Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

#Chapter 23 - Jack

Abby

What an arrogant ass. He’s just as egotistical as he always was.

I rub my temples as the back door slams shut behind Karl. I stalk back across the room, giving John a

look as I pass. He lifts his hands in supplication. “Sorry, boss. But to be fair, he started it.”

“This is a kitchen, not a boxing ring,” I hiss, shooting John a glare that makes him practically shrink. “If

you have a problem with someone, then take it outside. Better yet, don’t get into a fight at work. There

are literal stoves on, and knives everywhere. This isn’t the place or time.”

The message is directed at John, but I know everyone’s listening.

“Yes, boss,” he mumbles.

I walk back to my station and get back to work. We’re in the middle of a dinner rush, and the last thing I

need is for my employees to start fighting. I get why Karl was pissed. John is being even more abrasive

and vulgar than usual tonight, but that doesn’t mean he should start a fight in the middle of my

restaurant. Imagine if my customers heard them.

Great, now everyone in the kitchen is going to be afraid of him. It’s only a matter of time before they

find out who and what he really is. I can’t afford to have an Alpha here, not if everyone finds out. They’ll

probably start to see him as the person in charge and not me.

I watch Karl return to his station and smile to myself. I’ve already had a couple of complaints about him,

and I’ll have to talk to him about it later. But even if he’s been irritating the hell out of my employees, it’s

a little amusing to watch him try to figure this whole restaurant thing out.

Tonight, just a little while before closing time, I call Karl to my office. When he arrives, he closes the

office door behind him and leans back into it. His face is slightly red from the heat of the

kitchen.“What’s up?” he says.

“Just wanted to talk to you about everything. We had a few complaints about you.”

He pauses. “Me?”

“Apparently, you don’t take orders well. Poor Jack looked like he wanted to kill you.”

He smiles slightly. “My bad. I guess I’m just used to being in charge.”

“Well, in my kitchen, you’re not.”

He nods slowly. “I guess I’ll have to get used to that.” He grins suddenly, and I frown at him. “Looks like

you’re going to a party with me. Since I lasted the day and everything.”

“Fine. A deal’s a deal.”

“Does that mean I can go now?”

I shake my head. “We still need to clean up everything.”

“Okay, then tell me what I need to do. I’ll be happy to follow your orders.” He gives me a winning smile Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

and I roll my eyes. I honestly don’t know what’s happening. I thought he’d hate having to be

reprimanded by me and stalk out of here. He always used to let his temper get the best of him. But now

he’s willing to do whatever I say? I don’t know what Karl this is, but it’s not the one I remember.

“I’ll do better tomorrow,” he says, turning to leave.

“So, you’re coming back?” I can’t hide the shock from coming through in my voice.

He looks over his shoulder at me. “You still need the help?”

I nod.

“Then yeah, I’ll see you then.”

I watch him return to the kitchen, my eyebrows raised. Looks like it won’t be so easy to get rid of him.

And if he sticks around, people are going to find out he’s working here. People like Leah and Chloe.

People like Adam.

I lean back and close my eyes. I didn’t plan for this. I didn’t plan for him to make it through an hour, let

alone a full day. Now it looks like I’m stuck with him.

And for some reason, I can’t help that the thought makes me smile a little.

————

When I walk into my apartment, dead on my feet from my shift, the scent of cooking meat greets me. I

can hear Adam moving around the kitchen as I wander down the hall.

“Thought I’d make dinner for you,” he says, coming around the island to kiss me. I return the quick kiss

and take a sip of the wine. It’s incredibly smooth and I look closer at the bottle. It’s a $300 bottle of

wine.

“Wow, what’s the occasion?”

“I know work has been stressing you out, and you’ve been going through a bit of a hard time. So, I

wanted to do something nice for you.”

I kiss him on the cheek and sink onto one of the stools. “That’s very thoughtful.”

He turns back to the oven, and I bite my lip. He has no idea that Karl worked for me today, and that he

might continue to do so if I’m to believe him. I know I have to break the news to him, but I’m a little

nervous. Especially after the obvious pissing contest they had the other night.

I put my napkin on my lap and smile at him as he sinks into the seat across from me. See, he can be

romantic, I think.Leah might not think there’s much passion between us, but she’s wrong. Why would

he do all this if he doesn’t truly care about me?

We eat in comfortable silence. It’s not long before Karl pushes his way back into my thoughts. He

looked pretty good when he left tonight, sweaty and a little disheveled. It reminded me of activities that

used to make him look the exact same way. I used to find it pretty sexy, the way he’d look with his hair

all messed up and his chest glistening with sweat.

I take a sip of wine and force the thought from my head. I’m having dinner with my fiancé. Now is not

the time to be thinking about sex with another man.

“Adam, there’s something I need to tell you.”

He meets my gaze, and the smile falls from his face. If I didn't know better, I’d say he looks a little

anxious. Maybe I made it sound way more serious than I intended to.

“Is everything okay?”

“Oh yeah, it’s not a big deal at all.” He still looks concerned, but a bit less tense than he did before. Did

he think I was breaking up with him or something?

I say the words as quickly as possible, just wanting to be done with it. “Karl’s working at the restaurant.”

His eyebrows go up. “Your restaurant?”

I swallow hard. “Yes. Karl’s working at my restaurant.”