Free Just a Taste by Shannyn Schroeder Page B

desk. “Then go.”
    â€œI’ll give you two weeks. I’m not trying to screw you and leave you with no chef.”
    Jonathan pointed to his chest. “ I am a chef. You want out, pack your shit and go.”
    Liam strode out of the office before he did something he would regret. He didn’t want to get a reputation as a troublemaker. If the food truck failed, he’d need to find a new job and couldn’t afford to have Jonathan saying anything negative about him. Back in the kitchen, he packed his knives.
    For almost three years, this had been his home. No, not really home. It had never been his place, but he’d spent more time here than anywhere. He would miss it. He thought about staying until the rest of the staff arrived so he could say good-bye, but then Jonathan slammed out of his office.
    â€œStill here?”
    Staying any longer wouldn’t be welcome. Maybe he’d stop by the bar they liked to go to after service to say his good-byes. He’d have the added benefit of not having to do it in front of Jonathan; he never joined them for a drink.
    With his knives rolled and his change of clothes in hand, Liam walked out the back door. Instead of the continued sinking feeling he’d had in the office, he felt lighter, less stressed. In his car, he called Moira to invite her to dinner. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer. Busy again. That girl had a social calendar that would rival any celebrity’s.
    Next, he called Carmen to let her know his schedule had opened up.
    â€œThat can’t be good,” she said. “He told you to get out?”
    â€œHe was mad. Don’t worry about it. Bottom line, I’m free to get the feel of working on the truck.”
    â€œI have the information you need. I have the regulations for you to read. I also have the rest of the books.”
    â€œWhat time works for you?”
    â€œAny time.”
    â€œI’ll come over at nine tomorrow?”
    â€œHow about I come to you? I’ve been cooped up in the house and it’ll do me good to get out.”
    â€œYou sure?”
    â€œYeah. You’re always coming here.”
    â€œI don’t mind.”
    â€œI know. I’ll bring coffee. How do you take yours?”
    â€œBlack.”
    â€œOkay. See you at nine.” She disconnected, and he didn’t know what to think about her wanting to come to his apartment.
    He brushed aside the thought. She probably did need to get out of her house.
    Driving back home, the edgy feeling returned. The added free time with nothing to do got to him, so he decided to cook. He could’ve called any of his other siblings and he’d probably find someone who was free for dinner, but instead he called Lily. She rarely worked the dinner shift at the diner and she was always up for a cooking lesson.
    â€œHey, Liam. What’s up?”
    â€œYou want to come over and cook dinner with me?”
    â€œI thought you had to work.”
    â€œI’ll explain when you get here.”
    â€œWho said I was free?”
    He heard the playfulness in her voice. “You always have time for me and a cooking lesson.”
    â€œYou don’t have to be cocky about it. I’ll be there soon. Want me to bring anything?”
    â€œNope. I have it covered.”
    Thirty minutes later, Lily stood at his door with a bottle of wine and a package. He took the wine and asked, “What’s that?”
    â€œA present.” In the living room, she opened the box and pulled out a bunch of pillows and a blanket. “I’m tired of your living room looking like you don’t even live here. I tried to figure out what you would like, and I thought you needed something to make the place more inviting, more comfortable.”
    She tossed two purple pillows on his black couch and then threw a red one on his recliner. The blanket had the Chicago Bears logo on it, so at least she got that much right. He loved a good football