I watched Caden and the lawyer talk for a while. He had to be a lawyer, he was too stiff for anything else. What were they talking about? I knew Harry Goldblum, the lawyer Caden had used to handle the legalities of the restaurant. I had been here from the start and been through every step of building a new restaurant with Caden. I had been lucky to be hired by him when there had been so many applicants.

He had told me I was beautiful, that I had a friendly smile and that he wanted to get to know me better, which meant everyone else would want that, too. I knew it had only been his innate charm; Caden was a playboy after all. But I had taken the job because I had known I could help out, and since then I had gotten to know the workings of this restaurant, inside and out.

This lawyer guy had nothing to do with the restaurant, and Caden looked irritated with him.

When he finally left, I walked over to Caden who had walked to the bar to make sure the alcohol that had been delivered was ready and lined up for use.

“What was that all about?” I asked. “He’s not one of ours.”

“He’s not,” Caden confirmed. “He’s my grandmother’s lawyer. He was here to tell me she passed away, and that there’s a reading of the will in Cali next week.”

“You should go,” I said. I didn’t offer my condolences. Caden wouldn’t want them. I didn’t know everything about him, though. I had only been working at the restaurant for a year and Caden had a mask of quick jokes and a tough don’t-fuck-with-me attitude to keep anyone at bay who might want to get a little closer. He was an island. But I knew him well enough to know that he didn’t have any family he spent time with or even spoke of, and I could tell he wasn’t nearly as upset about the news as anyone else might have been.

Anyone else might have thought him heartless, but I understood it. It was something I could relate to. I didn’t have contact with my family either, and it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one. Everyone always claimed blood was so important and that ‘you do for family,’ but I didn’t have the same experience. To me, my friends were more my family than my family had ever been, and I was happy as a loner.

I liked knowing there were more loners out there and that I wasn’t so strange for not belonging to a family network.

“Fine,” Caden said, as if he finally gave into an argument we never had. “I’ll take a week. I could do with a bit of a break. But that means you’re in charge.”

“I didn’t mean a whole week,” I said. “That’s a lot to bite off in one go.”

Caden shook his head. I need to get to California for this thing and you’re good at what you do. I’m sure you’ll do fine, even if you work half as hard as you argue.”

I made a face at Caden and he chuckled. “Usually people go up for review when they get arrogant with their boss,” he said.

“You can’t afford to fire me,” I said. “Without me your restaurant will tank.”

Caden didn’t answer me, which meant I was right. I didn’t rub it in his face, even though I wanted to. He walked to the kitchen and I followed him.

“I’m going out of town next week,” Caden announced to Greyson. “I’m leaving Harper in charge.”

Greyson groaned. “This restaurant will have fallen apart by the time you return.”

“That’s what I said,” I offered.

Caden sighed. “Why do you guys always gotta act like children? I’m putting Harper in charge because I know she can do the job. Do you think I’m wrong?” He was challenging us and I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across my face. Greyson chuckled, too.

“Are you guys fucking with me?” Caden asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, I think I can manage.”

“We’re all good here, boss,” Greyson said, and I knew he was calling Caden ‘boss’ because he hated it and we were teaming up on him. It was funny when we did it. We got little kicks out of pissing him off because he was generally such a good sport.

“Stop your shit,” Caden said, and he looked serious now. So serious that my own smile faded. “You’re in charge and that’s it.” He walked out of the kitchen and I glanced at Greyson.

“Guess he didn’t think it was funny this time,” Greyson said.

“Maybe he cares about his grandmother dying, after all,” I offered.

Greyson frowned. “What?”

I filled him in on the lawyer and the trip that was for the reading of the will.

“If I’d known he had lost someone I would have been nicer about it,” Greyson said.

“And he would have given you trouble because he hates sympathy,” I said.

Greyson nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”

I shrugged. Caden was a dark horse. He was tough to figure out even on his good days—he joked, smiled, and looked for trouble. He either did it to put up a front, or he did it because he was actually in a good mood.

“So, you’re in charge, huh?” Greyson asked. “Imagine, me having to answer to you, kid.”

Greyson was only a year older than me. I laughed. “Yeah, imagine me being able to fire you if I feel like it.”

“Caden didn’t give you that much power,” he said. “He’s not insane.”

“Lucky for you.”

 

 

After we finished up for the day, I collected my coat and handbag and walked to the front to make sure everything was locked up for the night. Caden was at the hostess station, tallying up the receipts for the day.

“I’m off,” I said to him.

“Let me walk you out,” Caden offered, and I accepted. It wasn’t every day Caden was a gentleman. He grabbed his helmet.

We walked to my car together.

“Could you order a few new plates,” Caden said. One of our waiters had an accident and dropped four plates at once. “And we need cleaning products as well. Seems like it costs me more to keep this place clean than to provide the food.”

“I’ll get on it first thing in the morning,” I said.

Caden nodded and ran through a few other things with me, checking up on stock while we walked. His motorbike was parked two spaces down from my car. Caden put on his helmet and fastened the strap beneath his chin.

“You’re playing with your life driving that thing,” I pointed out.

“The danger is a thrill,” I said.

“Until it’s not.”

Caden grinned at me, a twinkle in his eye. “Maybe I should take you out for a spin, show you just how exciting it can be.”

I smiled, blushing unexpectedly. Caden was flirting. He wasn’t usually like this with me.

“I doubt any ride you could give me would reach the level of an actual thrill,” I teased.

Caden chuckled. “Now I’ll just have to prove you wrong—take you out and show you what a thrill it would be to break the rules with me.”

We were definitely flirting. My cheeks were flushed and I turned around to open my car door. I didn’t want Caden to see the reaction his words had. He was charming, funny and arrogant enough to expect any woman to fall for him. I hated to admit that I could see why. He wasn’t only handsome, with his sandy colored hair and icy blue eyes, but whenever he gave any woman his attention, he made it seem like she was the only one. Since I knew for a fact that he had a lot of ‘only ones’ in his life, I wasn’t about to be added to that list.

I had to admit though, it was flattering for him to turn his charm on me. I liked it. I shouldn’t have liked it because I knew what he was like, but I did.

“Goodnight, Harper,” Caden said, before getting onto his bike. I climbed into my car and pulled it shut behind me, watching Caden drive off. I didn’t agree with motorbikes, they were deathtraps on wheels. But God, he sure looked good on it.

On the way home I stopped at Tina’s house. The lights were still on despite the late hour,  and Tina quickly opened the front door.

“I had a feeling you would stop by tonight,” she said. “Charlie and the kids are already sleeping.”

“I’m imposing on your me-time then,” I said.

Tina shook her head and hugged me when I reached her. “You know I always have time for you.” I walked into the house and followed Tina to the kitchen where she put the kettle on for tea.

Tina and I had been friends since high school. She was my polar opposite in so many ways. I was daring where she was careful, I was free-spirited where she had always wanted to settle down. Tina had gotten married to Charlie, her high school sweetheart, straight out of school, and they had Mitchell and Kelsey, now three and one, only a few years later. She had built the happy home life, while I was chasing a career.

“How are things at the restaurant?” Tina asked.

“They’re going well. Caden is going away next week and has put me in charge while he’s gone.”

“That’s a big deal,” Tina said, pulling two cups out of the cabinet.

“It is. Maybe I can shoot for a manager’s position eventually.”

“He would be a fool not to bump you up. You’re great at what you do. But if you’re that busy with work you can’t think about having kids. Running a restaurant is more than full time job. It’s double time.”

“Yeah, I know. But it’s not like I’m planning on dating, never mind marriage and kids.”

“I think you deserve a man,” Tina said.

I laughed. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m happy where I am right now. I don’t need a man.”

Tina was always telling me I needed a man. I was happy with my life, and being alone meant I could make my own choices, pursue my own dreams and live a life where I didn’t have to answer to anyone. I respected that she had married Charlie—he had a heart of gold—but the white picket fence and two kids wasn’t my thing. I was happy with my life.

“I know you’re happy,” Tina said. “But it’s so fulfilling to be a part of something bigger. Think about it, at least.

I knew she meant well, so I agreed to think about it. I knew what conclusion I would come to, but I could agree to that at least. Tina was satisfied when I said I would think about it. The kettle boiled and Tina took it off the burner, pouring hot water into the two mugs.