Page 81 of Finding Elodie
“I thought I was a pretty good griller,” Pid said between bites, “but seriously, this tastes like we’re at a five-star restaurant.”
Elodie laughed. “Well, I was a chef at a five-star restaurant once upon a time,” she told them.
“Damn, Mustang, you better watch out or I’m gonna steal your girl,” Aleck told him.
“Not a chance, Aleck,” Mustang retorted, deciding it was time to reclaim his woman.
He wandered over to where Elodie was standing near a table filled with condiments and snacks. The second he got close, she put her arm around his waist and leaned into him, making him feel damn good.
“If you guys really want to know the secrets to a good burger, it’s pretty simple. A thumbprint in the center of the formed patty, use salt and pepper only to season, use high heat, and definitely don’t squish them down while they’re cooking. You should only flip them once; just let the heat do its thing and stop messing with the burger once it’s on the grill. And when it’s done, you have to let it rest, let the juices redistribute throughout the meat. If you cut into it right away, or bite into it, the juices will go everywhere and make everything soggy. Oh…and mix the cheeses you use. American and cheddar are fine, but I used Monterey jack to give it a bit of a bite, and muenster.”
“Aleck had muenster cheese in his fridge?” Midas asked in mock astonishment.
“Yes, I did, asshole,” Aleck said. “I might like peanut butter sandwiches and tuna, but I grew up eating at country clubs, so I developed a taste for good food. Not the slop you guys eat all the time.”
Mustang smiled as the banter flew back and forth between his friends. He leaned down and kissed the top of Elodie’s head. “Having a good time?” he asked quietly.
“The best,” she told him. “I really like your friends.”
“Good. Because I have a feeling after these burgers, your presence is going to be requested at any get-together that has food. Not that they only want you around because you can cook or…I mean, because you’re a chef, but…oh shit. I’m gonna stop talking now before I put my foot any farther in my mouth.”
She chuckled. “It’s okay. I know what you mean. And honestly, it’s fun to cook for friends or with you. I’d lost my love of cooking for a while. Making meals for a crew of twenty or for patrons in a restaurant isn’t the same. It gets monotonous quick.”
“I can imagine. You thought about what you want to do when this Columbus business is over and behind you?” he asked.
“No.”
Her answer was short…and almost bitter sounding.
“El?”
She sighed and looked up at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just…I can’t think past today. I have no idea what my future holds, and the last thing I want to do is plan for something and then be disappointed when I have to give it all up and run and hide again.”
Mustang put his plate down on the table and turned to Elodie. He took her plate out of her hand as well, then tilted her face up to his. “Listen to me, babe, you want to know what your future holds?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer, but went on. “Me. This, relaxing with friends on the weekend, not looking over your shoulder, and definitely planning for what we’re going to do a week from now, a month, a year.”
She gripped his wrists and looked at him with eyes so filled with pain, worry, and hope, it nearly killed him. “You can’t know that.”
“I can and do,” he argued.
“Elodie, this Paul guy isn’t going to win,” Pid added quietly.
Mustang had almost forgotten where they were, and that his team could hear every word of their conversation. Almost. He’d known they would back him up…he needed Elodie to believe that they were doing everything in their power to make sure she would be safe to live her life.
“No fucking way,” Jag agreed.
“He might be head of that family for now, but he’s a fucking idiot, and his second in command is gonna take over soon. Mark my words,” Slate added.
“You ever talk to Jerry Columbus?” Midas asked.
Mustang took a breath and released Elodie’s face, but grabbed her hands and squeezed them as she turned her head to look at his team.
“Paul’s son? No. I mean, I knew he was around, but he never came into the kitchen and wasn’t involved in hiring me,” Elodie said.
“Right. Well, he seems a lot more savvy than his dad. Less hotheaded. But of all the members of the Columbus family, he’s the most dangerous,” Midas told her.
