Page 48 of The Great Dating Fake Off
On the other side of the room, a staff member throws open two large glass doors, bringing the cool outside breeze and the smell of fire inside. A huge wave of people migrate in that direction, drawn to the flame dancing in a silver pit. Or to the promise of dessert.
Sebastian looks up from his phone. “Okay, we’re set. There’s a door on the back wall that leads to the service kitchen. Meet me in five minutes.”
“What?” I sit up straighter. “Why?”
“I’ve got friends in high places. You’re eating tonight.”
“You didn’t have to do that. Really, I’m not that hungry.”
My stomach grumbles.
He laughs as he balls up his linen napkin and tosses it on the table. “You almost had me, until your body gave you away.”
As he rises from his chair, I can’t help but wish my body would also keep its opinions about Sebastian to itself, too.
Chapter Fourteen
Sebastian
Alessia is seated at the island when I walk into the service kitchen. Eloise, spray bottle and rag in hand, cleans the stainless steel surface around her.
“She won’t let me help,” Alessia insists. “I tried.”
“But did you try not sitting directly in her way?” I ask.
“Is that a sense of humor I detect?” She nods as if impressed. “Looks like vacation has served you well.”
“Nora’s a few minutes behind me,” I say, ignoring her commentary. “I wanted a buffer when we exited the table, in case any hawk-eyed Italians are paying attention.”
“They are. And not just because of how tight your pants are.” She chuckles into the back of her hand. “Euro-snazzy.”
“You picked the chinos. This is how chinos fit.” I note the bags beneath her eyes. “You’ve reached slap-happy tired, haven’t you?”
“Yes I have.”
“I’m sorry I worked you both so hard today,” Eloise interjects. “I thought the heavy lifting in the fridge would be the end of it. But the resort promised me more servers, plus one was out sick, so I had to serve while Alessia rushed back here to help me plate the last fifty dinners. It was a mess.”
“It was no big deal,” Alessia says. “I was bored listening to Sergio talk about how well he thinks he’d fare on Survivor, so I was thrilled to escape.”
I gesture at the clean kitchen. “I would’ve helped back here, too.”
“Absolutely not, you’ve done enough.” Eloise points at a silver bowl near the stove. “Now, on to your SOS text. There’s the spaghetti. Handy that I made more than Alessia could ever eat.”
“Thanks. That’s great. Nora isn’t a seafood girl, but I think she’ll like that.”
“If you two want to hang out here, the dishwasher works from ten to midnight and the busboy will be in and out, so the doors will be open. If anyone gives you any trouble, just say you’re with the catering team.”
“Okay. I’ll wait with her while she eats and make sure the bowl gets washed. And I’ll toss you a couple of bucks to double whatever non-seafood stuff you make Alessia this week to give to Nora.”
Alessia’s brows lift. She proceeds to stare at me as if burning a hole in my soul. “Oh wow.”
“What?”
“You’re setting up Nora with the special girlfriend menu?”
I recoil. “What? That’s not—”
“You really are into her.” She shakes her head. “It really happened fast, huh? Didn’t it take you two months of knowing Kelcey to start something?”
