Read Chef's Delight (Stories of Serendipity) for Free Online Page B

slowly, Connor started whistling as he made his way back to the kitchen, where Luke was still under the counter.
    “Hey, man.  What was Kathy doing here?”  Connor was curious.
    “Hell, I don’t know, man.  But I wish she would just move in and put me out of my misery.”  Luke slowly made his way out from under the cabinet, a grimace on his face.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Nothing yet, but that woman…Jesus!  She does something to me I can’t explain.  I had to stay underneath the cabinet where I couldn’t see her, because every time I looked at those legs, I got this devastating chubby…embarrassing, man.  It was like Darcy Williams all over again.”
    “Darcy?  Seriously?  Wow…”  Connor gave a low whistle, remembering his kid brother’s obsession with their babysitter when they were younger and Luke was discovering infinite ways he could pleasure himself while thinking about her.  Connor had devised a way to schedule bathroom time, so he could shower.  “Kathy?”  Sure, she was pretty, redheaded, built well, and competent, but Darcy Williams material?  No way.  He shook his head in disbelief.
    Together, they had decided to hire Kathy to help with the restaurant in the beginning.  Connor had been reluctant, as he wasn’t sure her resume supported what he needed.  Luke, however, had insisted, and Connor was glad, because she had proved to be indispensable.  Maybe she was what Luke needed to stick around a little while.  Connor didn’t want to admit it, but Luke’s imminent departure was looming nearer, and he wasn’t ready to let his little brother go.  If he was going to be honest with himself, he wasn’t ready to deal with the restaurant alone.  Or the house.
    Luke was standing in front of Connor, leaning against the counter top across from him.  “Can I tell you something?  Promise not to make fun of me?”
    “You can tell me anything, Luke.  But I will always reserve the right to make fun of you.  Sorry about that.”
    Luke ran his hands through his hair, as a flush crept up his neck.  “I think I’m in love with Kathy.”
    “What?”
    “Dude.  She’s all I think about.  All day.  I drink more water than I ever have, because I want to go into the kitchen and get a glass so I can look at her.  Sick, isn’t it?”  He looked down at his feet, the flush crawling from his neck to his cheek.
    “Mr. Tap That Ass has feelings.  How touching.”  Connor said wryly.
    “Shut the fuck up, dude.  I’m being serious.  She’s like a drug, and I can’t get enough.”
    “Have you slept with her?”
    “No, I haven’t even kissed her.  Stupid, I know.  But I just know if I kiss her, I won’t be able to stop there, and I don’t know exactly how she feels.  It’s so intense, you know?”
    “No, and you sound like a fucking girl, man.”  Connor looked in the fridge, which wasn’t cold.  “Fridge isn’t hooked up?”
    “Fuck!  Not again.”  Luke opened the refrigerator door, slammed it shut and stomped outside to the breaker box.
    “What do you mean?  Was it working earlier?”  Connor followed him out, confused.
    “Hell, yeah it was!  I installed it yesterday.”  Luke was pissed, flipping breakers and switches frantically.  “This house is so fucked up.  I don’t know how you’re going to stay here.  I can’t wait to get the fuck out.”
    “It’s an old house.  So, it has foibles.  I prefer to think of it as character.”
    “Some character.  It wouldn’t surprise me if this place was haunted.”
    “Whatever, man.  There aren’t any ghosts here.”  Connor was trying not to think about the music he had heard, just this morning.
    “I would normally agree with you, Dude.  If it was just one or two things.  But it’s constant, man.  There’s always something creepy happening around here.  The refrigerators going out, that fucking mirror you hate so much, it always sounds like there’s someone walking around in here, up