direction, but it didnât seem serious. âIâm capable of introducing myself, Nona.â
Nona was unfazed. âOf course you are. You just wonât do it unless pushed. I thought Iâd save us all some time.â
The blonde waitress theyâd seen earlier at the bar stepped up to the table. âHi, Nona. Hi, Dick. Hi, Clark. Whoâs this?â She raised a questioning eyebrow in Lizzyâs direction.
âThis is my new chef, Lizzy Apodaca.â Clark gave the waitress a dry smile. âAre you here to take our orders, Ronnie?â
âOh yeah, I guess I am.â She gave them another of those dazzling smiles, turning toward Lizzy. âIâm Ronnie Ventura, by the way.â
Dick muttered something that sounded like âyeah, we knowâ but Ronnie didnât seem to hear him. Or maybe she didnât care, which struck Lizzy as a healthy attitude.
âSo whatâs on the menu tonight, Ronnie?â Nona gave her an encouraging look. Apparently Ronnie needed some prompting.
She reached into the pocket of her fairly tight jeans, inching out her cheat sheet. âWell, thereâs the usual, plus weâve got a special tonight on Acapulco chicken. Soup du jour of the day is tomato basil.â
Dickâs jaw went tight. âYou know, du jour means of the day .â
âYeah?â Ronnieâs eyebrows went up. âThatâs interesting. French, I guess. I took Spanish myself.â
âCould we maybe get a menu here?â Clark said.
Ronnieâs perfect forehead furrowed slightly. âOh, I didnât know youâd need one. I mean youâre in here all the time.â
âIâm in here all the time, but Lizzy isnât.â Clarkâs jaw was beginning to look like Dickâs.
Ronnie glanced in Lizzyâs direction, her expression morphing into concern. âOh my gosh, Iâm so sorry. I didnât even think.â
âThatâs okay,â Lizzy said quickly. âIâll just have a burger and fries. No menu necessary.â
âOur burgers are really great. Youâll love them.â Ronnie beamed at her again.
âIâm sure I will.â Actually, Lizzy was pretty sure sheâd love anything she hadnât cooked herself.
Ronnie gave them another beaming smile, while Sonnenfeld cleared his throat.
âDrinks?â He raised an eyebrow in her direction.
âMake it a pitcher of the local stuff,â Clark said quickly. âOn my tab.â
Ronnie nodded. âComing right up.â She turned and threaded her way back through the crowded dance floor.
Nona looked after her, eyes narrowed. âYou know, sheâs actually getting better. And sheâs really not dumb. She just comes across that way sometimes.â
âSheâs not dumb at all,â Sonnenfeld said dryly. âSheâs where she wants to be, doing what she wants to do. And Saltzman is right there to pick up after her.â
Lizzy glanced at the bar. Ted Saltzman was smiling patiently in Ronnieâs direction as she gave him her order.
âIs he actually cooking tonight along with running the bar?â she asked Clark.
He shook his head. âHeâs got a cook back in the kitchen, but he still oversees what she does. Just like heâs got another bartender, but heâs still behind the bar himself every night.â
âWhich is why his bar is a success,â Dick cut in. âSaltzman knows his stuff. And he cares about what happens to his bar.â
Clark nodded. âHeâs good at what he does. No question.â
âSo are you,â Nona added quickly.
Clark gave her a dry smile. âYes I am, Nona. No ego strokes required.â
Nona turned back in Lizzyâs direction again. âSo how do you like working at Praeger House?â
âVery much. Weâve got a great kitchen.â Even if it was criminally understaffed.
âIâve been hearing some
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