Bitter Truth (Hawthorne Vines #1)

Memphis’s face scrunches up in something that looks like a mixture of disbelief and confusion. Of course he wouldn’t have any idea that something he’s said or done is bothersome or offensive. That’s how it’s always been, and I figure now, it’s how it’s always going to be.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m your sister, Memphis.”

My brother just stares at me, his expression unchanging.

“I’m your sister, not some part-time robot with no feelings.”

At that, he rolls his eyes.

“You’re always so dramatic, Murphy. I’m not treating you like a robot. I’m treating you like an employee.”

“And you see nothing wrong with that?”

“No, I don’t.”

I turn my head away and stare back out at the vineyard. “Maybe that’s the problem.”

Memphis lets out a sigh.

“Look, if you want to talk in riddles and code, Micah’s a better bet. I on the other hand have shit to do, and I don’t have time for this. You have no idea how important it is that this restaurant be a success, okay? So for once in your goddamn life will you think about someone other than your own damn self?”

My entire body bristles, but I’m surprised by what I see.

Memphis rarely shows his emotions. He’s one of those put your nose down and work guys and it translates into him being kind of an asshole on most days.

Right now, though, I see something I don’t normally see on my brother’s face.

He looks rattled.

He rarely lets anyone see him as anything other than one hundred percent in control.

I open my mouth, wanting to understand more instead of just being talked down to or bossed around. But before I can say anything, he speaks again.

“Look, either do what I need you to do in the restaurant, or feel free to lend a hand to Micah and the grounds crew. But what I need is a waitress. Let me know if you want the fucking job.”

And then he stalks off, his entire body tight with irritation.

Something uncomfortable settles in the pit of my stomach. Something that tells me my brother is keeping some kind of secret from me.

And I don’t like how it feels.

Chapter Six

WES

“Sorry about that.” Memphis takes the seat across from me where Murphy was sitting just a few minutes ago. “My sister can be … a lot.”

“So you’ve said.”

He glances up at me, a pinch in his brow, but then reaches out for the stack of paper he’d been working his way through before Murphy put him in his place and left.

I wanted so badly to speak up on her behalf. Not only because Memphis’s just a waitress comment was uncalled for, but because it’s a little ridiculous that he’s expecting her to be the lead waitress while also shoving the serving staff on me as a responsibility. She clearly has a lot of experience, and I don’t have the time to handle the hiring and training of front-of-house staff when I have a kitchen to run and my own cooks to hire and train.

But I have to be careful about stepping in to defend Murphy or take her side. The last thing I need is for Memphis to catch wind of my attraction to his sister if I want to preserve a good working relationship with him.

Besides, I don’t really know Murphy that well. For all I know, she is irresponsible and easy to anger and all the other ways her own brother describes her. Maybe it would be a huge mistake for her to take on more responsibility than a simple serving position.