Read Online Marrying the Wrong Man by Elley Arden - Free Book Online Page B

rack. Keep one in your apron.”
    “Okay. Thanks for the tip.”
    The whisking resumed—only double time. He might not want her here, but he needed her here. They needed each other. Boy, was that a loaded thought.
    Rushing out of the kitchen with corkscrew in hand, she found two more tables in her section were filled. A total of eight people needed service. Out of the eight, she recognized four. No one too scary.
    She fumbled her way through the Plants’ food orders, gathered fountain drinks for table nine, and introduced herself to table six.
    “You’re Robert Parrish’s daughter, aren’t you?” asked a man she didn’t recognize.
    Questions like that illustrated why she needed to get out of town before Charlotte was penalized for her last name. “I am.”
    “I hope he rots in jail.”
    “Peter!” The man’s dinner date reached across the table and grabbed his wrist.
    “No, I mean it. That bastard fixed bids and cost me a small fortune in lost jobs.”
    “I’m sorry,” Morgan said. “He let a lot of people down.” His daughter included.
    “Your appetizers are up.” Corbin touched a hand to her back as he passed. That little bit of warmth bolstered her.
    When she returned to the kitchen, Charlie’s back was to her. A plate of flash fried escarole and a hummus platter waited on the counter. She grabbed them both without saying anything. Silence was better than angry words.
    Back into the fire she went. By now, lots of people were looking at her, but she couldn’t care. She owed Charlie the helping hand. Besides, she finally had a job and a way out of Harmony Falls. She could handle this knowing it was only temporary.
    Morgan set the appetizers on the Plants’ table. “Here you go.”
    “What is this?” Jessica pointed to the pile of greens kissed with a crunchy coating.
    “Flash-fried escarole.” Morgan glanced at the flap of her notepad to double-check.
    “I wanted escargot.”
    “Oh.” She looked at the notepad again. “I don’t believe we have escargot. Did your menu say escargot?”
    “
You
said escargot was the special.”
    “Escarole. They’re similar sounding but very different things.”
    Jessica’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t patronize me.”
    “I’m not. I’m trying to explain.”
    “Can I help over here?” Again, Corbin touched Morgan’s back.
    “She said escargot was on special, but she brought us a pile of weeds instead.”
    Corbin picked up the plate. “I apologize for the mistake. Unfortunately, we don’t have escargot. How about I take this off your bill and comp you a free appetizer and desserts instead? Charlie Cramer makes the best chocolate cake around.”
    “I really am sorry about that.” Morgan forced a smile. What she really wanted to do was scream,
I said escarole. It’s not my fault you heard escargot.
Escargot. In a Harmony Falls bistro. Who did these people think they were? But, at least one good thing came from being raised by image-obsessed parents—Morgan knew when to bite her tongue. She knew how to play the game, and she wasn’t about to make Charlie resent having her here any more than he already did.
    “If you want, I’ll switch tables with you.” Corbin fell in step with her as they walked away. “Table two. They’re my parents. They’ll be nice and easy.”
    They were.
    And when the last customer finally left the building, Morgan was convinced that, after a good night’s sleep, she’d be ready to do this all over again.

Chapter Six
    Charlie’s office phone rang as he cleaned up the kitchen. He glanced at the wall clock.
After ten.
Who was calling here? Probably a wrong number. He could always check Caller ID. Or, he could ignore it.
    He wiped the prep space until it shined. Once Morgan and Corbin finished in the dining room, Charlie was going to thank her for her help, pay her in cash out of the register drawer, and tell her she didn’t need to return.
    Every time she walked into the kitchen, the air thinned. Every time she smiled,