Heads or Tails by S. K. Munt Read Free Book Online Page A

half a steak. Tristan had observed that she’d nibbled like a bird, a faraway look in her eyes the whole time. That was out of character, he’d noticed when he stayed at The Seaview, that she usually ate heartily.
    ‘Delicious,’ Ivyanne agreed. ‘You should be working in a restaurant. Your steak is even better than Chef Lee’s!’
    ‘I know,’ Pintang elbowed Lincoln in the ribs. ‘I asked him for kitchen work twice when I first started, but he said no because I had no official experience.’
    ‘You should have just cooked me something,’ Lincoln glanced at her. ‘You know, I could always find room in the kitchen for one more…’
    But Pintang shook her head. ‘I’m sorry Link. Me working for your restaurant was the last thing I talked over with Ardhi….’ She shuddered. ‘Now I just can’t go back there, not after everything that happened after.’
    ‘I still find it hard to breathe when I’m in there,’ Ivyanne admitted. ‘But it’s getting easier, the more I force myself to.’
    ‘All two times.’ Lincoln drawled, looking slightly put-out.
    Tristan grimaced, feeling a trace of guilt. When it came down to it-Lincoln really was a hard luck case. He’d finally gotten a ring onto the finger of the girl of his dreams only to have her take it off the night of the celebration. The fact that Tristan had kissed her in that damn closet during the party made him feel like a heel.
    But the fact that he hadn’t ripped that sparkling dress off her pulsing body and rammed himself inside her made him feel worse. Looking back on the moment, he was very aware that he could have. She’d been so grateful to see him, so out of her mind with elation...
    ‘But you go there and feel pain,’ Pintang said softly, ‘whereas I feel guilt.’
    ‘It’s not your fault,’ Tristan said. ‘I was the one who insisted on the confrontation there and then.’
    ‘That was smart,’ Saraya piped up. ‘If we’d had a smaller group, it would have been harder. Ivyanne could be-’ She winced. ‘We can’t change anything, so there’s no point sitting round and moping about it. I miss Vana-I loved her like my own mother. But I wouldn’t have wanted to see her if Ivyanne, yourself or even Lincoln had been the ones to die instead.’
    Tristan looked away, for he couldn’t agree. He’d failed them all-why didn’t someone just say it?
    ‘Pintang made the best seafood chowder last week,’ Ivyanne suddenly said. ‘Dad would have loved it.’ She turned to Pintang. ‘Could you make it again this week? It makes me feel closer to him.’
    Pintang smiled warmly. ‘Of course.’
    Tristan looked back at Pintang, curious. ‘What else can you do?’
    Pintang shrugged. ‘Anything, everything. I used to cook all the time, before I moved to the resort a few years ago. It’s like I eat something once, and can work out the recipe in my head.’
    ‘That’s quite a gift.’ Lincoln said. ‘Maybe you should open your own restaurant?’
    ‘That’s a great idea. I think I’ve gained a kilo since we moved in on Sunday,’ Saraya said. ‘I almost always cooked for Vana, and my repertoire was limited.’
    Pintang made a face. ‘I’d have no idea how to go about it. Don’t you need chef experience?’
    ‘Papers,’ Tristan waved his hand. ‘I could get those for you in a second. There would be a few licenses involved, and of course you’d need a premises so it would take time... but who here doesn’t have a little time up their sleeve?’
    ‘You’re in the right area for it.’ Lincoln gestured down the coast behind him, where the town of Airlie Beach glittered in the night. ‘If you opened somewhere eclectic and did good, foreign meals, the tourists would love it.’
    Pintang frowned. ‘What about Ardhi? I mean, he’s bound to know we’ve headed this way. Won’t he be on the look-out? If he follows me home, we’re screwed.’
    ‘We’ll have Ardhi by the time you get to that point.’ Tristan said matter-of-factly.