Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 765(@200wpm)___ 612(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 765(@200wpm)___ 612(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
“I know, but it seems frivolous to me. I need to raise the money myself. They’re gonna do some other fundraisers. If I can do them, I should be fine,” Logan said and dropped back down on his back.
Luke came and flopped down on the ground beside them, barely huffing, but he did look happier. This had been a seriously good idea for the kid. “Will they let me help? I can do the fundraisers too.”
Levi just lifted his brow and pushed up to sit next to Luke. “That would require social interaction,” Levi said, raising a hand to ruffle his brother’s hair. “Are you sure you can handle that? It might mean you have to talk to someone.”
“Yeah. You’ve been babysitting me and losing work over it, so I have to try and pay that back.”
Levi stared at his youngest brother as his grin spread. He didn’t need that counseling update. Luke was doing better.
“You know what we haven’t discussed? The way you two keep each other’s secrets. Logan should have told me you weren’t on the bus, that you were ditching school.”
Both boys groaned and, suddenly, the grass they’d been so interested in earlier was forgotten as they scrambled to their feet. Seeing Luke engaged had settled some of Levi’s bad mood. He sat there, watching his brothers start to walk toward the car.
“I think Dad would want me to ground you. Or give you more chores. Like Luke has to pick up Logan’s dirty socks.” Levi raised his voice so they’d hear him.
“Seriously, get over the socks,” Logan called out, throwing his arms in the air, but not looking back.
“And how many bowls of cereal can one person eat in a day?” Levi mumbled, adding to the list of things he had to clean up.
Logan turned, walking backward. “Okay, I’ll be truthful. Those are Luke’s bowls.”
“Dude. Why? He’s already mad about the socks. Just take it all,” Luke complained, shoving at Logan’s arm. Levi laughed and pushed to his feet then jogged the small distance toward them. They were figuring it out.
~~~
Thane stood in the kitchen at Castelli’s, arms crossed over his chest, legs spread wide in a dominant stance, as the entire kitchen staff worked feverishly on their knees, scrubbing the equipment to a pristine clean. He’d been at the restaurant all day, starting early that morning when he couldn’t sleep and decided on doing a quality assurance check. It didn’t matter that the Health Department had given them high marks on their last visit, Thane found them lacking and made his general manager call every person on his crew into work to rectify the problem. Minus Chef Ferico who was screaming at the top of his lungs at the GM behind the closed office door not ten feet away.
Apparently, the guy didn’t like having his kitchen criticized. Too bad. Thane paid his salary.
“How’s that?” One of the cooks who was on his knees asked, lowering the scrub brush he’d used. Thane bent at the knee and tilted his head, inspecting the work. He scanned the entire area, all the way around. Five other stations were being overhauled this same way. Thane finally nodded and motioned for the guy holding the hose to wash them down.
Thane went to the office and opened the door to an angry, red-faced chef in a full rant with the general manager trying to calm the guy down. He only paused when Thane spoke up. “I’m going next door. Tonight, let’s say two in the morning, I want to meet you here to surprise the front-end cleaning company. We’ll do this all over again.”
“Thane, if you have a problem with how I’m—”
Thane shut the door in the man’s face. He had no problem with anyone, except himself, and that tended to make those around him a little crazy. He couldn’t help it. His mood was sour, his brain continued, over and over, to loop a set of emerald green eyes. Had the owner of those eyes not been so stubborn and stayed with him last night, none of this would be happening now. All his staff had Levi to thank for their midnight surprise inspection.
He left the restaurant, going to the front doors of the Chop House. They were locked and Thane wondered who might have warned them of his arrival. As he lifted his hand to bang on the door, his phone started to vibrate. He continued to bang as he answered the call.
“Hi, Thane, Julian called and suggested I make up some reason for you to come back here for an emergency,” Jenna said happily.
“I’m sure he did,” Thane said, staring in the small glass windows, looking for anyone who may be coming. He saw no one, which sent that spike of irritation soaring.
“How long are you there for?” she asked, unfazed by his answer or the tone he used. He needed more people like her working for him. These people were acting like babies.