Hollie glanced over at Joe. “What are you making, Joe?” she asked, peering curiously over his shoulder.
“Just some extra food,” he mumbled.
Hollie raised her brows. “Why? Nobody ordered any spring rolls or crab cakes.” She checked the orders and frowned. “Are we catering for a party?”
“Mmmm,” was the indistinct reply.
Hollie narrowed her eyes at her boss. “I’m getting suspicious,” she said. “What are you not telling me?”
“What?” Joe’s head jerked up and he gave her a wide-eyed innocent look. “What are you talking about?” He waved at the stove. “An order just came in for fish and chips. Go cook.” He made a shooing motion and turned back to work on the spring rolls.
Hollie huffed and went to batter the fish. She turned to Joe and said, “I noticed you marinated a whole tray of chicken wings too.”
“Mmm-mmm.”
Hollie saw that Joe wasn’t going to elaborate any further. The man was determined to keep all the information to himself.
As Hollie turned back to the stove, she let out a small sigh. She was used to being kept out of the loop in the Black Blade pack. As a half-breed, she was looked down upon and she was always the last to know about anything. Nobody wanted to talk to her and share any information with her.
She’d thought that outside the pack, things would be different.
For a while at least, things looked a whole lot different.
She had been working at Joe’s Diner for three weeks now, and everyone at the diner had been so friendly and helpful. She didn’t understand why Joe was so secretive now.
Why wouldn’t he let her help in preparing the party food? He was obviously catering for a party of some sort. He seemed to be determined to keep her out of the preparations. Was he worried that she would mess things up? She was a fast learner and she took instructions well. She thought that Joe and Maria trusted her.
Hollie exhaled a long, slow breath.
She shouldn’t get ahead of herself. She shouldn’t ask so many questions or assume that people liked her as much as she liked them. Maybe Joe saw her only as an employee, an assistant cook and nothing more.
Not everyone was as eager as she was to make new friends.
Hollie shook her head hard. Her insecurity was creeping up on her and planting all sorts of doubts and unpleasant thoughts in her head. She should just snap out of it and concentrate on her work.
Joe was her boss. And he was a good boss. He could do whatever he wished. And if he didn’t want to tell her anything, that was fine too.
Hollie put the plate on the counter and rang the bell. Lucy came in and grabbed the plate. She grinned at Hollie and flashed Joe the thumbs-up. “All set,” she chirped.
All set for what? Hollie wanted to ask.
But she bit her lip and stayed silent.
Everyone was acting rather strange today.