SAM

I’m standing in Eat Me waiting for my coffee while Summer and Mandy and Ashleigh giggle, seated around one of the white café tables in the corner closest to the air conditioning. Cold sweat trickles down the back of my neck and into the collar of my shirt. I don’t think Hell has ever been this hot. Maybe it’s my heart. Or too much caffeine. Or my blood pressure.

Josef emailed me to tell me he was on his way to Reverence. With Claudia in tow. Why did I let it go so long? Why didn’t I break it off with her immediately? Because I wasn’t certain I would. Claudia would have been convenient, but she wouldn’t have been happy. I wouldn’t have been happy.

“Are you okay, man? You look wrecked.” Dylan hands over my cup.

Fine. “How do you keep up with a younger woman? How do you know it’s worth it?”

Dylan scoffs. “Too funny.”

“What? I’m pretty sure I said fine.” I scowl at him, then glance at Mandy who is shaking with laughter, pressed up against Ashleigh on one side, Summer on the other. She looks up as though she senses me watching her. Green eyes widen and she swipes her thumb across her bottom lip to scrape up some chocolate icing.

“You asked me how I keep up with your sister. That’s the first time you’ve asked anything about our relationship. At least to me.”

“Don’t get used to it.” I roll my gaze to the ceiling, squint at the glare from the downlights. Heaven help me. Mandy Pearce makes me want to grab life by the testicles and live it. Properly. Why does it feel like I haven’t? When was the last time I did something that was what I wanted, that benefited me? Josef’s is opening here because I made a good case, but it doesn’t benefit me. I don’t get to run it.

“Limo,” Dylan says.

“What?” I undo the top two buttons on my shirt.

“A limo drove by.” He waves a spatula at the picture windows that give a view of the street. “Don’t see a lot of those in town.”

Christ. Josef and Claudia must already be here.

“Hey, Sam.” Ashleigh approaches the counter with her empty cup that she hands to Dylan. She’s been visiting with Summer the past couple days, but she’s heading out again tonight. 

“It’s been a while, Ash. Where have you been hiding?”

“Mostly up in the air.” She grins. “Seeing the world.”

“Good. That’s great. All of you should be having adventures.” I’ve known this girl since she was seven years old and stomping around in my mother’s heels and pearls, all big blue eyes and dark piggy tails, playing dress up with Summer, and she has always had her head on straight, for the most part. Far straighter than I did back when the girls were heading off to college. I’ve barely run into Ash since, both of us busy with our own lives and careers. It feels odd to be on such friendly terms for the mere minutes we see each other per year.

“We are.” She shakes her head at me, her gaze full of mirth. “All kinds of different adventures.”

“Well, I guess that’s one way to look at it.” I stumble through the words. Am I the only one who isn’t having some great adventure? Because everything I do is in the interest of acting my age, or being content, or not taking a chance on failure. Like with the restaurant.

“You should try it some time.” She runs her fingers across my bicep as she takes her coffee back to the table.

What would I give to get back into the kitchen, right now? What would I give to make that kitchen my own? Picking up a napkin from the stack, I yank my pen from my pocket and scribble on it. Then I tuck it into my pocket and stride for the door.

***

“The bar is set two inches too close to the kitchen doors. The whole section needs to be moved to the right,” Josef barks at several of the staff, who scurry to do his bidding.

We’re only twelve days from opening and he’s still making changes that should have been finalized by now. Claudia stands in the middle of the room looking bored. She inspects her manicure instead of the dining room, before turning to her father. “How long is this going to take?”

“If it had been done right then we would be on our way to the airport already.” Josef studies something on his phone as I close the door loudly enough that Claudia looks up from her fingers.

“Sam? Thank God. This town is awful. I can’t imagine why your sister would want to settle here.” She flies across the room and throws herself into my arms. “Tell me you’re coming home soon. I told Dad we were getting engaged. He wants to know when we’re thinking. All the good venues book up so far in advance.”

“You’ve done a good job with the place.” Josef joins us, clapping me on the shoulder. A sheen of sweat glistens on his bald head. “I saw you had some trouble with finding a head chef. You’ve gotten that sorted though.”

“Yes.” I numbly shake his hand.

“You’re making me a very happy man. Look at the two of you love birds.” Josef grins broadly. “I’m going to throw a huge bash at the house to celebrate the engagement.”

“He’ll come home with us, won’t he, Dad?” Claudia rests her head on my shoulder carefully so as not to damage her chignon. “Surely someone else can oversee the opening of this place.”

“Sorry, Josef. Do you mind if I have a moment alone with your daughter?”

“Sure. I’ll step into the kitchen. Make sure everything is perfect. When does our chef arrive?”

“Next couple days.”

“Great. You’ve outdone yourself here, Sam.” He disappears through the swinging doors.

I know I have. I put everything into this place. Sure, I played by the rules, I followed Josef’s orders, but I poured my heart into getting this place up and running.

“Have you gotten the ring yet?” Claudia asks, throwing her arms around my neck and raising up to kiss me.

Gripping her biceps, I put an arm’s distance between us before she can leave an imprint of her lacquered pout on my face. “We really need to talk.”

“About what?”

I have no idea where to start. Except for one thing. “I’m not going back to Los Angeles with you.”

“But we need to start planning our engagement. We’ll need to make the announcement together. There’ll have to be a photo shoot.”

“Listen, Claudia.” I grip her hands and peer into her hazel eyes. “I’m not going back to L.A. period. I’m not going to marry you.”

“You’re joking. You’re playing some mean prank, aren’t you?” She glances around the restaurant as though she expects to spot some hidden camera or to find people laughing. “This isn’t funny, Sam.”

“No. It isn’t,” I agree. “But it is happening. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life in a subpar relationship that doesn’t make either of us happy. I’m old enough to know that I don’t want to waste my life playing it safe like that. And neither are you, otherwise you wouldn’t have been sleeping with my housemate. I’m doing this for both our benefit.”

“Oh my God, you really mean it.” The muscles in her face twitch as she goes from disbelief to shock to fury as she storms toward the kitchen doors. “You’re committing career suicide. Dad’s going to fire you. He’ll ruin your reputation. You won’t be able to work anywhere decent.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything else.” And yet not having a safety net is thrilling. It’s adrenaline coursing through my veins. For the first time in my life I am going to pursue what I really want.

“Sam Sweets, you’re a dead man.” Josef slams through the kitchen doors a minute later. “I am going to destroy you.” He shakes his fist as he marches toward me, Claudia trailing behind him.

“Figured that might be the case.” I pull the napkin from my pocket and place it on the bar in front of me while I pour two glasses of Glenfiddich. “But this is for your daughter’s own good. Claudia’s not happy either, otherwise she wouldn’t be having an affair with your dish washer.”

“What?” Josef turns his focus on his daughter. “Is this true?”

“It’s just sex, Dad.” She scowls. “I’m not going to marry a dish washer.”

“You’re damn right you’re not going to marry a dishwasher.” A vein bulges in his temple. “You shouldn’t be screwing him either. He’s my employee.”

“Sam was your employee, and you didn’t care that I was screwing him.” Claudia pouts.

“That is not the same thing.” His eyes widen as his voice drops.

I clear my throat and interrupt their argument before Josef can manage to lose his infamous temper. “I want to offer you a deal.”

I slide the napkin in front of him and open it. The amount is every single cent in my trust account—for once being the son of a health and fitness celebrity might come in useful—and everything I’ve saved these past sixteen years working at Josef’s. “If you want to blame me for the break up with Claudia that’s fine. If you need to ruin my reputation in L.A. to satisfy her honor, I’m okay with that. It wouldn’t be the first time my name’s been dredged in mud. You know who my mother is. All I ask is that you don’t make it about the food. And you sell me this place.”

“Here?” He glances around. “You want this restaurant?”

“Yes. And I don’t want the name. I’m not looking to use your reputation. I want to build something of my own.”

“You could fail,” he says, all business. “Plenty of places fail in the first year.”

“You can’t be serious,” Claudia exclaims.

“Go wait in the car,” he orders, before he picks up the napkin, his brow furrowed with thought. “You might sink.”

“I might.” I nod. “But I won’t know if I don’t try.”

“Okay. You’ve got yourself a restaurant.” He lifts his glass, tips it to mine. “As for your reputation, I’m well aware of my daughter’s downfalls, but I thought with you…” Shaking his head, he drains his glass. “You’ve been like a son to me. Always with your head on straight and a steady tread. I thought you could keep her out of trouble, but I don’t blame you for her behavior.” He pushes away from the bar. “Good luck. I’m going home to L.A.”

I stay at the bar, sip my scotch. Feels pretty good to stand in the middle of my own place. Their car pulls away from the pavement. A loaner SUV.

Mandy stands on the other side of the road, watching the traffic. In a minute, she’ll crash through my door, and I’ll tell her how I’m buying the place, how I’m sticking around.

Maybe she’ll tell me she broke up with Cas. I’m not sure he’s as much of a creep as I wanted to believe. Mandy Pearce is just so much bigger than the number of her years. She’s a tidal wave of energy and life, bearing down on me. She’s impossible to resist.

Putting my glass down, I stride across the room and out the door to meet her on the pavement.

“Oh.” She jumps as she almost runs into me, then she smiles while she grips my biceps to steady herself. “I was coming to find you. You seemed a little put out when you left Eat Me.”

“I was.” I take her elbow, hold her close as I open the door for her. She smells like lemonade and cupcakes and sunshine. I want to breathe in the scent of her still pink hair. “I’m better now.”

“Good.” She smiles, tucks some of that hair behind her ear as she takes note of the glasses on the bar. “Unless that’s your way of saying life is going to shit.”

“Actually.” I rub the back of my head as it hits me. “I made an offer on this place. It’s as good as mine.”

“You’re buying the restaurant?”

“Yes. Thanks to you.” I tug her closer. Without her I would probably be winging my way back to L.A. with Claudia, getting married, and spending the rest of my life wondering what if.

“What do you mean?”

“You go after what you want no matter the consequences. You keep trying until you realize your goals. You don’t play it safe.”

“I don’t know about that.” A shadow passes behind her eyes before she hides it. “But good for you. I’m so excited for you. This place is going to be beautiful.” 

“It is.” I grab her up and spin around. I’m so damn ecstatic. She’s looking down at me, her hands braced on my shoulders, her lips parted. “It’s got nothing on you, though.”

I slide her down my body, clasp her face between both my hands and plant my mouth on hers. Her fingers flutter on my chest, then she’s pushing away from me.

“I can’t. I’m with Cas. Shit. I can’t do this anymore, Sam. I can’t.” She stumbles backwards.

“Do you love him?” I follow her, needing the answer more than air.

She bites her lip, hesitates. “I can’t love him. He can’t be the one to make me happy.”

“Then leave him.” I grab her arm. “You should do whatever will make you happy.”

“Like you, staying in Reverence?”

“Exactly. Because of you I’m following my heart. And maybe, we could see if there’s something here. With us.”

“You want me to be your girlfriend?” 

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that, Mandy.” I deflate. I’ve only recently gotten out of a relationship that wasn’t right, and as much as I’m fascinated by Mandy and care about her I’m not certain about jumping into anything serious.

She casts her gaze downward, refuses to look at me. “I need to think about it. I need time. It’ll hurt him. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“Whatever you need.” I duck my head to steal another taste of her lips. “I’ll be here.”