“Hey there, just wanted to duck my head in and say—”

I furrowed my brow as Clay typed away on the very old keyboard Bernie used with the computer. Papers were strewn everywhere, and I heard Clay let out a massive sigh. I leaned against the doorway, watching as he slowly swiveled around in that rickety chair.

“I’m surprised it’s held up thus far,” I said.

“What?” Clay asked.

I nodded. “The chair. It’s been here since the restaurant opened. I’m shocked it holds you.”

“Are you calling me fat?” he asked coyly.

“Not fat. But you are massive.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said.

“If you want, I can come in tomorrow before everything gets going and show you some behind-the-scenes stuff. I used to help your parents out a bit when they needed a break around here.”

Clay furrowed his brow. “You did that?”

I shrugged. “Yeah. All the time. I know how payroll works. Where to find all the paperwork. How the quarterly taxes work. I can give you a crash course in all of it.”

“And you’re only a waitress?”

I scoffed playfully. “You make it sound like a prison sentence. I enjoy being waitstaff, actually.”

“It’s just that I’ve realized the restaurant has no shift manager. That sounds like skills a shift manager would have.”

“Deb held that title.”

I bit down onto my tongue as Clay bristled. Shit. I really needed to know when to keep my mouth shut. I heard him heave a heavy sigh before his eyes came around and met mine.

Clay was a handsome man.

He was tall; he had to duck to get into the office. His hair was closely cropped and jet-black. His light blue eyes left me breathless, too. They held a sternness to them that matched the strength of his jaw. And judging by the veins that ran up his forearms, the thickness of his body was all muscle. He had tattoos cascading up his arms, and I wondered if he had them anywhere else. The art on his body boasted of blacks and blues and dark greens. Colors that matched the stern demeanor of this hulking man.

A son Deb and Bernie never stopped bragging about.

“They were proud of you, you know,” I said.

Clay sighed. “I don’t want to get into that with one of my employees.”

“Fair enough. But I figured you might need to hear it. I’ll see you here at nine?”

“I’ll be here,” he said.

I pushed off the doorway and wound through the kitchen. And when I saw Jason not at his station, I knew Rachel had shown up. That man wouldn’t give up on asking my best friend out. Even though she wouldn’t date him with a gun held to her head, the man wouldn’t quit flirting with her. It was exhausting, having to fend him off at every turn.

“So, when are you going to let me take you out for pizza?” Jason asked.

“How many times do I have to tell you I hate pizza?” Rachel asked.

“Does that mean you’ll let me take you out for something else?” he asked.

“No, Jason. It doesn’t,” I said, grinning.

“It’s about damn time you got out here,” Rachel said.

“Who doesn’t like pizza? I mean, it’s an American classic. And I make a mean pizza,” Jason said.

“No offense, but there’s a reason why Bernie removed pizza from our menu,” I said, giggling.

“Because my pizza was too good to sell in a restaurant. It needs its own little shop,” Jason said.

“Yeah. I’m sure that was the reason,” Rachel said sarcastically.

“Okay. Time to go. See you tomorrow, Jason!” I exclaimed.

“You have my number, Rachel. You can call me anytime,” Jason said.

“Do I really have his number?” Rachel murmured.

“Play along. He handed it to me a few months back, and I told him I’d pass it on. I threw it in the trash when I walked out,” I said.

“Have I told you today how much I love you?”

“You just did,” I said, smiling.

“You look good today, by the way!” Jason called out.

“I appreciate it!” I said.

“I was talking to—! I mean—Rachel, too!”

The two of us laughed as we got into her car. I was thankful for Rachel always driving me to and from work. My father owned a truck, but it was a stick shift, and I hadn’t found anyone to take the time to teach me how to drive the damn thing.

“So, when do you work tomorrow?” Rachel asked.

“Same time, eleven to seven. But I’m coming in early tomorrow to help Clay with some stuff in the office,” I said.

“Wait, so Clay Holmes is taking over the restaurant?”

“That’s what he said. And he’s struggling with some of the archaic systems Deb and Bernie used.”

“So, is the restaurant opening early?” she asked.

“No. We’re just meeting up before it opens so I can give him a crash course in how all this stuff works. The man’s really struggling. He’s already made an enemy of Jason by telling him he had to be on time.”

“Well, Jason does need to grow up.”

“I’m just saying, he needs help. So, I offered to help, and he took me up on it,” I said.

“Is that all you’re helping him with?” she asked.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re as bad as my father.”

“Your father wants you to bring them home for dinner. I want you to get the cobwebs out of your vagina.”

“Rachel!”

“What? I’m serious! Ever since you moved back to Hartland to take care of your father, you’ve shut yourself out. We don’t go out and do anything. I can’t get you to travel a couple of towns over one night to come clubbing with me.”

“Because I’m taking care of my father,” I said.

“You’re twenty-five years old. And your father will be fine for a night. You need to get out, Ira. Loosen up. Indulge a little bit. You’re shouldering too much. Especially after dealing with your mom’s death.”

“Can we not so this right now?” I asked.

“All I’m saying is—”

“I’m not fucking around with my new boss. End of story.”

Rachel held up her hands. “Fine. Fine. Okay. I’ll be at your house at eight thirty to pick you up.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it,” I said, sighing.

“But you should really think about it.”

“Rachel!”

“Okay! I’m really done now!” she said, laughing.

And I couldn’t help but laugh along with her.