointed to his temple. “That memory is all mine, and I’m keeping it.”

He turned and walked back into the crowd. I laughed and continued working, the comment making me fuzzier than it should have. I’m doing it again, I thought. I’m becoming too focused on someone. Someone who probably doesn’t share my interest. Duncan was probably just being nice, so I determined to behave as casually as possible. I would not allow him to see me as a needy little fuck, or beg for feedback. I would not let him see me the way Corey used to. That Zach was gone. I’d killed him.

But there was no denying the truth. I had it bad for Duncan Stengel. It had been gestating in a cocoon, growing bigger and stronger with every encounter. I feared the cocoon was ready to burst. I was trapped between my vow to use caution, and my aching desire to enjoy, explore, and pursue these new feelings. Like it or not, I became all jitters and longing and horniness whenever Duncan smirked at me or spoke in his soft, low voice.

When the night grew late, the crowd had thinned considerably, and Duncan said we could stop making food. About twenty party guests still gathered around the fountain, mostly Duncan’s close friends—which also included Corey and co. Duncan insisted Robert and I come over and join what was left of the party. He’d invited Chauncy and Steven too, but they’d declined and sped out like their asses were on fire.

Duncan toasted to a successful opening, and he seemed giddy and a little tipsy. As soon as Robert and I settled in and relaxed with a drink, people were calling my name, coming over to talk to me. Corey and Angelo were there, in deep conversation with another couple. But several of their friends I knew from the old days slapped my back and complimented the food, chatting me up. Doug was sitting next to me, and even Stewart gave me a smile and told me he liked the eggplant.

It was like an alternate universe, where none of that bad shit from the past had happened and we all got along. Except I was no longer with Corey. He was marrying someone else, and I had a ridiculous crush on his uncle, who was also my employer. Okay, so it was a weird alternate universe, but still. Here we all were, together again.

I was talking with Doug when across the fountain my eyes found Duncan, who sat with a drink, the yellow-haired Greg standing behind him and rubbing his shoulders. Duncan didn’t look my way, as he was in another conversation with a woman sitting beside him. But Greg caught my eye, and he smiled and tilted his chin in greeting.

I lifted my glass by way of response, but I kind of wanted to throw it at him. And tell him to get his damn hands off Duncan. I didn’t, of course. I sat there and endured it. I tried to follow along with the conversation the guys I was sitting with were having, but my eyes kept drifting over, and the next time I looked, Greg had disappeared into the crowd and Duncan was staring at me. I stared back and didn’t look away. He patted the empty chair beside him.

I got up and carried my drink over, sitting down next to him. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself,” he said. He reached over and his finger slid down my cheek. He held the finger up, some of my green sparkles sticking to it. “I think you’re melting.”

“Oh.” I laughed. I’d changed into jeans and a tee shirt as soon as Duncan told us we were done working, but hadn’t bothered to wash the makeup off. “I forgot my face was still all Ziggy Stardust. None of the guys even mentioned it.”

“They’ve had a bit to drink.” Duncan smiled at me. “You look amazing, but I think I prefer you without the makeup.”

“That mean I don’t have to wear it for work anymore?”

“No, that’s not what that means.”

“Dammit!”

Duncan laughed and rested his arm on the back of my chair. “I enjoy watching you work in your costume. You wear it better than anyone I employ.”

My pulse jumped. So we were back on this again. “Oh yeah?”

“Absolutely.”

I could tell Duncan was a little intoxicated by the flush in his cheeks. Which meant I should probably take the flirting with a grain of salt. “I bet you say that to all the nymphs.”

“Nonsense!” Duncan feigned offense, placing his hand on his chest. “I wouldn’t lie about that.”

“Yeah, right. Whatever, I’ll take it.”

“I’m quite serious.” He lowered his voice. “The first day we met, when I was with my nephew and we came to the bar?”

I smiled. “What about it?”

He took a slug of his cocktail, then leaned in close. “I designed that damn costume you wear. And still I almost fell off my stool when I saw you in it.”

I laughed. “Is that right?”

“Um hmm. I knew right away.”

“You knew what right away?”

“That I had to know you. That I was going to know you.”

I was thankful for the makeup, because I could feel my cheeks flushing, Duncan’s words heating my face and things lower down. But then we were rudely interrupted.

“Duncan,” Greg called out as he approached. “I have to go, baby, walk me out?” He grabbed Duncan’s hand and pulled him from the seat.

“Of course. Thank you for coming.”

I watched Greg walk away with Duncan, and once again wanted to throw something at his head. Things had just been getting interesting, and he came and stole Duncan away. It was probably just as well. Duncan was definitely feeling good tonight, and I was pleased to be the recipient of his loosening lips and sexy compliments. But I was just one in the crowd. He was probably out there kissing Greg goodbye as I sat here, brooding.

Duncan returned to the garden shortly after but was accosted by Corey and Angelo, who were also leaving. One by one, the guests trickled out. Barry came in from the main bar and started shutting down lights and fountains. Four or five people lingered, but I’d lost sight of Duncan. Deciding I wasn’t going to be the desperate ninny waiting around for my crush, I packed my bag in the kitchen, then slipped into the restroom and cleaned the makeup off my face. After that, I slid out the side exit, and made my way around the building to the road.

I’d had only one drink so decided to just drive home. My car was parked a quarter mile away, and I started walking, enjoying the quiet after listening to loud voices all night. A black car pulled up beside me, and I did a double take. It was the same car I’d been driven home in the night I cooked at Duncan’s house. Earl, the stoic-looking old man was behind the wheel. I paused, frowning.

The rear door opened and Duncan leaned out, grabbing my hand. “Come on,” he said, tugging me into the vehicle. “You’re coming with me, wood nymph.”