The door finally closes with a thud, jingling the bells above. I lock it and aimlessly walk to the sitting area by the fireplace.
What the hell was that?
I plop down into the big, oversized leather chair—the one that Sutton was just waiting for me in—and try to unravel this new development.
It feels like my world is off its axis. My mind starts to race and my thoughts go back to all the things he did that irritated me. I start to overanalyze each one, processing them in this new light. My car, the little birthday desserts, the way he always offers to hold the door for me or grab the boxes of coffee when I’m making deliveries. And I’m not even going to try to unravel offering that apartmentas my own personal crash pad. Maybe he was just being nice because that’s who he is.
Maybe that’s who he always has been? Shit.
I curl further into the chair and Felix hops up and joins me as my little spoon. I yawn and my eyes start to flutter shut. He was right. I should get some sleep. I’m tired and my mind is a mess after the day I’ve had. A little power nap before I meet Monica later wouldn’t be the worst.
I wrap my arm around Felix and lay my head against the plush arm of the chair. When I take a deep breath, there’s a lingering scent that soothes me to sleep—the familiar notes of charred wood and cooking spices.
CHAPTER 14
SUTTON
“Didyou see the pictures Slade sent last night? The place is really coming along.” TJ asks, taking his fork and spearing a bite of the bolognese I came up with a couple weeks ago. It’s Saturday and this late in the evening, it’s just him and a few stragglers as the last turn of the night winds down.
I polish a wine glass as I watch him wipe up the sauce with a piece of bread. I smile when I notice that the pasta dish is now almost entirely clean. That’s the part about cooking that I love. Knowing that I came up with a recipe and prepared it so well that people want to come back for more.
My smile fades when I think about his question and my answer.
“You mean did Slade call me and walk me through each of the pictures and point out every detail down to the coat hooks he put at each booth?” That was before he gave me the week by week itinerary for the Seattle remodel over the next two months. “Like he does every Saturday morning?”
Seriously. I know we’re in the service industry but it would be nice if he could at least pretend to have a work-life balance sometime.
TJ grimaces. “Well he probably knows I’d zone out andtell him to fuck right off. So I guess I just get a few progress photos.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury since he’s technically my boss. At least he ponied up for first class on my flight to Seattle tomorrow to check out the progress in person.”
“You know I prefer flying private.” He snorts a laugh before continuing. “And it’s great not having a boss. Although Grace loves to remind me that I was the best boss she ever had.”
There’s something amusing about him saying that considering that like Slade, TJ also employs his younger brother, Jake.
As much as I love my family and my brother, I want something that’s mine. A place where I have the freedom to make my own name. The restaurants have all been Slade’s, even though he generally stays out of my business once Gloria’s got up and running. The garage is Sly’s more and more every day. And Sisi has the motel that she’s put her personal touch on, turning it into a modestly profitable business.
“Where’s Grace tonight?” I ask, wanting to change the subject. As exciting as the new restaurant will inevitably be, it’s also becoming something I dread thinking about.
“She’s with Josie.” He wads up the napkin from his lap and sets it on the counter.
I nod, still trying to wrap my head around how small the world is. TJ married someone whose best friend is also from Sterling Springs. Unfortunately, that’s a detail I’ve had to keep to myself for now.
“Behind, Chef.” One of my bussers calls, and I turn just in time to stop them, depositing the dishes in their bin before they walk back to the kitchen.
I turn back to TJ at the counter, but immediately lose all interest in talking to him when I look toward the hostess stand by the front door. Our hostess, Devyn, is talking to Kelsey.She’s in her usual black skinny jeans and low cut black t-shirt. I can’t look away though because there’s nothing typical about the way she looks.
“Watch out, Chef.” I look down as our bar manager Rich reaches under the counter to grab a bottle of lime juice from the fridge in front of me.
I step to the side, but don’t take my eyes off the woman talking to Devyn. I knew we cleared up some stuff between us, but she’s here. For the first time it’s not because she’s doing her job—delivering our coffee order.
She’s standing in my restaurant because she wants to be here.
They both look in my direction and I wave her over with way too much enthusiasm.
I dust off my chef’s coat and look at TJ. “Help me. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“What the fuck do you mean?” He gives me a confused look before we both watch as Kelsey approaches.