Bad Boys of Red Hook [2] You're the One Read Free Page B

off for years to earn her own kitchen. She thanked her parents and each of her brothers in turn.
    Patrick had saved his gift for last. He held out a long, flat box. “I had this made specially for you. I hope you like it.”
    She eyed it like she would a snake. He held it out to her and she had no choice but to take it. She ripped off the paper, opened the box, and found an engraved nameplate with her name on it above the words MAXWELL’S BUSINESS MANAGER .
    He took his glass of wine and held it up to toast. “Here’s to you, Skye, and your new partnership position. Congratulations. You’re finally a full-fledged owner.”
    Kier, Colin, Reilly, and her parents raised their glasses, and her heart sank. She’d worked to earn her own kitchen, and now she was made the business manager? She swallowed hard. “Don’t you think you should have asked how I felt about this before promoting me to business manager?”
    Paddy smirked his I’m-the-oldest-bad-boy-in-the-family smirk. “I didn’t think we needed to. We all know you like to play chef, but let’s face it, Skye. You’re going to want to marry, have kids—all us guys are married to our restaurants. We don’t want that for you. This way you get to play in our kitchens, you can do the monthly specials, and still have a partnership role. It’s the perfect compromise.”
    Not for her it wasn’t. But then if she blew off her head of steam here, she’d just come off looking like a brat. She’d be damned if she’d give Paddy the satisfaction of calling her one. No, she’d get through her damn birthday dinner; thenshe’d figure out where to go from here. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck in the business office for the rest of her life and coming up with amazing specials for her father’s and brothers’ restaurants—and watch them take full credit for all her hard work. No, she was going to do something—she just wouldn’t do it in a fit of rage. She was a thirty-year-old woman, not some snotty teenager.
    Skye looked from one family member to the next, stopping at her mother, who appeared to be fighting a smile. When she stared into her mother’s eyes, she was surprised to see a look that could only be called encouragement. She seemed to be waiting to see Skye’s reaction. She’d have a while to wait. Skye had a lot to think about. Hell, she owned one-seventh of the company—it wasn’t something she could just shrug off. No, whatever she did, she had to protect the investment she’d made. Well, that was if she didn’t let her temper get the best of her. She figured the chances of that happening were about fifty-fifty. Not great, and the odds would only get worse if she didn’t make a hasty escape. She hated pulling the sentimental, gushy woman card. It was so not her, but even the hint of happy tears would have the men in her family scattering like roaches at the flick of a kitchen light.
    “Well played, dear,” her mother whispered when she hugged her good-bye. “You are a formidable Maxwell.”
    Skye wasn’t sure where her mother was coming from, but chose to abandon any further conversation with the final bite of chocolate cake on her plate. Strong enough to leave the last bite but knowing she would regret it later. She gathered her gifts and made like a mixer and beat it.
    *   *   *
    “Patrick Maxwell, you’re the world’s biggest asshole.” Skye had held on to her temper through payroll and end-of-the-month financials, but this was the final straw. She pulled a knife through the dish towel and then stuffed it in the sheath. “I quit.” Her brother wore a chef’s hat, probably to make himself look taller, the jerk. As if his six-foot-two frame didn’t tower over her enough.
    “You’re not an employee—you’re an owner and you’re family. You can’t quit.”
    “Wanna bet? Watch me.” She rolled up the carrying case where she stored her prized knives, and ripped the apron from around her waist before throwing it at his