Read Online A Brit on the Side (Castle Calder Book 1) by Brenda St John Brown - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Brenda St John Brown
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“There you go.”
He hands me the ice bucket with the bottle and I take it. “Thanks. We should have thought of this three rounds ago.”
“Ah, better late than never, love. But at least it saves your running for cocktails and they do seem to be drinking them slower.”
I nod and hoist the stand onto my hip. It’s cold and wet, but it’s the only way I can balance it, because it’s also damn heavy. When I get to the table, I set it beside Angela Fisher and say, “I brought you a bottle in case you want more.”
Angela Fisher looks at me with the same disdain as if I said I brought her a pot of decaf coffee instead. She raises her arched eyebrows at me. “I haven’t said I want a bottle. I assume this is on the house then?”
“Um, I’m not sure of the policy on that.” I wipe my wet hands on my apron, which is also wet.
“Well, I’d guess you should find out since, again, I haven’t asked for this.” She snaps her fingers and tilts her head. “Excuse me, young man, you work here, do you not?”
Jasper comes up beside me. “Yes, ma’am. What can I do for you?”
“This young lady,” Angela Fisher points at me with a perfectly-manicured French tip. “Has brought me a bottle of Prosecco, which I have not requested. I asked her if it was complementary and she seems incapable of making that decision.”
Jasper gives me a perfunctory glance and turns away, but not before I see the corner of his mouth quirk up. However, his tone is serious when he says, “Bea has come to Castle Calder from the U.S. where, I’m sure you know, the restaurant industry is very different. The restaurant where Bea works has a pay-for-what-you-drink system, which we’re piloting here. As you know from your many visits to Castle Calder, we prefer an informal atmosphere and this idea goes along nicely with that.”
Jasper finishes with a smile, leaving both Angela Fisher and me gaping at him. Angela recovers first, clearing her throat. “Well, if it’s the thing in America, then by all means.” Then she gives me a withering look and says, “Why you couldn’t have explained that is beyond me.”
Jasper opens his mouth, no doubt to rescue me again, but this time he doesn’t need to. I say, “I suppose I assumed you knew. My apologies.”
Angela narrows her eyes, unsure whether she’s been insulted or not. Before she can come to any conclusions, I excuse myself and head to the service station behind the partition on the far end of the dining room. I barely keep a straight face as I pass by the rest of the party and once I’m out of sight, I let out a loud cough to disguise my laughter.
Jasper comes up behind me and puts a hand on my arm, whispering, “Ssshhh. She’s going to hear you and then your credibility is out the window.”
“Credibility? I think it’s your credibility that’s in question. Anyone who’s ever set foot in a restaurant can tell I’m not a waitress,” I whisper. “Even if the American system is, quote, unquote, very different.”
“I thought that was quite good.” Jasper smiles and drops his hand from my arm. “May as well use it to your advantage.”
“My ineptitude?” I roll my eyes. “I’m giving Americans a bad name.”
“ Au contraire. Vive le difference .”
Holy French accent. I think one of my ovaries exploded because Jasper speaking French is s-e-x-y. Times ten. I’m glad we’re whispering because I’m pretty sure I sound a bit breathy when I speak. “I didn’t know you could speak French.”
“ Oui .” He takes a step closer. He smells like sunshine with a hint of mint. “I’m full of surprises.”
“Are you? Like what?” I bite my lip. Unintentionally at first, but then I suck gently at my bottom lip with my teeth. Theo used to call it my sexy schoolgirl expression – the one he thought I should wear if I was ever called to the principal’s office. Granted, getting called to the principal’s office as a teacher is a whole different thing, but the
He hands me the ice bucket with the bottle and I take it. “Thanks. We should have thought of this three rounds ago.”
“Ah, better late than never, love. But at least it saves your running for cocktails and they do seem to be drinking them slower.”
I nod and hoist the stand onto my hip. It’s cold and wet, but it’s the only way I can balance it, because it’s also damn heavy. When I get to the table, I set it beside Angela Fisher and say, “I brought you a bottle in case you want more.”
Angela Fisher looks at me with the same disdain as if I said I brought her a pot of decaf coffee instead. She raises her arched eyebrows at me. “I haven’t said I want a bottle. I assume this is on the house then?”
“Um, I’m not sure of the policy on that.” I wipe my wet hands on my apron, which is also wet.
“Well, I’d guess you should find out since, again, I haven’t asked for this.” She snaps her fingers and tilts her head. “Excuse me, young man, you work here, do you not?”
Jasper comes up beside me. “Yes, ma’am. What can I do for you?”
“This young lady,” Angela Fisher points at me with a perfectly-manicured French tip. “Has brought me a bottle of Prosecco, which I have not requested. I asked her if it was complementary and she seems incapable of making that decision.”
Jasper gives me a perfunctory glance and turns away, but not before I see the corner of his mouth quirk up. However, his tone is serious when he says, “Bea has come to Castle Calder from the U.S. where, I’m sure you know, the restaurant industry is very different. The restaurant where Bea works has a pay-for-what-you-drink system, which we’re piloting here. As you know from your many visits to Castle Calder, we prefer an informal atmosphere and this idea goes along nicely with that.”
Jasper finishes with a smile, leaving both Angela Fisher and me gaping at him. Angela recovers first, clearing her throat. “Well, if it’s the thing in America, then by all means.” Then she gives me a withering look and says, “Why you couldn’t have explained that is beyond me.”
Jasper opens his mouth, no doubt to rescue me again, but this time he doesn’t need to. I say, “I suppose I assumed you knew. My apologies.”
Angela narrows her eyes, unsure whether she’s been insulted or not. Before she can come to any conclusions, I excuse myself and head to the service station behind the partition on the far end of the dining room. I barely keep a straight face as I pass by the rest of the party and once I’m out of sight, I let out a loud cough to disguise my laughter.
Jasper comes up behind me and puts a hand on my arm, whispering, “Ssshhh. She’s going to hear you and then your credibility is out the window.”
“Credibility? I think it’s your credibility that’s in question. Anyone who’s ever set foot in a restaurant can tell I’m not a waitress,” I whisper. “Even if the American system is, quote, unquote, very different.”
“I thought that was quite good.” Jasper smiles and drops his hand from my arm. “May as well use it to your advantage.”
“My ineptitude?” I roll my eyes. “I’m giving Americans a bad name.”
“ Au contraire. Vive le difference .”
Holy French accent. I think one of my ovaries exploded because Jasper speaking French is s-e-x-y. Times ten. I’m glad we’re whispering because I’m pretty sure I sound a bit breathy when I speak. “I didn’t know you could speak French.”
“ Oui .” He takes a step closer. He smells like sunshine with a hint of mint. “I’m full of surprises.”
“Are you? Like what?” I bite my lip. Unintentionally at first, but then I suck gently at my bottom lip with my teeth. Theo used to call it my sexy schoolgirl expression – the one he thought I should wear if I was ever called to the principal’s office. Granted, getting called to the principal’s office as a teacher is a whole different thing, but the
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