Free The Way Home by Katherine Spencer

and smiled again.
    Could he be any more condescending? Avery thought of a few snappy comebacks but decided they were all beneath her. Amuse-bouche was a real term that people in the restaurant business used all the time. Why did Mike Rossi make her feel like some . . . some pompous prig?
    Gena turned to the others. “This is my friend, Mike Rossi,” she said introducing him to the rest of the staff. “He owns the Lazy Tuna, down on the corner.”
    Avery watched Mike greet her crew. Even around a second mouthful of chips, his natural charm shone through. Teresa blushed up to the edge of her bandana when he shook her hand, and Jack, who mostly moved like molasses in January, jumped out from behind the bar to meet him.
    â€œYou own the Tuna? Cool. I love that place. I could eat three meals a day there.”
    Avery restrained herself from sighing out loud. Doubtlessly, a college boy like Jack Malloy would prefer Mike’s menu over hers any day. But did her own busboy have to be so unabashedly starstruck by the King of Fried Seafood?
    Mike didn’t seem to notice her distress. He just stood there, soaking up the adoration.
    â€œHey, thanks, pal.” Mike slapped Jack’s shoulder. “Come down to the Tuna sometime and say hello.”
    Avery stared at him, her arms crossed over her chest. He finally seemed to get the hint that he’d overstayed his welcome.
    â€œSorry to interrupt your rehearsal. I’m sure everything will go fine on your grand opening. Good luck, everybody!”
    Her crew sang out a chorus of thanks-yous. Avery felt obliged to chime in. “Thanks, Mike. See you around.”
    He met her glance a second and waved, then slipped out through the French doors, into the sunshine.
    Once Mike had left, she stared around, unable to remember what course they were up to. Had Gena even taken her order?
    Gena stood by the table with her pad and pencil out. “Want to keep practicing?”
    Gena was the last person who needed this dry run, Avery thought, and of course, the most willing to comply. The others stood waiting for her to answer.
    â€œThat’s all right. Let’s take a break.”
    Serena had already taken off her apron and had her handbag slung over her arm. “Okay. But remember you said I could leave at three?”
    â€œThat’s all right, you can go,” Avery replied.
    â€œShould I make more chips?” Teresa picked up the basket and peered inside where a few crumbs clung to the white parchment paper. “Boy, these went over big. Somebody liked ’em.”
    They both knew that somebody was Mike. He had more than sampled the prop; he had made a meal of it when she wasn’t looking.
    â€œI think Mike stuck a few in his pocket,” Avery joked. “I guess he doesn’t serve many dishes like this at the Lazy Tuna.”
    Teresa glanced toward the Tuna with a dreamy smile. “I don’t know about his cooking, but he’s a very nice guy and kind of cute.”
    â€œI didn’t notice,” Avery fibbed. “And you’re married.”
With children and grandchildren,
she could have reminded her. “You shouldn’t be noticing these things.”
    Teresa laughed. “I’m married, honey, not blind. And neither are you.”
    Avery sighed. She wasn’t going to win this debate. Why even try? She picked up the stray menus and busied herself stacking them.
    Okay, he’s attractive
. She would grant him that. But what difference did it make to her? None at all.
    She had a fairly low opinion of all men right now. Not to mention being totally focused on getting her business off the ground. She had zero interest in dating at the present and had promised herself that if she ever did start to date again, she would not even consider a guy in the restaurant business.
    Which included Mike Rossi. Especially Mike Rossi. So why was she even wasting one millisecond thinking about it? It was