Mirepoix (A Recipe Of Love Book 1) (21 page)
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Authors: Paige Conners
“Now on top of all of that the tiny tattooed freak is ruining me. I’ve had people calling me all last night and this morning telling me they won’t do business with me! So you’re going to call your dyke friend up here and convince her to drop it or I’ll kill you both!” I’m not sure if it’s the dyke comment or threatening Lindsay but something in me snaps. I grab the first thing I reach and swing it with all my strength. It’s her bad luck it’s my massive metal immersion blender. I hit her square across the cheek with it when she falls she hits her head on my metal shelving with a sickening crunch before collapsing in a heap on the floor.
I drop the blender with a clatter on the prep table as Joe comes barreling around the shelves and shoving my rolling cart out of the way. He kicks the gun on the floor away from Heather’s loose hand, I guess just in case she comes to. He wraps his arms tightly around me and presses my face to his chest. I can hear his heart racing and I squeeze him as tight as I can to reassure him I’m fine. I hear the elevator doors open again and suddenly uniformed police are rushing in. I know both officers from around the neighborhood and am never happier that Philadelphia has officers assigned to specific districts. They know who I am and that I belong here, they also know Joe is my man and belongs here too but don’t take any chances until they know what’s happening forcing him back with his hands up.
After I explain what was going on they let him come back and hold me more. That’s how he was able to catch me a few minutes later when I found out that my well-placed blow to the face somehow resulted in Heather’s death. I knew later I would likely feel some guilt but at the moment I knew it was her or me and I was alive to be held by Joe and I couldn’t regret that.
Epilogue
I know Joe is into some kinky stuff, hell who am I kidding I am too, but we’ve been driving around for about twenty minutes with me wearing a blindfold. I tried paying attention to the turns to figure out where we were going but gave up about five turns ago. I’m convinced he’s taking wrong turns and driving out of his way so that I can’t. Over the past three months Joe has been working with me on my fear of riding in vehicles. I’m okay when we’re in the truck, mostly because the thing is a tank and we can just run over someone if they cut us off. However being in the truck with the blindfold on is definitely testing me, I think I’ve dug permanent nail grooves in the armrest on the door. Counting the turns and listening to the sounds around us to try to figure out where we are is helping distract me thankfully.
First it’s our Valentine’s day, we’ve come up with the solution of unless Valentine’s day is actually on a Monday we will celebrate the Monday before it. Joe is thankful I get that he has to work that day, hell I’ll still probably go visit him and see if I can help, I’m just thankful we’re together. Restaurants and cooking is in my blood and how I was raised, it’s both nature and nurture with me. I just don’t want the spotlight and am happy hiding in the back floating around helping everywhere I can. Joe understands that and never pressures me to step into the spotlight with him.
The only good thing that came out of the whole incident with the cluster fuck with Heather is that Lindsay took complete control in terms of PR for both of us. She issued statements we agreed upon that addressed what happened in a truthful manner and subtly directed attention to Joe’s cookbook. The cookbook immediately blew up, and the story went viral, I refused to read anything that was written or on social media about us. I’m not ashamed to say I gave her all my social media passwords and dumped it in her lap to deal with while I locked myself away making soap and clothes.
I barely survived the anxiety of knowing everyone was talking about me and judging me without reading any actual negative comments. My friends circled the wagons and made sure I wasn’t alone for almost all of the first month. I shockingly was fine with being back on my production floor, no symptoms of PTSD at all. I still have my social anxiety, it won’t magically go away over night but as long I stick with my safe zones I am doing pretty well.
Instead of hiring a new personal manager Joe hired Lindsay, as he put it he didn’t have to worry about her trying to change him, and she’s too proud and mean to not do her best for him. She convinced him being his badass self would be a good thing, after she got ahold of his social media information she has him staying viral nonstop. He was even on a Buzzfeed
list of hot chefs last month. His cooking skills back up his looks too, his book hit and has stayed on the bestsellers lists for the past two months. His restaurant is packed every night, having Willow as hostess is working out brilliantly because she keeps the service moving and adds a personal touch remembering repeat customers, I can see her taking over as the front manager soon if she wants it.
In fact business is so good, when the restaurant renting my commercial space where Risso’s used to be closed, he asked me if he could rent it to open a new place. He is completely closed mouth about what he’s doing with it, just telling me I will love it and to be patient. It’s like he doesn’t even know me!
The truck pulls to a stop and I fidget while I wait for Joe to come around and get me down. I won and got him to install the steps for me but with the blindfold on I’m not willing to try to climb down on my own, even if he would ever let me open a door myself. As he puts it he knows I’m fully capable of operating a door but it’s about respect not ability. I’m willing to indulge him in his gallant behaviors since I know it really is about respect his mother drummed into his head while growing up.
Joe helps me down out of the truck and wraps an arm around me not just to guide me but to help block the brutal February wind. We haven’t had too much snow but I am sick and tired of the never ending cold, even if it means I have a reason to wear really soft sweaters like I am tonight. I hear the clink of keys as Joe unlocks a door before ushering me into a hushed building. My curiousity is killing me as I wait for Joe to unveil his surprise. I feel Joe’s heat behind me and he removes the blindfold finally.
“Surprise!” is bellowed by all of our friends as they jump around like the lunatics they are. I blink and take in my surroundings, we’re in the commercial space that I’m renting to Joe. There are cozy booths lining both walls and a massive old bar at the back wall next to the swinging double doors to the kitchen. Everything is rich gleaming wood and green leather with brass tacks. It’s like stepping into and Irish pub. Joe hands me a menu from the hostess station and I choke up when I see the name he picked Cistin Teachín, Cottage Kitchen in Irish. The menu shows it’s all different types of comfort food with an emphasis on classic Irish dishes.
I turn and bury my face in Joe’s shirt. I’m an overly emotional mess but at least it gives me an excuse to rub my face on Joe’s soft shirt and enjoy his cedar wood scent, which by the way he still won’t tell me who makes it.
“Is this the hormones talking or do you hate it?” Joe gently teases as he touches my softly rounded stomach. Joe got his way in that I’m knocked up, we won’t know until our appointment next month if he got his way and it’s a boy, based on how much I’m showing I’m certain it is and he will be a giant like his father.
“I love it! Now I can have my mashed potatoes whenever I want without having to make them myself!” I pull Joe down for a kiss and it quickly morphs into one we probably shouldn’t be indulging in with his mother present.
“One last thing Pixie. I know your last name is the only thing you have left of your birth parents, but would you be willing to hyphenate it?” Joe asks while sinking to one knee and holding up a ring that is perfectly me, it’s black gold with a dazzling blue trillion cut stone, the exact color of my eyes, surrounded by delicate Celtic knotwork.
“Yes! Just remember this means Lindsay will count as your sister now too!” I kiss him while he’s laughing and pushing the ring onto my finger. I hear our friends cheering all around us as I sink into the kiss, the last coherent thought I had was:
this is what family is.
Playlist
Like Frankie I think rock music should be played loud enough everyone on my block can enjoy it too. I use music for almost everything from escape to inspiration. There’s nothing better than a live concert and feeling the music with every part of your body. BTW Drac’s ball is real and if you’re in the Philly area I definitely recommend going! Here’s my spotify playlist for this book, the songs are in no particular order:
https://play.spotify.com/user/paigeconners/playlist/5a7Mfpt8Aanw5hz41007Oe
Acknowledgements:
To my husband, I love you. Sorry for the nights I lost track of time and had to rush to throw dinner together.
Thank you to my own hetero life-mates who continuously kicked my ass to get me to write this book. You never doubted me for a second even when I did.
Lindsay and Layla I love you. Boob cuddles and butt touches all around.
“I won’t say goodbye because that’s too final. I’ll just say love you, see you later.”
To my beta readers thank you! Good beta readers are the superheroes of the book world!
Ashley with Redbird Designs, you are awesome and amazing! It was super easy to work with you!
To all my girls in the book world, I seriously don’t know what I would do without you. I found this awesome little world online where I’m not judged but accepted. My own personal weirdness is a good thing for once. My lack of mouth filter is seen as a blessing. So Thank you for not being judgy and mean.
About the Author
Paige has always loved books and reading. Growing up books provided an escape to magical worlds where magical creatures were real. As she got older those magical creatures became dream worthy men. After years of voraciously reading some very helpful friends nagged at Paige to write a book for her own. Everyone deserves friends like those!
Paige lives in Western Pennsylvania with her two tiny demons and her husband. She has a very serious Food Network addiction and collects tattoos.
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