Read Changing Scenes (Changing Teams #2) for Free Online Page B

a turkey yesterday?”
    “I wouldn’t subject the poor bird to my cooking,” I replied, leaving out how I’d faked a headache to avoid my family. “How about you?”
    “I chilled at home, but I’ll be cooking all day today,” he replied. “We’ve got a holiday brunch at the restaurant. “Turkey, ham, the works.”
    “Let me guess, half of this haul is for that.”
    A lazy smile, sexy dark eyes at half-mast. “Good guess.”
    “Sounds like you have a busy day.” I walked my fingers up his chest and tugged at his collar. “You gonna call me afterward?”
    “You know it, babe,” he said, threading his fingers into my hair. “Face it, you’re my girl now.”
    “Am I?” I asked, ignoring the little flutters in my heart. “Does that make you my boy?”
    “Whatever you want, babe,” he said, then he kissed me again. “Whatever you want.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    Donnie
     
    I got to the restaurant a little after six in the morning and unloaded the van. No one else had come in yet, and I liked my alone time in the kitchen, setting everything up just so. It was one of the reasons I liked going to the market myself, so I could come back and organize things while the place was quiet.
    Of course, usually I got back from the market around three, which meant that after unloading I still had plenty of time to go home, grab a shower, and a couple hours of sleep. Even though Astrid and I hadn’t lingered too long at the market or over breakfast, I didn’t know if I had a spare hour before the day’s deliveries arrived; extra deliveries, since we had that holiday brunch happening later on. I figured I’d catch a quick nap in Christa’s office, deal with the deliveries, start the meat roasting, and then head home to shower. Not my best plan, but I’ve had worse. Way worse.
    Once the seafood was happy in the walk-in cooler, I went to the office and lay down on the couch. As I did I remembered Astrid’s smile, the way she kissed me, and how good her butt had looked in those jeans. Who cares about missing a few hours of sleep when a woman like her is concerned?
     
    ***
     
    “Donnie.”
    I blinked awake and saw Christa standing over me. “Morning,” I croaked. “Daylight yet?”
    “Yeah.” She looked over my rumpled clothes, her gaze lingering on my jaw. Not going home for a shower meant no shaving either. “I’m just going to be blunt here—you look like a homeless person.”
    “Hey,” I protested as I sat up.
    Christa waved her hand in front of her face. “And you smell like one.” She eyed me for a second, then asked, “Are you hung over or something?”
    “No, I am not hung over,” I grumbled. “I went to the fish market last night. I didn’t get back until a couple hours ago and figured I’d grab a nap before setting up for the buffet.”
    Christa nodded. “Was the market busy?”
    “Nah. Pretty light, actually.”
    “Then why so late?”
    “Oh, ah.” I stood and rubbed the back of my neck. “Remember Britt Sullivan’s friend, Astrid? I took her with me, then we had breakfast. I kind of lost track of time.”
    Christa raised an eyebrow, then she laughed. “All right, Romeo. Why don’t you go home and make yourself presentable?”
    “Romeo?” I repeated. “And do I have time for that, what with the brunch and all?”
    “We’ll make time,” she replied. “In your present state you’re not fit to touch people’s food. Especially not today, when we’re sold out for brunch.”
    “That’s just mean,” I said. “I’ll remember this the next time you pop in after a day of gardening with manure under your fingernails.”
    “You do that. Now go.”
    “Thanks, boss.” I left the office and headed toward the parking lot, grateful that my boss was Christa. Most wouldn’t be half as understanding.
    “Hey, Romeo,” she called after me.
    “Yeah?”
    “Is she worth it? The lack of sleep, and the unholy stench that comes with it?”
    I grinned