Coffee wasn’t doing it for Jaylyn the next morning when she dragged her feet into Walker’s kitchen. The dogs greeted her within seconds of the door opening.

“Hey, boys,” she mumbled sleepily. “Who wants breakfast?”

She filled their bowls and left them to it as she made a pot of coffee for the morning and opened the fridge to decide what to make for breakfast. She was frying bacon and cooking some scrambled eggs when the door swung open and Walker shuffled in, his hair a mess, and gave her a smile.

“You look like you got about as much sleep as I did.” She poured him a cup of coffee. “Here, you’ll feel better.”

He breathed in the steam wafting up towards his face. “I always feel better after your cooking.”

The compliment settled over her shoulders and lifted her spirits. “I talked to my dad,” she told him, removing the eggs and bacon from the burners. “He’s calling off the hounds so you should get a very good phone call Monday morning.”

“Truly?”

She laughed quietly at his accent and such formal talk so early in the morning. “Yeah, truly,” she teased. “A full kitchen staff. Or at least one. I’m sure you’ll get multiple interested parties calling you now.”

“You have no idea how much this will aid the renovations.”

“Like I said, I’m not letting my Dad’s dream fall to ruin because I’m not there.”

Walker helped get plates and silverware out, moving closer to her with each twist of his body. He wasn’t even in clothes yet, just cotton sleep pants and a tight t-shirt she had the urge to lift to see what hid beneath. Her hands stilled and she kicked herself mentally. It had been a while since she’d been with a guy, but there was no way this could get personal. Not a chance in hell.

“And your dad knows about where you work now? About us?”

About us…why does that sound so good?

“Yeah, he knows. He wasn’t happy at first, but I talked him down off his high-horse.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’ll admit, I was uncertain you would return this morning.”

She dished food onto their plates and carried them to the table. “I was, too, but I’m as stubborn as he is.” She picked around her eggs, her stomach rumbling, but food no longer seemed appetizing.

“Jaylyn? Is there anything else troubling you?”

Her parents selling the house was of none of his business, or how sick her dad was and the medical bills that would soon pile up. Lie, that’s what she would do—or what she meant to do until her mouth opened and the wrong words poured out. “My parents are selling the house to help pay for Dad’s treatment, and I…uh, I will soon find myself without a home.”

His fork clinked as he rested it on his plate, but she remained focused on her coffee mug. “I see. And the income you receive, it’s not sufficient for a place to stay?”

“It would be if I wasn’t trying to pay their bills for them.” Telling him her troubles left a bitter taste in her mouth. She wasn’t one to complain about her lot in life, but the words refused to stop coming. “They have no income and their savings are almost gone. I’m doing what I can for them.” She glanced up and saw his hands folded and him studying her closely. “It’s really nothing you need to concern yourself with. I have time to figure something out.”

“No.”

Jaylyn was confused. “No? What do you mean, no?”

“I mean you don’t need to figure anything out.”

“And why is that, exactly?”

“You know how many bedrooms are in this house? Six. I’m the only one who lives here, or I was.” He stood and held out his hand.

“And what do you want me to do with that?” What is he saying? What’s going on? Red flag, this is a red flag moment. But she slipped her hand into his and he pulled her to her feet.

“Trust me?” he asked.

Three weeks ago, Jaylyn would’ve been more open to poisoning his food than taking his hand and letting him lead her God knew where, but she followed him out of the kitchen. He led her to the grand stairs and up they went. The hall was longer than she imagined, and several doors were open along it.

“My bedroom is at the far end of the hall, but you may have your choice of any other room. There’s a large bathroom in the middle there,” he said, pointing it out to her. “And you, of course, know where everything else is.”

She stepped down the hall, away from him, spinning in a circle. “You’re giving me a room. Here. In your house.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Why?”

“Why not? You work here, do you not? And you can’t tell me you have the most reliable vehicle. I would rather you be able to make it to work and have a place to live without worrying about your truck dying in the middle of nowhere.”

He explained it as if this was the most obvious solution to her problem. If she lived there, she wouldn’t have to worry about her truck, unless she had to go get more supplies for the kitchen. No driving back and forth every morning and every night. And her parents wouldn’t have to worry about her.

“What about rent?” she asked. “I’m assuming you’ll pay me less? Which would be fine with me.”

“No. No rent.”

“But that’s what you do when people live with you.”

“Yes, but this is quite a different situation.” He joined her in the middle of the hallway and reached for her hand but stopped himself short. “I’m trying to be a good person. Let me help you. No strings attached, no weird new contract. It makes sense, and the dogs would love to have you around full time.”

Jaylyn admired the décor of the hall, matching that of the rest of the house. She wandered from one bedroom to the next, imagining herself living in such a grand place, certainly one she could never afford. The bathroom had a claw-foot tub big enough for three people, a stone shower, and two vanities. Each bedroom had a king-sized bed with dresser and nightstands, plush rugs over dark hardwood floors, and above her head, exposed ceiling beams.

The bedroom beside his was decked out with bears—not cheesy teddy bears but big powerful bears. The walls were a dark, forest green, and it called to her. She tiptoed inside and, with a wild impulse, flung herself onto the huge bed. She sank into the comforter and laughed hysterically.

“This is insane. I can’t do this. It’s a dream, all a dream.”

“Not a dream,” he assured her from the doorway, watching her as she sat up on the bed. His brown eyes filled with a look of pure hunger, and Jaylyn slid off the bed quickly as an answering hunger grew in her gut. He cleared his throat loudly and glanced around. “Good choice, this room.”

“And you’re sure about this?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” he said, exasperated.

“And your dates won’t mind the hot cook living with you? Sleeping right next door?”

His body stiffened and he seemed to mull it over, shrugging. “My house, my rules, right? They’ll deal with it, and if not, they can find some other rich man to drive insane.” He turned to leave, but Jaylyn reached out for his arm.

“Wait—these women you’re dating and that thing you said you had to embrace…oh, my God.” She covered her mouth and stepped back, horrified. “No, no way. No, we can’t do this deal.”

“What do you mean? Yes, we can.”

“No, because you have to… you have to marry one of them, don’t you?” She knew she was right when he didn’t respond. “Jesus, Walker, I can’t force you into that situation. That’s awful. I’ve met these women, and you can’t stand them.”

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter either way. My father won’t let me gain control of the property until I’m properly wed. That’s how it is, I’m afraid.” He picked up a strand of hair from her shoulder and laid it behind her back. “Don’t worry about me and my life. I’ve known for years I’d be stuck with someone I wouldn’t be too keen on marrying.”

“But he can’t force you to marry anyone.”

“I want you to have your restaurant back. And I want to be able to get out from under his control. I can do the latter, but then you lose your restaurant. I don’t want that hanging over my head.”

“You said it was just business, though.”

“And you said it was personal, remember?” He took another step away and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Things will work out. Besides, that’s why divorce exists, right?” The dogs barked at the back door to be let it in. “I’ll get them. If this is the room you want, I’ll help you move your stuff this weekend.”

“No, I have a friend who can help. I don’t want to disrupt your plans.” Her excitement from finding him a kitchen staff drained away as he left her to explore the room, her new home.

Married. He would have to get married for her to get her restaurant back. The idea made her sick to her stomach and the guilt almost made her change her mind completely. She wanted Jaybird’s back, but at what cost? He was giving up his future so she could get hers back.

Serves him right. He shouldn’t have taken it in the first place, she told herself as she paced around the huge bedroom. She repeated the words over and over in her head, but each time, they only made her feel worse.

* * *

“You’re moving in with this guy?” Frankie hoisted another box up into Jaylyn’s truck. “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously,” she repeated for the tenth time. “I need a place to stay and I’m not going to pass up free rent.”

Frankie had managed to find a job with a local catering company and was doing pretty well for himself. She called him to tell him about where she was really working and what was going on. He’d been calm for about five seconds, then she got the same lecture Darien had given her.

“You sure he’s just not trying to get into your pants?”

“Yes, I’m sure. He’s sort of engaged, or betrothed, or something.”

“Sort of?” he asked, hefting up another box to her so she could slide it back. “Lyn, why couldn’t you have found a nice, simple job somewhere else?”

“I tried, but I couldn’t find one fast enough. My parents need the money.”

He shot a worried look to the house where Darien was resting. “I know, but this feels wrong.”

Jaylyn hadn’t told him about what Walker was going to have to do so she could get the restaurant back, and the guilt ate away at her all day yesterday. “Yeah, it does, but my hands are tied. If I do this right, if the next few months pan out the way I hope they will, we could be back in the kitchen by January.”

“I do miss my second home.”

“So do I, and I’m not ready to give up fighting for it yet.”

“Can I meet Walker?”

Jaylyn shoved another box back with the others, throwing him a grin over her shoulder. “Did you expect me to move all this inside by myself?” she teased.

“Nah, I expected your new boyfriend to do it.”

“He offered to rent a moving truck, but I told him I don’t have much stuff.”

All her things were packed in a few boxes and bins that fit snugly in the back of her truck. She told her parents to sell her furniture with the house if they wanted. Mariah was teary-eyed last night when Jaylyn said she found a place to live and was moving out the next day. Then she said where she was moving and her parents hadn’t known how to respond, so they said nothing. They’d come around when they realized this was the smartest option.

Frankie helped her tie everything down and followed her in his car. When they reached Walker’s mansion, Frankie stepped out of his car and whistled. “Damn, woman, are you sure you don’t want to marry this man?”

“Ha, right, because that would ever happen.” An image of her and Walker together appeared in her mind and she flinched. Why did that look so right? “We…uh, we should get unloading.”

Frankie removed the dolly from the back of the truck and she scooted boxes towards him. Dogs barking caught her attention. All three of them raced to surround her truck. They jumped up on Frankie, trying to lick his face. He gave in and sank down so they could reach him better, knocking him over completely. Walker appeared a few seconds later, waving his arm over his head. Jaylyn waved back and sat down on the edge of the truck bed.

“Glad you made it back in one piece,” he said. “Who’s this?”

Jaylyn hesitated at the sudden look of jealousy on Walker’s face when he held out his hand for Frankie as he straightened. “This is my friend, Frankie. We’ve worked together in kitchens for a few years. Frankie, meet Walker Allard.”

“Pleasure,” Walker said tightly.

Frankie looked to Jaylyn then back to the man. “Same to you. Nice to know you’re not a dickhead like your dad.”

Jaylyn covered up her laugh with a cough. “Yeah, well, you know.”

She continued pushing boxes towards the tailgate and the two guys took them down. She tried to tell Walker he didn’t have to help, but he ignored her protests. He and Frankie took the first load in the house together, and she wondered if leaving the two of them alone was a good idea.

* * *

Walker set the two boxes down in Jaylyn’s room. “You worked with Jaylyn?”

“That’s what she said, man,” Frankie agreed as he set down another two boxes.

“And you two, you’re friends. Close friends?”

Frankie eyed him sternly. “Listen, I’m only going to tell you this once, so listen up. That woman down there is a friend—a very dear friend. And before this shit gets complicated, you better think good and hard about what happens between you and my friend. No, me and her are not a thing. We tried a fling, and it didn’t work. We’re friends and I’m happily dating someone else. But,” he went on, holding up his hand, “she tells me you’re engaged or something?”

Walker frowned. “It’s a long story, but essentially something along those lines.”

“Then her moving in with you better not lead to something you can’t follow through with.” Frankie closed the distance between them. The man was a good head taller than Walker, who was not used to being looked down on. “You hurt her and she’ll be the least of your problems. Got it?”

He gulped. “Understood. I’m trying to help her, that’s all.”

“Good. She could use more friends.”

“And that’s all I want to be. Her friend.”

His words rang false, and he wasn’t the only one who heard it. Frankie stared him down long and hard before breathing out his nose loudly. “Right, let’s get another load.”

Walker cursed himself quietly on the walk back to the truck. Jaylyn sat on the tailgate, swinging her legs, with two of the dogs sitting beside her. His heart stuttered in his chest at the sight, and he paused for a moment to simply enjoy the view. When he dreamt last night, it wasn’t of Georgette or the other two. Jaylyn was with him, and the image hadn’t left him since he opened his eyes before sunrise that morning. But Frankie was right. Walker was spoken for, and he couldn’t lead her on and start anything he wouldn’t be able to follow through on. Hurting them both in the process of getting her restaurant back would only guarantee a difficult working relationship.

“What took y’all so long?” she asked, hopping down.

“I gave Frankie a short tour,” Walker lied. “He liked the kitchen.”

“Big surprise there. You know, he’s working for a catering company now. If you ever have parties, you should go to him.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. There’s usually a gathering at the end of the summer.”

“Good,” Frankie said happily, but there was a warning in his smile. “I’ll be sure to jot your name down on my calendar and keep you in mind.”

“I would greatly appreciate it.”

Their forced politeness apparently wasn’t sitting well with Jaylyn and she eyed them suspiciously. “All right, what’s going on with you two?”

“No idea what you’re talking about,” Walker said casually, reaching around her for another box.

Frankie attempted to look just as innocent, but Jaylyn wasn’t buying it. “You two are so full of shit. Frankie, you start a pissing contest or something?”

“Me? Never. I’m a gentleman.”

“Like I said, I gave him a tour,” Walker added and whistled as he strolled back to the house with another box in hand. He heard them arguing quietly behind him but left them to it.

He thought long and hard all day about Frankie’s words, and they were still on his mind when he stood at the front door, waiting for Brittany to arrive. She was vegetarian, and Jaylyn had cooked for her a few times already, so he wasn’t worried about the food. He was worried about himself around Jaylyn. Had he asked her to move in so he could be closer to her? She was right next door to his bedroom. He would see her first thing in the morning and last thing at night, giving them ample opportunity to…to do what?

As he opened the door at Brittany’s insistent knocking, he was more confused than ever and apparently, it showed.

“You look like you’ve been sucking on a lemon,” Brittany told him. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Work will be hectic tomorrow and I’m already worrying about it, I’m afraid,” he said, which wasn’t necessarily a lie. Tomorrow was the day he hoped to receive a phone call, telling him he had a full kitchen staff ready to be trained at the restaurant. “Shall we have a glass of wine before dinner?”

“White, if you have any good ones. The last one I had here was horribly dry.”

Walker offered her his arm, as he did with all the other dates, and they chatted lightly about her weekend as he moved to the dining room and poured them two glasses of wine. Douglas stepped out of the kitchen with their appetizer, lightly seasoned and sautéed vegetable skewers that Brittany instantly fell in love with. Walker continued to be impressed by Jaylyn’s level of skill. Too bad he couldn’t have her secretly in the kitchen at the restaurant without his father finding out. If he did, it would be the end of Jaybird’s for certain. He would probably blacklist Jaylyn, and Walker would never have his chance to break away from his father’s company.

“You’re doing it again—that puckering, sour face,” Brittany informed him once they took their seats and waited for dinner to be served.

“Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.” Like the woman in the kitchen who’s now sleeping one door over from my bedroom.

He tried to listen to Brittany, but his dream from the previous night returned to the forefront of his mind. He pictured himself throwing Brittany out of the house, striding into the kitchen, and taking Jaylyn in his arms as he kissed her passionately. Kissing her would be incredible, he already knew it. She always smelled of savory foods or sweet pastries, and she was smiling more. He could tell she worried about her father, but being around the dogs, being around him and Douglas seemed to make her happy. He could make her so much happier if given the chance.

As if he was watching a movie inside his mind, a completely different life unfolded before him, one with Jaylyn by his side—not as his cook, but as so much more. Brittany’s talking faded into background noise, and Walker heard the sweet sound of Jaylyn’s voice and her laughter, feeling her hand holding his though he’d only touched her once. During his days as a playboy bachelor, he’d waited to have a moment like one his mother described of finding her true love, the man she was meant to be with. None of those women ever came close to making Walker feel like he did now, his heart pounding and blood running hot with want. And not merely lusting after Jaylyn’s body in those jeans and tank but of being with her. He couldn’t imagine any of his potential brides willingly starting a food fight in the kitchen or ever accepting his dogs.

“Will you excuse me?” he said, standing abruptly, interrupting Brittany’s ramblings about some dress or other.

“I guess so. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just… I forgot I have a phone call to return today. Lost track of the time.”

“Can’t it wait a while longer?” she complained and reached out to snag his hand. He shifted out of the way and she missed, nearly falling out of her chair. “Walker!” she whined with a pout.

“I’m sorry, it shouldn’t take long at all.” He refilled her wine glass before he rushed into the kitchen.

“Dinner will be out in a few,” Jaylyn said without turning around.

“Hold mine if you would.”

“Walker?” She stared him up and down, flinging her towel over her shoulder, a habit he saw her doing constantly in the kitchen. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

“Uh huh, then why are you all pale and sweaty?”

He wiped his forearm across his brow. I’m trembling! Damn, what the hell is wrong with me? Douglas joined them in the kitchen, coming in from outside. “Ah, Walker, I gave the dogs fresh bones. They should be content for the remainder of the evening.”

“I need you to run interference,” Walker pleaded quietly. “Please.”

“Interference?” Jaylyn repeated. “For what?”

Douglas stared at him intently as Walker narrowed his gaze and tilted his head to the right towards the dining room. He dragged Walker through the kitchen to the mudroom and smiling at a suspicious Jaylyn, closed the door. “Walker, are you unwell? You look like you’re going to be sick.”

“I can’t do this tonight,” he whispered, pacing around the small room.

“Do what? The date?”

“All of it,” he groused. “Damn it! Why couldn’t I have met Jaylyn sooner?”

Douglas smiled knowingly. “Why did you ask her to move in with you?”

He puffed out his cheeks and blew out a heavy breath. “I want to get to know her, who she really is,” he admitted. There was no point lying to this man. He’d see right through it. “I don’t understand what’s wrong with me. There can’t be anything between us. I doubt she would ever agree to anything.”

“You might be surprised,” Douglas whispered and winked. “But no matter. I’ll take care of your date. Go hide with your brandy.”

“And Jaylyn? You’re not going to say anything to her, right?”

“That you’re having a mild panic attack because you found a woman you actually like but can’t have? No, I’ll let you keep your secret for now.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Ha! Don’t I know it.” Douglas exited the mudroom to find Jaylyn standing close by, her arms crossed, and tapping her foot in annoyance.

“What’s going on with you two?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary.” Douglas left the kitchen, and Jaylyn mumbled under her breath as she turned back to the stove.

“You really don’t have to keep cooking,” Walker said as he pulled the brandy from the cabinet, poured himself a glass, and went to sit in the pantry.

“What are you… are you hiding from your date?” she whispered. “In the pantry?”

He lifted his glass in a toast to her. “Cheers. Oh, and I’m not here. Just run with it.”

“What?” she asked, but he closed the door and waited it out as he’d done so many times before. He drank his brandy slowly, savoring each sip as the minutes ticked by. He expected to hear Brittany complaining loudly, but after twenty minutes, the door opened and Jaylyn grinned at him in disbelief. “Is it safe?”

“Yes, it’s safe,” she said through her laughter. “She’s gone. You do this often?”

“You have no idea.”

“Your dinner is still warm if you’d like vegetarian pasta. Or, I made something on the side, just in case.”

He followed her to the counter, and she lifted a towel off a large steak on a plate. Walker’s mouth watered as she revealed a bowl of potatoes to go with it. “You are a Godsend. You’re going to join me, right?”

She looked ready to say no, but Douglas came in, laughing about something, and Jaylyn nodded. “As long as Douglas eats, too. I made enough steak for six people.”

The dogs were let inside while Jaylyn, Walker, and Douglas ate in the kitchen like any normal friends would do. It was casual and so much more relaxed than any of his evenings spent with the three his father had chosen. They passed around wine and beer, sharing stories and talking late into the night. The steak was mostly gone, and what was left over, Walker fed to his dogs. Jaylyn started to clean up and he helped her, drying dishes as she washed the pots and serving trays.

They tossed the dinner made for Brittany in the trash, Walker laughing perhaps a little too much to see it disappear. He was fine with vegetarians, but she insisted he eat the same thing she did.

Once the kitchen was clean, Jaylyn stifled a yawn behind her hand and said she was going to bed. Douglas headed home for the night, too, and Walker was left in the kitchen with his three dogs. He whistled and they followed him to the master bedroom. On the way, they passed Jaylyn’s bedroom, but the door wasn’t closed all the way. Strider sniffed it and pawed at it so it opened more and ran inside.

Walker paused at the threshold when he heard her yelp of surprise and then laughter as she spoke to the dog. He waited for Strider to join him, but the dog didn’t leave the closet where Jaylyn stood.

“I think you’re stuck with him tonight,” he called out so she wouldn’t accidentally walk out half naked. Not that he would complain, but he wasn’t sure she’d appreciate it.

“I’ll be all right with him.” She turned the light off and exited the room in a pair of sleep pants and tank top with no bra. He forced his eyes to remain on her face as her nipples hardened beneath the thin fabric to create a perfect outline of her chest.

“Right, well, I’ll…uh, I’ll see you in the morning,” he said roughly and hurried to his room before he made an even bigger fool of himself.