He remains leaning back in his chair, studying me.
“Or we could be co-owners. I’d be willing to keep her name on the deed.”
The silence is unnerving. Is the man made of ice? I can’t tell if he’s about to put me in a chokehold or agree with my plan.
I continue. “She says if she misses a payment, she’s facing foreclosure. I hate to see her stressed about this month after month. I can fix this.”
He straightens, his dark eyes piercing. “Have you told Sydney your plan?”
“Yes, but she, uh, hasn’t agreed entirely.” Or at all. And I changed the plan from a loan to an outright buy to do it up right because I’m crazy about her.
More unnerving silence.
“I know she doesn’t want to lose the place, and I want her to keep it. I have a good track record at turning failing businesses around.”
“Sounds good,” he says simply.
I let out a breath of relief. “Great! I’m glad you agree.” I stand. “Thanks for your time.”
“But you’ll have to get Sydney on board,” he says.
I stop in the doorway of his office. “I will.”
His lips twitch. “Last I heard, you were Satan.”
I grin. “She calls me Beelzebub. Cute, right? Obviously she’s in love with me.”
His brows lift.
I leave on that note, chuckling to myself. I like telling everyone she’s in love with me. Makes me feel better about already falling for her.
Sydney
I finish checking on the dinner preparations in the kitchen with George, the dependable chef who used to work for my dad. He’s in his late sixties now, but still as happy as a clam ruling over the kitchen with the help of two line cooks.
“Don’t worry, Sydney,” he says, stirring a tomato sauce. “I could do this in my sleep. Been cooking here since before you were born.”
“I know, but I just have to make the rounds. Thanks, George!”
I head through the dining area, which is empty since it’s only a little before five. Oh! Drew’s at the bar. It’s early for him. Usually he’ll stop by around seven or later. I swear half the time he’s just checking up on me and couldn’t care less what game is on TV. He’s in a blue Henley with jeans and hiking boots. His brown hair is slicked back like he just took a shower. He needs a shave too.
I walk over to him, smiling. “Don’t you have a blow dryer at your place?” He’s too manly for that. His three-bedroom ranch house reminds me of a military barracks—sparse, neat, done in beige and black.
“No.”
“I’m going to get you one.” I poke his wet hair. “You’re lucky this didn’t turn to ice in these freezing temperatures.”
He studies me in his intense way. He doesn’t miss much. “You’re in a good mood.”
I look away, not wanting to admit I’m now sleeping with Satan. I mean, how often did I complain about the man? Everyone knew he drove me crazy. I told my friends the deal, of course, since I’ve been spending all my free time with him. He’s just so wonderful. I have zero complaints. He always makes sure I get off first, and just the fact that I even get off at all is way better than my last boyfriend. And that’s not all! He takes me out when I have off work, and makes me meals at his place when I don’t. Granted, they’re simple meals in the toaster and microwave, but he’s taking care of me. In my experience, most guys expect you to take care of them. It’s a nice change of pace. We can talk for hours. And he’s affectionate too. He’s just so much more than I ever expected.
“Syd?”
“Huh?”
“I said can we talk in private?”
My good mood vanishes. Drew never wants to talk to me in private. “Sounds serious,” I manage. “Is everything okay? Is it Adam? Eli? Caleb?” My heart races, thinking of something bad happening to one of my brothers.
“Nothing like that.” He stands. “Why don’t we sit at that corner table?”
I look over to the table in the back room, the same one that Wyatt always chooses. “Why there?”
He walks ahead of me. “Because it’s private.”
Does he know about me and Wyatt? Did he confront Wyatt in a misguided overprotective big-brother move? How embarrassing. I really hope it’s not that.
I follow him over to the corner table and sit across from him.
“I saw Wyatt earlier,” he says.
“What did you say to him?” I hold my breath, praying it wasn’t too embarrassing. What if he told him to be careful with me because I had a bad breakup? Or warned him if he hurt me, he’d kick his ass? I’m dying to text Wyatt to hear his side because Drew isn’t always forthcoming with all the details.
“I told him his plan was a good idea, but he had to get you on board. Syd, I think you should do it.”
“What plan?”
“I’m talking about this place.”
I go very still. “What did he say?”
“You don’t know? He said he ran it by you.”
“Why did he go to you?”
“He thought I was the owner.”
I clench my jaw. “So he went behind my back to take over my restaurant?”
“He wants to save it, so let him. He says you can stay on as manager and co-owner.”
“Of course I’d be manager, and I am the owner. The full owner.”
He shakes his head. “Here’s the plan.” Then he outlines point by point exactly what Wyatt intends to do. Didn’t I tell him I wasn’t willing to let him take over my place? I said I would figure it out. I still have time. It’s only the first Saturday of the month. I’m trying another bank. How dare Wyatt arrange all this behind my back!
I stand. “No.”
“Think about it,” he says.
“I did before and now—” I look to the ceiling and rock my head side to side “—still no.”
“Sit down,” he orders. He’s used to giving orders that are obeyed.
I glare at him.
“Please,” he says through his teeth.
I drop back into my seat. “What? There’s nothing more to talk about.”
“Tell me why you won’t take this offer. It solves everything.”
“Because it’s my family’s legacy not his! Robinsons have owned this place for generations. I’m not going to lose it to an outsider!”
He looks over my shoulder. “Here comes your outsider, and I think he heard that.”
I stand and turn to face Wyatt and Kayla standing just a few feet away.
Our waitress, Ellen, also here since my father’s time, looks over at me. “Are you and Drew having dinner at that corner table, or is it okay for Wyatt to have his table?”
“It’s not his table,” I grind out.
Wyatt gestures toward it. “I do sit there every time I come here.”
Drew walks by and jerks his chin at Wyatt. Kayla stares at Drew with wide-eyed avid curiosity, watching as he walks back to the bar.
I stop in front of Wyatt. “Hi, Kayla, you can take the table. We’ll just be a minute.”
Wyatt smirks. “Problem, she-devil?”
16
He’s smirking, and I’m not playing right now. I point at the corner table. “This is not your table. It will never be your table. I own this place down to the last cobweb in the dark corner of the basement.”
“Gross, and I know that. It was a figure of speech, asking for my table.”
I lower my voice, as a family is seated in the front dining room nearby. “What the hell do you think you’re doing going behind my back to talk to Drew?”
“Is this really the time and place you want to do this? You’ve got customers now.”
“Fine. Let’s go upstairs to my place.”
He tugs a lock of my hair. “So soon? I haven’t even had dinner yet.”
I seethe. “It’ll take five minutes.”
“I don’t know if I can get it done that quick, but I’ll try my best.”
I press my lips together so I don’t scream at h
im. Wouldn’t look good in front of the customers. Instead I call over to Kayla, “He’ll be back in five minutes.”
“Okay, I’m going to order a drink. Wyatt, I’ll get you a beer.”
“Just water,” he says.
Because he thinks my beer sucks. He’s used to high-end bars in the city where drinks start at twenty-five dollars. And who cares when you have billions to throw around and get your way doing whatever you want whenever you want?
I grab his hand and lead him through the kitchen to the rear staircase that leads upstairs.
“Hey, everyone,” he says to the kitchen staff. “I’m with her. She’s in love with me.”
I march up the steps, not amused. “Stop telling everyone I’m in love with you. Not cool at my place of work.”
He pats my ass. “Sorry about that. I’ll keep it to friends and family.”
“Don’t say it at all!”
I unlock the door and head down the short hallway to my room. He stops in the doorway, taking in the small space. It’s just a twin-size bed, nightstand, and a garment rack on wheels.
He peers down the hall. “Where’s the rest of it?”
“It’s just this room and a bathroom. The main room is used as storage for restaurant stuff.”
He walks in and sits next to me on the bed. “Look at this girly blanket.”
It’s a red blanket with white flowers. Does he have to comment on everything?
“Okay, enough about my crappy apartment,” I say. “It’s temporary. Stop trying to fix my whole life.”
He raises his palms. “If you want to live in a crappy apartment, that’s fine by me. As long as you stay at my place regularly. Hey, maybe Kayla could stay here, and you could just shift your, uh—” he looks over at my garment rack of hanging clothes with a bunch of stuff thrown haphazardly over it “—you could just pack a suitcase.”
My lips part in surprise. He wants me to move in with him?
He lifts one shoulder in a casual shrug, his eyes warm on mine. My heart thumps harder at that warm-eyed look. “Just an idea.”
I have the sudden urge to kiss him. Sometimes he’s just too appealing, but then I remember I’m mad. “We need to get a few things straight.”
“I agree.”
“You do?”
“Absolutely, I want this problem solved quickly, as I told your brother.”
I clench my teeth. “Why did you go behind my back to Drew instead of talking to me about your plans?”
“I did tell you weeks ago, that night you were trapped at my place. You weren’t exactly agreeable. And haven’t I mentioned several times that a farm-to-table concept could do a lot for your place?”
“Yes, and I don’t disagree with that, but it’s not a priority right now.”
“And your chef is a family friend who can’t learn a whole new style of cooking.”
“I’m sure he could learn if he wanted to…” Probably not. “The point is, it would be an insult to ask him. And he’s been here since my dad took over the restaurant years and years ago.”
“So you just let the place die because of attachment to what it was. You’re in charge now. You can bring it into a new phase of success.”
I open my mouth and close it. Somehow he seems to be on my side now, talking about me being in charge. “Exactly, I’m the owner.”
“And I could be co-owner. You need me. This isn’t a loan either. The debt disappears. I want you to be happy.”
I take a deep breath. He means well, I can see that, but the way he went about it rubs me wrong.
He shifts toward me. “Drew knew this restaurant isn’t working, which is why he wanted to sell in the first place. You jumped in, but it’s still a mess through no fault of your own. Let me fix it. You can still be manager if you want.”
At my silence, he continues. “We’d be more of a partnership. And we’ll add to the employee handbook that fraternization is encouraged among employees.”
“There is no employee handbook.”
“Then I’ll make one and be sure to put it right there in black and white that partners can have wild monkey sex whenever the urge strikes.”
I fight back a smile. He’s funny, but now is not the time. “You can’t have a piece of the place that’s been in my family for generations. No outsiders. It’s a Robinson business.”
“I’m more of an insider now,” he says with a smirk. He’s making a sex joke.
I leap off the bed. “This is serious!”
He stands and cradles my jaw with one large hand, gazing into my eyes. “Syd, this is who I am. I’m a fixer. That’s how I got Snowball. And, yes, I love my cute little dog with her fluffy hair. There, I said it. Same deal with my sisters. I love them, and I fix whatever’s broken.”
My brain connects the dots. He fixes things for those he loves, me included. I want to protest I don’t need any help, but my throat’s clogged with emotion over what he’s really saying. He’s been telling everyone I’m in love with him because he’s the one in love with me. After my ex fell out of love with me, I spent way too long wondering what was wrong with me that made him stop loving me. Maybe it wasn’t a problem with me after all. And the truth is, I’m in love with Wyatt, and I’ve been too chicken to say it.
“Syd?”
“You don’t love me. It’s too soon.” Please say you do.
He kisses me. “Okay.”
I can tell he’s placating me, and that makes me all warm and gooey inside because he secretly loves me. My stomach does a topsy-turvy flip. “Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“Never, unless you ask me if your ass looks fat in those jeans. That answer will always be no. Been there, got the door slammed on my own ass as I was kicked out.”
I meet his whiskey eyes sparkling with good humor. “You can’t fix all my problems. I’m handling it.”
“How?”
“It’s my problem, okay? I don’t want you involved. I’m not with you for your money, and I’m not budging on ownership of my place. You hear me?”
“I feel you.” He cups my ass and presses me firmly against me. “You feel me?”
I smile reluctantly. “Swear you won’t interfere in my business unless I ask you to.”
His eyes are intent on mine. “Ask me.”
“No.”
“So damn stubborn.”
He leans in for a kiss, and I put a hand on his chest. “Wyatt.”
“Okay, okay. I won’t interfere.”
And then he’s kissing me again, and I can’t help it. I throw my arms around him and kiss him back.
By noon on Monday, I have my answer from the bank—no. It’s time for me to go to Harper, even though it pains me to do so. Wyatt’s gesture is well-meaning, but it comes with strings I simply can’t accept.
I work up a loan agreement for Harper and, because I’m really anxious, a letter that states exactly the business terms that she can expect from me, including regular updates on the restaurant’s financial statements and paying it back more quickly if things improve. We’ve been friends forever, and I want to be clear I’m not taking advantage of her fame. She’s worked hard for it and doesn’t deserve the users that are drawn to her sweet generous nature. I still feel queasy about it. She’s got a lot on her plate right now with her upcoming wedding, baby, and aging grandmother, so if she can’t give me the full amount, that’s okay. It’ll buy me some time to build my customer base.
I’m at home for my day off. I stand, looking out the window at the sparse tree line and a few homes. With the leaves gone, I can see all the way to Lake Summerdale. It’s quiet out there, snow still covering everything. The lake has a thin sheet of ice on it. If the ice gets thick enough, the town rec department will put a green flag out that it’s safe for ice skating. Today it’s just the drab dead of winter out there. Yet whenever I’m with Wyatt, it feels like spring is just around the corner. A bubbly jubilant feeling. Love.
I shake my head and pull my phone out of my hoodie pocket. La
tely I’m so dreamy, my mind constantly drifting to Wyatt. Yesterday at his place, we all made s’mores in the fireplace and laughed and talked so much. I grilled Kayla on Wyatt stories growing up. She told me he used to spend forever styling his hair before school, making his sisters crazy, who needed to do their hair too. Two bathrooms for the four of them. Lots of screaming. And she claimed he’d come out looking exactly as he had going in. He said that was the style back then. Ha!
My phone chimes in my hand. Daydreaming again. It’s a text from Wyatt: Kayla’s going home for a visit. Crew leaves at five. You know what that means.
I smile.
Wyatt: Naked Sydney on the island.
He’s always teasing about wanting me in the kitchen. I may get a little handsy watching him prepare meals for me.
I text back. How about naked Wyatt on the island?
That works too. What time will you be here? I need to make sure I have enough microwave burritos.
Mexican again?
Mexican always. Time? I need to prepare.
I want to ask him what he’s preparing, but then I think better of it. He probably wants to surprise me.
Me: What time do you want me there?
Wyatt: Now.
My hand goes to my heart, warmth flooding me. I love that he doesn’t play games, pretending he’s not too interested in me. He loves me. I felt it from almost the beginning with the warmth in his eyes, and it’s only grown stronger day by day.
Me: I can be there in an hour.
Wyatt: Snowball is annoyed she has to wait so long, but I’ll let her know it’s just because you want to wash your hair, shave your legs, all that good stuff in anticipation of an extended naked time under the kitchen lights.
Little does he know I already did all that.
Fetching: A Frenemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Unleashed Romance, Book 1) Page 14
