[Jake]

Kayla takes the other three plates and serves the rest of the guys. Once they all have their food, she returns to the kitchen and moves in close enough to talk to me without anyone else hearing. “So tell me, have you granted any of the wishes the girls gave you?”

“Ah, ah, ah.” I kiss the tip of her nose, throwing her off. Her expression falls slack as she blinks. Damn, she’s cute when she looks at me like that. “You know the rules. You can’t know what they are.”

“But if you already did one, you can tell me then, right?”

Now I know why she stopped by. It wasn’t to ask me what Britt said. It wasn’t to deliver leftover food. The diner serves breakfast all day, so they could have used the hash. No, it was to grill me on the three wishes her friends want me to grant her. “Nice try, sweetheart.”

She doesn’t even try to deny it and crosses her arms under her breasts. I stare at them, momentarily distracted. I love her breasts. They aren’t fake. They’re real and the perfect size for my hands. Damn, I need to focus on something else or my wandering attention will get my ass in trouble.

“Can you at least give me a hint?”

“Sure. It involves you and me.” I hand her a plate and a fork. “Eat.”

“But I brought this for you guys.”

“And I will bet you a week of doing the dishes you haven’t eaten today.”

She grabs the fork and takes a bite, then rests it on the plate. “There. Happy?”

“When you eat the entire thing, I’ll be even happier.” Despite eating it for breakfast, I’m starving so I make a plate for myself and dig in. I love the diner’s hash. Not too salty. Just the right balance of potatoes, onions, and meat. It’s not something I’d eat every day, but today I’ll make an exception. I’ll hit the gym hard tomorrow. “This shit rocks.”

“Alfonse says you never order the special.”

“Not on the days it’s the special,” I correct. “I prefer it fresh. The special is usually code for leftovers from the day before or made in bulk because you have too much of it. I spent way too much time in a restaurant for me to fall for that.”

“Aha,” she sings and gives me a knowing look as she leans her hip against the counter. When she crosses her arms, the look in her eyes holds my attention. “Another layer unfolds. Is that why you cook so well? Is your dad, like, some famous chef?”

I laugh. God, don’t I wish. I leave out the details of my dad’s current address. At least I think he’s still in prison. I haven’t talked to him since I was in the seventh grade. “My mom works at a restaurant. Several, actually. We couldn’t afford a babysitter, so she’d drag me to work with her when I wasn’t in school. I hung out in the back on the line with all the cooks. They taught me.”

“Why didn’t you become a chef?”

“I guess you could say I answered a higher call.” The memory still hurts. I swallow several times to keep my voice steady, unsure why I’m about to open up. I haven’t told anyone the story since it happened. I want to share it with Kayla. For some reason, I know she’ll understand. “You know how every kid has that one person in their life? Their mentor. Their hero. Chuck was that person to me. He was a line cook at one of the restaurants and took me under his wing. He looked out for me when I needed it most, you know? Probably the only reason I’m here today instead of in jail. Or worse.”

“Sounds like Chuck was like a father to you.” She doesn’t ask me about my dad again. For that, I’m grateful. I’m not ready to tell her about him.

“I owe him everything.” I can’t bring myself to smile, the memory too painful, too bitter.

“Jake, what is it?” She covers my hand with hers and squeezes.

“When I was twelve, Chuck’s house burned down with him, his wife, and their two kids inside.” I pull in a shaky breath as my chest tightens. “I vowed I’d never let fire take another person if I can help it. I love to cook, but I love to save lives even more. I just wish I could have been there to save Chuck and his family.”

“You were just a kid.”

“I know. That doesn’t make it any easier to accept.”

She squeezes my hand again and holds my gaze. “You’re a good man, Jake Swanson.”

How I want to hold her right now. I fight the urge. We are not having a moment. She doesn’t instill feelings in me I never thought I’d experience. One weekend. Two days under the same roof and I’m ready to turn in my man card. Jesus, what’s the matter with me?

“Eat,” I order to change the subject. After I point at her food with my fork, she concedes and takes another bite, then another and another. She has half the plate gone before she throws in the towel. I’m impressed. I didn’t think she’d even eat that much.

“That’s all I can do. There’s a lot of food there.”

“Now you can go to class with some energy for your brain.”

She laughs and I smile. “I hardly think the food at the diner provides enough energy for anything, let alone finals.”

“Do you have a final today?” I finish my last bite. “This is dead week. Finals don’t start until next week.”

“I have a big one that’ll take a couple weeks to finish.”

“Glad I’m not in that class.”

“That’s why Wednesday is—”

“Going to be a blast,” I cut her off before she cancels. “What kind of wine do you want to bring to the movie? Don’t look at me like that. I know you want wine.”

“I never said yes.”

I grin. “That’s not a no.”

The guys have all disappeared now that their bellies are full, leaving the cleanup for me. Typical. I’m a cadet, so I get to do whatever they say, including cleaning up after them. Without a word, Kayla stacks plates together, sets the forks on top, and carries them to the sink. “I can’t even take one night off, Jake. Not right now, so close to graduation.”

To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement. I want to take her out. Yes, on a real date. I have a connection with Kayla whether she wants to admit it or not. I’m done trying to make sense of it. I’m going to roll with it. It’s sure as hell a lot easier than trying to fight whatever it is growing between us. I’m not even sure I want to fight it.

Instead of me accepting her answer, I push the issue. If she can’t take a single night off after working close to full time as well as going to school, she’s doomed when she hits the real world. “What’s so important you can’t spend a single night away from the books?”

She sets more plates into the sink. “I have to find a business to use for my business case and turn it in for approval. The project is due next Friday and I’m nervous as shit. It’s my only final that isn’t just sitting for a test. This is, like, real life.”

“What’s the class?” And why are you waiting until the last minute to find your business case? Even I’m not that bad. It’s not like Kayla to put off anything when it comes to school.

“Business and Administration. We have to create a business case on how to cut overhead on a local business. They dropped it on us Friday. Instead of sitting for a final, we get to do this. I’m already having trouble sleeping as it is.”

And now, so am I. Professors suck sometimes. In what universe is it ever a good idea to pop something like this on someone? It’s not like the students need more to do or need the extra stress. “Why not do yours on the diner?”

She shakes her head. “We aren’t allowed to choose a business we work at or have any relatives working at. I had four businesses on my list I checked out after we moved, but they were already taken. I’m freaking out that I’m going to flunk all because I don’t have a business for my case study.”

I come up behind her at the sink and wrap my arms around her waist. She’s trembling and I don’t like it. I hold her tighter and rest my lips against her ear. “Tell me what I can do to help.”

“You can tell me what the wishes are.”

“Not going to happen.” I kiss her ear.

“What about what Britt said? Will you at least tell me that?”

“Basically, she said I’m a piece of shit for leading you on.”

She turns in my arms to face me. “You aren’t leading me on.”

“Try telling her that.”

“Why does she care? She hardly knows me. Is she in love with you or something?” Although she appears nonchalant, there’s a spark of jealousy in her eyes.

I shake my head. “The only person Britt is in love with is herself. Don’t worry about her. She means well. She just has a hard time showing it.”

“If you say so.” She rests her forehead on my shoulder and sighs. I love the feel of my arms around her and hold her closer. “What am I going to do about my final? I can’t go to class today without a plan.”

“Use the firehouse.”

As she pulls away and glances at me, her brow crinkles in confusion. I’ve come to memorize that look. I’ve memorized all her looks. “This firehouse?”

“Why not? We’re considered a business, right? God knows we could use someone with your brain to help us cut some overhead.”

“But you’re a public service. I don’t think that counts for this class.”

“We still have to pay the bills.” Before she can recite some bullshit rule as a reason not to do this, I yell, “Hey, Cap? Got a sec?”

“What are you doing?” she hisses under her breath.

“Getting you a business for your final.”

The captain walks in, spots Kayla, and grins. “Well, hello, Kayla. What brings you by?” He steals a knowing glance at me.

“I brought leftovers.”

“Sir,” I jump right in. “While I’m making your lunch, Kayla has a question for you.”

She glares at me. I return the gesture with a grin. This will be good for her. She only does things she knows she’ll be good at. It’s time for her to break out of her comfort zone and shoot for something bigger. Maybe then she’ll break out of the shell of boringness she wears like a cocoon.

“I hate you,” she whispers.

“You love me,” I retort. Judging by that spark in her eye, she doesn’t mean it. Far from it. She held that same expression this morning right before I attacked her in the kitchen.

She takes a deep breath and faces the captain. “I’m in Business and Administration. Our final is to find a local business we aren’t personally affiliated with and do a business case on them. We have to find a way to cut overheard by five percent. I’m hoping you’ll let me use the firehouse as my business case.”

The captain lifts his eyebrows as he whistles. “Five percent? That’s hefty and much needed at this point. What do I need to do?”

Kayla’s mouth falls open, but only for an instant. She then pulls a piece of paper out of the bag she always has draped over her shoulder. “You just need to sign here agreeing for me to interview you on what your current overhead is, and then when I finish my project, you need to review it and sign off.”

“Am I required to implement any of your recommendations?”

“No, sir.”

“But I can if I see fit?”

“Yes, sir.” Her eyes dance as she smiles. I suck in a breath as the gesture lights up the entire firehouse. How can something as simple as a smile captivate me? I turn back to the cap’s eggs and flip them before they brown. No one likes brown eggs.

“Would you help me implement them if I need it?”

“I, uh…” She darts a quick glance my way. I give her a nod. Come on, baby. Break out of that shell. “I’m graduating in a couple weeks.”

“Do you have any job offers?”

Her color drains as she sucks in a breath. Then her cheeks grow a pretty shade of crimson. “Not currently.”

“Seattle is riding my ass—pardon the language—about my bottom line. They’re already cutting my budget in July and leaving it up to me to try and find a way to keep this house running with less. If I like what you do in your project, would you be willing to let me hire you as a consultant to implement the changes?”

“A consultant?” Her eyes widen as she once again looks at me. I’m not surprised by her reaction. It’s not in her plan to be in a role that has absolutely no security. A consultant can be swimming in money one month and barely make rent the next. It all depends on the job. Kayla would work herself into a full-on panic attack every month if she had to live like that.

But, I wouldn’t.

It’s what I’m used to. My mom and I never knew if we’d make rent, be able to pay the power bill, or even have enough for food. It never stopped us from trying. If Kayla’s driven enough—and I know for a fact she is—she’ll make it work. I just have to find a way to convince her.

“Seattle is giving me a budget of ten thousand to make it happen. I know, giving me money to save money makes no sense to me, either.” He shrugs. “If you can find a way to save me five percent off the top, that money is yours. That way you and Jake can stay in my son’s place and I won’t have to come up with the money to cover the rent. What do you say?”

Wait. How’d I get sucked into this? “Uh, sir? We told the leasing office we’d only be there a month.”

“So, we tell them you’re staying longer. Are you saying you don’t want to spend a few more months with this lovely lady?”

“That’s not what I’m saying at all.”

“Do you have somewhere else to live after the lease is up?”

I set my jaw. I don’t want to think about what happens after the lease is up. “No.”

“Then it’s settled.” The captain regards Kayla. “Are you in?”

“T-Ten thousand dollars?”

He nods.

A slow and steady smile starts at the corners of her lips and spreads across her face. “I’m totally in.” She then straightens and clears her throat as she composes herself. “I mean, I accept the position, sir.”

“Good.” He takes the plate of food I offer and stabs it with a fork. “When should I expect you to come in for the interview?”

“I have class today to get approval to use the firehouse, so is tomorrow good?”

“That works.” He takes a bite as he walks away. “Carry on.”

She whips around, her smile so wide I can’t help but return the gesture. “Ten thousand dollars, Jake. Can you believe this? I’ve got my first real job that uses what I went to school for.”

No, I really can’t. I don’t even have a thousand dollars to my name and must admit, I’m jealous. “Since you’ve got it all figured out now, guess this means you can go to the park with me Wednesday.”

Her smile fades, as does her color. She grabs the counter and blows out a breath. “I have no idea what I’m doing. Oh my God. What’d I just agree to? I’m only a student. This is all theory. What if I screw up? What if I’m not good enough? What if—”

“Look at me.” I grasp her shoulders and hold her gaze. “Deep breaths. Come on. In. Out. In. Out. There. Better?”

She shakes her head. “I’m going to screw this up. I just know it.”

“No,” I correct her and slip an arm around her. “You won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know you. You don’t agree to do anything unless you know you’ll succeed. Besides, I’ll help you.”

She lifts her gaze and holds mine, searching. When it shines with gratitude, I fight the urge to kiss her. “You will?”

“Absolutely.” I love that I can help her with something like this. She deserves to succeed, and I want to be right beside her, making sure she does.

“But what about your finals?”

“I’ve got that covered. Now, get going so I can clean this mess.”

“You don’t want me to stick around and help? What happened to you wanting me to keep you company?”

I can’t help myself and sneak in a quick kiss. “That was before you landed your dream job, if only for a summer.”

“It’s not guaranteed. The professor has to approve the firehouse, first. Then the captain has to sign off on the business case. Then he has to want to implement the changes.” As she lists all the obstacles, her words come faster and faster, as does her breathing. “Oh God. What if none of that happens?”

I kiss her again, this time lingering as I nibble on her lower lip. “Breathe. Let’s take it one step at a time.” I hand her the signed piece of paper. “Get the firehouse approved.”

“Thank you,” she says, the sincerity in her tone causing me pause. Her eyes are glimmering as she smiles at me.

“For what?”

“Pushing me to do something I would have never done on my own.”

I grin and think about the two remaining wishes I’m supposed to grant her. Mel’s wish is exciting. Ciara’s scares the shit out of me. My guts clench and twist.

With a deep breath, I shove the wishes to the back of my mind and focus on Kayla. By pushing her to do something she would have never done on her own, I’m pushing myself as well by taking an active role in someone else’s life for a change and actually caring about the outcome when it doesn’t directly affect me. I like it. “Just wait until you see what I have planned next.”

She leans up and kisses me. “Can’t wait.”

Watching her bounce away, I smile as warmth rushes my body and tightens my nerves. She really is something else. For the first time since I can remember, I’m looking forward to the end of my shift, just to get home. Only this time it isn’t to an empty, rundown apartment. I’ll get home before her since she has classes late on Mondays. I’ll have my kickass enchiladas waiting and pair dinner with a great wine. She’ll be grateful she doesn’t have to worry about food since she’ll be beyond stressed about this final. I don’t want her to stress, not when I can help it. I love to cook and now have a reason to.

Maybe having a steady girl isn’t such a bad thing after all.