“This would be something you could do on the side. I was thinking you could prep food at home and then drop it off at my place once or twice a week. You know I basically live on frozen meals, so this could be a huge help if you think you have time.”

Caelyn eyed me carefully. “But you swear by your frozen meals.”

I pressed my mouth into a firm line to keep from laughing at her suspicious look. “I think I’ve hit the point where they’re all starting to taste the same. I wouldn’t mind some variety. And I’ve been working longer hours. I need more calories.”

I watched as Caelyn mulled my offer over in her mind. I hoped like hell she took it. If I could’ve just handed her some extra money, I would’ve. But I’d learned a lot about Caelyn over the years that I’d been coming into the store. And one of those things was that she was incredibly proud. She needed to feel as if she had earned whatever was given to her.

“I think that could work out really well. If you’re sure you really need it.”

The muscles between my shoulder blades eased a fraction. “I’m sure. It really would be a big help.”

Caelyn smiled—no, she beamed. It was the same smile that had made me feel as if I’d taken a solid hit to the solar plexus the first time I’d seen it. She did a little shimmy shake. “This is going to be awesome. I never get to plan full menus here. I’ll need a list of your favorite foods and things that you don’t like.” She gave me a stern look. “And don’t even think about putting ‘all vegetables’ on your list of dislikes.”

I held up both hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“How many meals a week are you thinking?”

“All of them, if you can manage it.”

Caelyn blinked up at me. “Really?”

“It would be a huge help.” One that I could pay her handsomely for. I cleared my throat. “We should also talk about pay. I was thinking twenty-five hundred a week plus gas and expenses, but we can negotiate if you need more.”

Caelyn’s jaw fell open, her eyes going wide. “Twenty-five hundred a week? Griffin, that’s insane.”

“You want three?”

“Did you get hit on the head by something while you were working on your house? That is way too much money.”

I chuckled. “No head injuries. I did some research on the going rate for private chefs. Twenty-five hundred a week is pretty standard.”

“Where? In New York City?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Lots of places.” Places like New York, Los Angeles, and London.

Caelyn shook her head. “I’m not taking that much. I’d feel like I was taking advantage.”