Chapter Text
A few days later, Christian decides to check out the Cajun restaurant to see if Ty is there. He brought Danneel along under the guise of taking her out for lunch.
“So, what is this place again?”
He glances at her a moment before turning his eyes back to the road.
“Just a new place I want to try.”
She gives him a suspicious look as they pull up to the restaurant. He parks and they get out before she starts talking again.
“Just a new place you want to try, huh?”
She crosses her arms and he gives her a confused look.
“You mean to tell me you're not checking up on the guy Jen met at the store?”
Christian is taken aback.
“How do you know about that?”
She rolls her eyes at him as he holds the door open for her. They make their way to the hostess podium.
“Steve told me about it. He knew you were going to check the guy out.”
He sighs before telling the hostess they need a table for two. Once done, he turns back to Danneel.
“Yeah, so?”
It's her turn to sigh as they follow the hostess to a table. Once seated and their drink orders are taken, she replies.
“So? It's creepy for one and for another it's stalking.”
“Don't be a drama queen. It's not stalking. It's me and you out to lunch at the place the guy happens to own. A place, by the way, I tried getting Jen to try years ago.”
“I'm not being a drama queen but we both know you're hoping to run into him.”
They stop the discussion long enough to look at the menus and place their order after the waiter set their drinks on the table.
“Look, I screwed up once. I wasn't there for him when he needed me and I almost got him killed. I won't make the same mistake twice. So, if I want to check out this guy to make sure he's not going to be the next mistake, so be it.”
She lets it drop knowing how much guilt Christian has had. They enjoy their meal and Danneel feels relieved they did not see the man in question until Christian pulls the waiter aside, asking to speak with the owner. She feels bad for the waiter who suddenly looks worried. She jumps to reassure him.
“The service and food were wonderful, you're not in trouble or anything. We've just never been here before and Chris has a background of working in a restaurant. He was just hoping to speak with him about a possible position.”
The employee immediately looks relieved and runs off to get the owner. Chris glares at her.
“What the hell was that?”
“Look, the poor kid thought we were going to complain about bad service. Plus, it's not a total lie. You've worked in a restaurant before.”
“Yeah, a failed one. But I'm not looking for a job here.”
“You may not have been looking here, but you have been looking. Steve told me you wanted something to help out for in between your gigs.”
“I don't know anything about Cajun food.”
“So? I'm sure you could learn.”
“That's not the point. The guy probably isn't even hiring. That waiter is going to come back over here to tell us they're not hiring.”
Just then they hear a throat being cleared. They look over to see a relaxed man holding out his hand.
“Hi, name's Ty. I understand you're looking for a job?”
Chris looks at Danneel briefly and sighs before taking the other man's hand.
“Chris Kane.”
Suddenly the guys face lights up.
“No kidding? You're with that Steve fellow, right? You tour around playing shows?”
Christian frowns as he drops his hand and starts walking when the other man motions them to follow.
“Yeah.”
“I knew you looked familiar when I walked up. You guys are great. I drove out to see you guys a couple months ago in Kansas City. You looking to get out of the music business?”
They follow him to an office and sit after he shuts the door. He sits behind a desk and waits for the response.
“No, just looking for something to do in between. There's just been some stuff go down that I think I need to stick around home a little more.”
Ty nods his head thoughtfully before replying.
“Sounds reasonable. I know it's hard taking care of things in a life on the road. So, tell me about your background.”
“I was head chef years ago at a restaurant that ended up closing down because the owner didn't run a clean ship. There was some legal stuff that I won't get into but it wasn't good. Graduated top of my class at Kendall College of Culinary Arts in Chicago. I love to cook but when I met Steve we started playing around with song writing and just kind of branched off that way when the restaurant closed.”
“Well, I am looking for another chef. Had to let one go a few weeks ago and haven't found a suitable replacement. If you're interested, we could do a trial run, a few weeks to see if you like it and are a good fit. What do you say?”
Chris thinks a minute before replying.
“It sounds good, but I got to talk to you about something.”
He turns to Danneel a moment.
“Can you wait outside?”
She frowns and glances at Ty before standing and leaving them alone. Chris turns back to the other man whose expression has turned from open to guarded.
“Look, I have to be honest. When I originally came in here today, it wasn't just to get lunch with my girlfriend and it wasn't to ask for a job.”
The other man leans back in his chair.
“Oh?”
Chris thinks about how he wants to continue.
“Truth is, you ran into a buddy of mine at the store recently and asked him out for coffee?”
The other man's expression is unreadable when he responds.
“Did you come to tell me to leave him alone? Forget about him?”
“No. It's Jen's choice if he calls you and what happens from there. I came to see what kind of man you are. I hoped I could watch you with other people but you never came out of the kitchen.”
“A chef's place is in the kitchen.”
“Yes, it is. But since I couldn't see how you are with other people when you didn't know you were being watched, I had the waiter get you so we could talk.”
“About a job.”
Christian grimaces before replying.
“Yeah, that was actually Danneel. She didn't want the waiter to think we were trying to get him fired.”
The man's face is still unreadable but Christian thinks he sees disappointment.
“I see.”
“Yeah. Look, the thing is, Jen's been hurt in the past. Really bad, like hospital bad. Long story short, his ex is never getting out of jail.”
Realization and understanding settle over Ty's features and he leans back towards his desk.
“I saw the bruises and kind of figured they didn't come from playing sports.”
“No. And I've screwed up in the past and it almost cost me my best friend. I refuse to risk losing him again. So if he calls you, and just so you know I think he's going to, you better treat him right.”
“I will. I'd never have any intention of hurting him.”
Christian nods while standing.
“Good.”
He turns towards the door when the other man speaks up.
“Where are you going?”
Chris turns back confused. Ty has a grin on his face when he continues.
“You still want the job?”
Chris sits back in the chair he just vacated.
“You still want me for the job? After lying to you like that?”
Ty shrugs his shoulders before responding.
“Well, way I see it, it's a win-win situation. I need another chef, you need to know what kind of man I am. What better way than to work side by side?”
Chris thinks for a few minutes before meeting the other man's eyes with a grin of his own.
“Yeah, sounds good.”
“Good.”
They spend some time hashing out the details of Chris' schedule and pay before Chris leaves and rejoins Danneel, filling her in on their conversation.