Betsy St. Amant - Tacos for Two

If Rory Perez could find a way to wad all the cilantro in the entire world into a ball and hurl it into outer space, it still wouldnt be far enough removed for her preference.

Thats enough, right? She pulled her turquoise sweatshirt up over her nose and turned pleading eyes to Grady, who stood by the food trucks efficiency stove and sprinkled the vile weed into a bubbling quesadilla mixture.

Grady shook his head, humor dancing around the laugh lines by his eyeswrinkles Rory was pretty sure she was responsible for. Probably responsible for the gray hair streaking his dark temple too, even though he was only in his early forties. Calm down, hermana. He asked for extra. Besides, whos the chef here?

You are. Rory reluctantly dropped her sweatshirt from her face and reached to hand him the spatula she knew hed need next. Grady was more than her late aunts longtime food truck assistant. This past year, he and his wife, Nicole, had been Rorys sanity as she struggled to keep the inherited business boomingand other things from exploding.

She cut her eyes at him. By the way, Im not your sister.

Close enoughand good thing, or Id have kicked you out of this food truck a long time ago. You know I wouldnt keep up this charade for just anyone. He wrinkled his nose at her as he adjusted the heat on the stovetop burner.

She crossed her arms. I dont think charade is the right word.

Fine. You like farce better?

More like assumption.

Right. He clicked his tongue in mock disapproval. Customers assume you cook like your aunt and assume I bus the dishes.

Rorys neck flushed as the truth of the statement lingered. They do not.

Sure they do. Fortunately, Nicole keeps me man enough to take it. He winked. And Im not complaining. Most of our male customer base would vanish if they realized you werent the chef around here, and hey, men eat a lot. Now, can you hand me the He stopped as Rory waved the black utensil in his face. Gracias .

See? Maybe Im not good at cooking, but Im good for something. If she were typing that in a DM to StrongerMan99, shed have added #kidding #notkidding . Maybe. She hadnt dared to be quite that vulnerable in their online chats. But they were getting to that point. There was something so appealingso safe about anonymity. Grady might be as close as family, but it was hard to go there with him. One, because he turned everything into a big brother compliment-fest, but also because, technically, he was her employee.

Technically, she owned the Salsa Street food truck.

And technically, she couldnt cook to save her life.

He pressed the tortilla flat against the skillet. Youre good at a lot of stuff, Ror. Probably more than you know, if youd ever get out from behind your computer. What are those boards you stab?

Its pin . You knowPinterest? She bristled. At least Im organizing and planning. Its not like Im some obsessed gamer or something.