I open my mouth, and she feeds me the chili. There’s something intimate about it, and it makes my stomach feel fluttery. “It’s good,” I say.
She looks at me, waiting for me to answer her question. “I need to either bring in more traffic or shut the gallery down. But I don’t want to shut it down. So, I guess I have to figure out a way to make it profitable.” Just how to do that, I have no idea. That’s not my expertise.
Kiki picks up the large spoon and stirs the chili again. “What ideas have you tried so far?”
“We had a grand opening sale. We had seven local artists at the gallery, and we served hors d’oeuvres. That night was good, but then the crowds dwindled.”
“That’s all you’ve done?” Kiki frowns. “I mean, that was a great opening idea…”
I laugh and shake my head. “Yeah, you’re right. We have to do something else. I’m just not in that world at all. I have no idea what to do.”
“I’ll brainstorm with you. I bet we can come up with some good ideas. And tomorrow I can talk to Ellie about it. I’ll be quilting with her.”
I lean on the counter, touched that Kiki would want to help me with the gallery. She has no investment in it. “That would be great.”
Levi enters the kitchen and walks around the island to the stove. “What are you making? It smells great.”
“It’s just chili.” Kiki grabs a spoon and scoops up a portion. Levi grins as she carries the spoon to his mouth.
“That’s delicious,” Levi says, licking his lips. “Just the right amount of heat, but also a sweet aftertaste.” He smiles at her, and it irks me. He shouldn’t flirt with her like that.
Kiki seems pleased with his assessment, and now I feel terrible for just saying it was good. But I can’t go back and amend my comment, because that would be stupid.
“It was my grandmother’s recipe,” Kiki says.
And now I feel even worse. I know how close she was with her grandmother. “I did think it had special…flavors,” I say like the lamest lame guy in all of Lame Town.
Even though what I said was dumb, she gives me a bright smile anyway. “Thanks.”
Skyler climbs off her stool. “Can I watch Bluey?”
“We’re going to eat soon. How about after dinner?” I say.
“Okay.” She leaves the room, and I suspect there will be naked Barbies on the floor of the family room soon.
Kiki turns off the burner. “I can set the table.”
I stand. “I’ll help.”
Levi opens a cupboard and grabs some bowls. “Me too.”
I don’t know why, but that irritates me as well.
CHAPTER 11
TOBIAS BARRETT
Ifinish putting the dishes in the dishwasher and turn to see Noah entering. His shift started a half hour ago. “Hey. Something wrong?”
“I forgot my phone.”
“Oh.” I grab the rag to clean the counter. “Hey, while I’m thinking about it, did you install those cameras?”
“They’ll arrive tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I shouldn’t still be suspicious of Kiki, but there’s a little part of me that is.
“And when I get her social, will you do a background check?”
