Free The Zombie Billionaire's Virgin Witch (Zombie Category Romance) by Joely Sue Burkhart Page B

flickered
across his face that she didn’t like.  He glanced about the kitchen,
tipping his head, searching for something.
    Irritated,
she slammed the knife down on the cutting board.  “There aren’t any truth
spells cast in this kitchen, Mr. LaRue.  I haven’t bespelled you into
spilling your secrets.  I certainly haven’t bugged the kitchen or poisoned
the food with drugs.  The only thing I do in here is cook!”
    “I’m
sorry, Ms. Remy.”  He held out his hands beseechingly.  “I really
have no idea what it is you do.  I hadn’t even heard of the Wizard Council
until Mr. Michelopoulos admitted he’d contacted them.”
    She
clamped the rising irritation down.  It wasn’t his fault that
Michelopoulos doubted her at every turn.  “Why did he contact them?”
    Dmitri
turned away and headed toward the dining room, avoiding her gaze. 
“Because of the troubles here.  Thank you, Ms. Remy.  What you
managed last night was a miracle.”  He paused at the swinging door and
laughed, shaking his head.  “And what you accomplished that first night
with the contract…  Trust me, Ms. Remy.  Mr. Michelopoulos has never
met anyone like you.  You might think you’re saving the restaurant, but
you’re really saving him.” 
    But
am I?  
She wondered idly, sliding the diced vegetables into the massive stock
pot.  And if I am, does he really deserve to be saved?
     
     
    Yiorgos
looked up from the computer screen as Dmitri came into his office.  He’d
deliberately left the door open so the man wouldn’t hesitate or turn
away.  “Well?”
    Dmitri
handed him the stack of papers.  “Excellent numbers last night.” 
    “That’s
not what I meant.”
    Dmitri
smiled but it didn’t reflect in his eyes.  “I know.  How do you feel
this morning?”
    Yiorgos
scowled down at the papers.  He felt fine.  Better than fine. 
Perfectly refreshed and energetic as though he’d slept for eight hours. 
Instead, he’d spent most of the night on the phone with the Athens office and
only napped on the couch for an hour or two.  I have no right to feel
this good.  Damned woman.  What did she spike my dinner with last
night?
    “Did
you broach the subject with her yet?”
    Dmitri
sighed.  “This kind of work takes time.  Real communication and
trusted exchange needs groundwork.  So no, I didn’t come right out and ask
her how to break the curse yet.  Do you honestly think she’d tell me after
one or two nights?  Besides, look at how well Remy’s did last
night.  There’s no need to…”
    Yiorgos
tossed the papers on a distant corner of his desk.  “Whether Remy’s sinks or swims isn’t a financial concern to me.  I need her to think I
care about whether or not the restaurant retains its fifth-star qualification,
but honestly, I don’t.  I couldn’t care less about this little diner or
its previous owners.  I want this curse broken so I can return to my
life.  I feel like I’ve put everything on hold to be here.”
    “You’ve
put everything on hold to be here?”  The disbelief in the man’s voice drew
Yiorgos’s gaze to his manager’s face.  “My wife is upset because I dragged
her to yet a new restaurant for you, after I already promised the only move
we’d make again was to the Twin Cities area so she could be near her
family.  Now I’ve uprooted her and the kids yet again and we’re no closer
to the dream we have.  My life is on hold too, Mr. Michelopoulos. 
All of your employees feel the same way.”
    He
kept his tone measured and even, although his temper threatened to bubble up
and make him slam his fist down on the desk.  “You’re my employee and I
pay you very well to do as I order.”
    Dmitri
nodded.  “Absolutely.  You pay us well and most of us would move to
Siberia if you asked us to.  But it’s not just the money you pay us,
sir.  Many of us value your skill as a businessman and your ability to
step into a restaurant or hotel and make something