Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 20 – Accepting Help
Abby

“Stop joking around,” I say, placing my empty glass on the ground. “This is serious.”

“I’m not joking.”

We stare across the room at each other. I kind of want to laugh, but something tells me he wouldn’t

appreciate that. Still, there’s no way he’s going to come into my restaurant and work in the back. He

might think he wants to help, but I’m not sure he knows what that job actually entails. Plus, it’s not like

he has tons of free time on his hands. He’s an Alpha. Even if the pack is in a better position, there’s still

a million things he has to do on a daily basis.

“Okay, whatever you say,” I answer, opting for levity.

He frowns, a determined look on his face. “Why won’t you let me help you?”

“I just don’t think you understand what you’re saying.”

He rolls his eyes. “I understand perfectly fine, thank you.”

I can tell I’ve offended him a little, but I don’t feel all that bad about it. I need real help. Actual

employees. Not my ex-husband stacking dishes in the back. I doubt he’s cleaned a dish in his life.

“I just don’t think you have the time.”

“I know what I have time for and what I don’t,” he answers. “And I’m no stranger to hard work.”

“Well, Ethan and I are going over everything at the restaurant tomorrow. So, if you still want to help,

you can show up sometime in the morning.” I don’t expect him to show up at all. “Fine,” he says,

leaning back in his chair with a self-satisfied smile. “Then I’ll see you there.”

Ethan watches me finish my second coffee of the morning, a look of concern on his face. After last

night’s debacle, I’m both hungover and exhausted. By the time I went to bed, I had maybe four hours of

uninterrupted sleep before I had to wake up and drag myself over here.

If this headache isn’t a sign that I shouldn’t drink that much ever again, then I don’t know what is.

“We need to get up and running before those negative reviews have time to fester,” I say.

The most important thing is that I get ahead of the competition. I can’t disappear completely, and just

recede into the background. If I’m going to maintain my position as a must-go spot, then I need to

reopen immediately.

made Ethan my new restaurant manager on the spot, a promotion he took with a mingled look

fear. While he doesn’t have a ton of experience yet, he’s

everything. Especially

he’ll step up to the task. He’s already proven a delight to

the most hardworking employees I’ve had. I know his

sometimes, but it hasn’t slowed him down

the pain. And now that

the front desk, hopefully his shifts will be easier for him. If I can even stay afloat

is.

most important thing is getting new

got here, we started by taking stock of the food

broken out into a nervous sweat. If I don’t hire new people

to hire staff on an expedited basis,” I say, turning to my computer. I’ve

if some people

be good enough to get things

“I agree.”

at the front desk taking reservations and greeting customers.

a few good waiters and a decent

“Exactly.”

loud knock at the front door, and Ethan gives

it,” I say when I see him

and sinks back into his chair. I cross the restaurant floor and unlock

sunglasses on. His business suit looks freshly

two coffees on it.

you and Ethan,” he says, handing it off

remembered Ethan’s name. He’s always

what makes him a good Alpha.

how to make the people who work for him, and the members of his

he slips past me into

to face him. I

pocket, looking around

can reply, and he picks it up, giving me an apologetic smile. “Kimberly,

him his privacy. I can still hear his end of

pretend like I’m not

take on another job right now,” he says. There’s a muffled

time. I’ll call you back later. I’m in the middle of

checked, I’m your boss. If I want your advice,

My eyebrows shoot up.

up, turning to face me

know the answer. Her smug

she did flashes across my mind. The memory of it makes me

there’s something else you need

his head.

a cook or a waiter or even

during a dinner rush? It’s not exactly fun work, and

need to get your priorities straight,” I

span of a few hours probably isn’t a good idea,

mine. I need