Read Online No Longer Needed by Brenda Grate - Free Book Online Page A

fear all over her sixteen-year-old face.  
    “I’m so sorry, Connie. Take it out of my pay.”
    If Connie had a dollar for every time a kitchen helper said those words to her, she wouldn’t need to work again.
    “Just clean up the mess and go get some more buns from the freezer. Hopefully we won’t run out before they’re thawed and ready.”
    Connie turned away, too busy to employ her usual compassion. This girl, Kira, was more clumsy than most. It wouldn’t be long before she’d have to let her go. Connie only held back because the girl seemed to be a quick study and really wanted to be a chef one day. Hopefully it was only nerves that caused her to be clumsy.  
    Maybe in a few more days she’ll come into her own.
    The pasta pot bubbled, ready to boil over. Connie grabbed a slotted spoon in one hand and a heat pad in another. She was already infamous for her compassion on new help, so they all seemed to find their way to her restaurant. She didn’t mind helping someone get a leg up in the business. Where would she be if people hadn’t done that for her, especially in Rome?
    Connie’s gaze blurred on the pasta pot as Rome came into focus in her mind. The Eternal City. She’d loved Rome.  
    Connie gave the pasta a vicious stir. What she hadn’t loved was getting her heart broken by Giovanni. She’d found out only after she’d slept with him that he had a wife and child. He’d begged her to stay, promised to put her in a house and keep her in style if she’d agree to be his mistress.
    Connie looked around the kitchen, teeming with sweaty cooks, and smiled to herself. At the time she’d been insulted and furious, but maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad to be taken care of.
    She turned back to the pasta, pulled out a noodle and tasted it. Almost al dente . She gave it a quick stir, pulling her thoughts away from impossible dreams.
    What is wrong with me? I love Il Giardino.
    That’s what bothered her. The restaurant was the most popular place around and she’d done it all on her own. She used to have such pride in it, but it had recently become a job rather than a passion. She’d always been passionate about cooking and serving food, so where had that gone?
    Connie grabbed the pot and dumped the pasta into the waiting colander.
    “Con, I’ve got three orders for the pasta primavera.”  
    Penelope stood at her shoulder, practically vibrating. Connie remembered when she’d been that energetic, how she’d loved the rush of dinner hour and the madness of trying to get perfect dishes out in the shortest amount of time possible.
    “Keep your hair on, Pen. Here you go.” Connie handed her the pasta and stepped away from the station. Without a word, Rick stepped in to take Connie’s place. He gave her a cheeky grin as he began to prepare another pot of pasta.
    They’d had a fling and ended up friends. Connie was glad because she couldn’t imagine her kitchen without Rick’s unflappable sense of humor and quick thinking to avert disaster. He was worth much more than she paid him, but he would stay for less. They had a good arrangement.
    Connie felt a tug in her loins as she remembered the fun they’d had. He was a generous lover, and had given her a very nice time. But it had always felt like she cuddled with her best friend after, so she’d never taken it further. He’d recently started dating someone new, and Connie was glad for him.
    “I’m taking a smoke break,” Connie called out to the staff. A few laughs followed her out the back door. None of the staff at Il Giardino smoked. It was Connie’s one unspoken rule. Once as a joke, a new hire had said it, and forever after it became the parting shot as they left for a break.
    Taking a break in the middle of the dinner rush would normally be suicide, but Connie had done well with her staff. She no longer even needed to come in if she didn’t want to, but what else would she do? She had no life outside of the restaurant.
    The air had cooled