by Anne, Melody
When Joseph Anderson had told him he wanted him as the electrician for the veterans center, he’d been honored. Not only had Brandon served as an air force pilot, but he was getting to know his family, and working closely with them was the best way to do it.
There had been a part of him that had thought about turning it down, because from the time he was young, he’d been determined to make it on his own, without help from his family. As a middle child in a sea of brothers, he’d always tried to find his identity without being just a brother.
It might have appeared to the rest of the world as if he was nothing more than a carefree boy in a man’s body who was more interested in making the room laugh than earning an honest day’s wages, but what people saw on the surface wasn’t always what lay beneath.
He worked hard and had done so his entire life. There were always ideas brewing in his head, and he’d never been willing to settle for second best. Sure, he liked to laugh, and he loved to live life to the fullest, but he wanted to stand out, to make a name for himself.
The veterans project was just too amazing for him to pass up. It was a cause he stood for, knowing he had his freedom because of those who’d sacrificed the most. And then it had the added bonus of working close to home.
When Joseph had said he wanted Chloe to design the kitchen, Brandon had been beyond thrilled. That meant the two of them were going to be working closely together. The kitchen was the heart of any place. And with the sparks that flew between him and Chloe, that was going to be one steamy room.
He smiled as he strolled down the street to Chloe’s restaurant. She’d made magic happen with that place. She’d turned it from ordinary to beautiful. It was the place to go to in town now.
He knew Joseph had presented her with the offer to do the veterans center, and he also knew she was fighting it. That impressed him. It wasn’t easy to say no to Joseph. Brandon didn’t know anyone who ever had. He was sure there had to be people out there, but maybe because they’d said no, they were nowhere to be found, sinking in their careers that had never gotten a chance to take off.
But that brought him right back to Chloe.
Maybe she was the first to say no to Joseph who truly could do it on her own. It made him like her even more. She was confident and talented, and she didn’t need anyone to back her name. She just needed her skills and raw determination.
But then again, he knew in the end she would say yes, and they’d be working together very soon. Joseph was pretty irresistible. Brandon hoped he was as well. He’d win the girl. There was no doubt in his mind. He just wondered how long it was going to take.
CHAPTER TWO
There was a pleasant smile on Chloe’s lips as she refilled Sal’s coffee and asked how his miniature Chihuahua’s vet visit had gone. He answered with a grin, his dog tucked safely inside his jacket, her little eyes peeking out at Chloe. Sal Abrams slipped the dog a small bite of his doughnut, and then she disappeared back into the safety of his coat.
Sal was their small-town attorney, and he came to her place daily for coffee and pastries. She’d always adored the man. The entire town did. He was set in his ways, and he’d give his shirt to someone in need. He’d helped Brooke and her sister a lot, and that meant he’d get to drink coffee for free as long as she owned this place.
Of course, he left her such ridiculous tips, which she’d tried to fight him on, it wasn’t actually free. Someday he might just accept her gift with a smile. But Sal was one of those people who liked taking care of women. She loved that about him. She didn’t mind having a wonderful father figure like him in her life.
Chloe had two amazing parents. There was no doubt about it. She didn’t talk about them to anyone, because she was determined to make it on her own, without their influence and certainly without their help.
Yes, they were amazing, and yes, the world absolutely loved them. Her mother was a food critic, and she could cut someone down to shreds, all with a professional smile on her face. Chloe had seen people rant and rave and also break down and sob, basically curling up in a ball and giving up, because of the power her mother held.
Her father was the best chef she’d ever known—and his own worst critic. He accepted only perfection in all aspects of his life, including from his daughter. And she seemed to never get it right.
When her parents had begun their cooking school, which had received national and international awards, she’d once dreamed of working there. That had quickly faded as she’d grown. She occasionally taught there, but whenever she worked around her parents, she was a hot mess.
They might not have even realized they did it, but they had never once in her life told her she was doing a great job without adding an aside that would make her feel small. The solution to that was to just not work with them. She loved her parents and didn’t want to stop, so she kept as much from them as she possibly could.
She’d heard other people say it was a parent’s role to shape and mold their children. She’d been told that the parents who didn’t care wouldn’t say anything. But she wasn’t sure she agreed with that sentiment. Wasn’t it good to make your children feel good about themselves? She’d never have kids of her own, but if she had chosen to go that route, she’d decided long ago she’d raise them with love—and zero criticism.
Her relationship with her parents was definitely complicated. But she’d give her last breath defending them as well. Maybe it was why she was her own worst critic. She wanted to be the best, and she never felt as if she was. It was a never-ending cycle.
“Are you still with me?” Sal asked.
She laughed as she shook her head. “Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts for a moment,” she told him as she grabbed the pot of coffee and topped him off. “Try this cookie. It’s a new recipe I’ve been working on for a while.”
He accepted it and took a bite, his eyes sparkling. “I want every one you have in here,” he immediately said before polishing it off in two more bites. “This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
She beamed at him. “I will give you a few more, but I’m testing them out today. Be honest—do you think they need any tweaks?”
He shook his head. “No tweaks at all needed. And no need to test anyone else. I’ll take them.”
This made her beam. Why couldn’t her parents say something like that? She was sure her mother and father would tell her something like “A little less salt” or that there were too many nuts. Something would be wrong with them. Something always was.
“I will make more tomorrow. I guess you’ll just have to come back,” she told him.
She wanted to continue creating new things to keep people coming. One thing that drove her crazy with any business was when the menu never changed. Her favorite places were always those that brought something new to the menu often. Not just once a year or even once a quarter. If a business wanted to keep her coming back, they had to give her a reason to. They had to make sure she felt as if she’d miss out on something if she even took a week off.
“You know I’ll be back every day,” Sal told her. He truly was one of her best customers. They chatted for a while longer before Chloe turned.
Then she stopped in her tracks.
Of course it was him.
Brandon Anderson was now casually strolling up to her place of business. He walked with confidence wherever he was going. It was something she admired about the man.
And though she’d deny it even on her deathbed, she’d caved in to him . . . once. She hadn’t even told her best friends about that night. It wasn’t exactly that she felt ashamed. It was just that she had known better.
She’d been feeling down the night of Sarah’s wedding. And though she’d let Brandon know in no uncertain terms nothing would happen between the two of them . . . well, somehow she’d woken up in the morning next to the man.
She had done the ultimate walk of shame that morning and was more grateful than words could ever express that no one had seen her. Though she’d ma
de a clean getaway, she absolutely remembered every single detail of their time together—and it had been spectacular.
The man knew how to please a woman, and she’d been pleased over and over and over again. Chloe had always been a small woman no matter how many Cheetos she shoved into her face. She’d rather have the curves her friends had, but it just wasn’t in her genetics. She was grateful she could eat whatever she wanted, since she loved to cook and do multiple taste tests, but she wouldn’t mind a bit more junk in the trunk.
But Brandon hadn’t seemed to mind her body at all. He’d touched and kissed every single inch of her. Before that night with him, she hadn’t known those words could actually be true. But his hands had slid up and down her body as if she were a string on a violin. His mouth had trailed after.
Where she was petite, he was huge. The man had shoulders she could caress all day and night and abs she wanted to run her tongue over again and again. He had a rugged face, but the sparkle in his eyes took away any roughness. She wasn’t sure why she was fighting this thing between the two of them.
He’d made it more than clear he wanted more. She could tell herself all day long it was because she wasn’t attracted to him, but that would be a lie. She didn’t have a traumatic past relationship making her afraid of love. She just didn’t want to be a girlfriend. She didn’t want to settle.
She’d seen often how amazing a relationship could be in the beginning. Both parties would be putting on their best behavior, willing to do anything for their significant other, but then as time went on and the love hormones began to neutralize, she’d also watched as they stopped pretending, as they each grew more selfish, as the fighting would begin.
Yes, she saw the perfect matches of her best friends. But they were the exception, not the rule. So she’d made it a lifelong mission to never be in a long-term relationship. And that had always worked for her.
Perfection had been her aim her entire life. And there was no way to have perfection in a relationship. The only way to somewhat have it was to never get past the beginning stages where everything was wrapped in a pretty pink bow, where hormones dictated how you saw a person.
Of course, everyone was perfect at the start of a relationship. You weren’t able to see flaws in your partner. You didn’t want to find anything wrong with them. It was all roses and chocolate-covered strawberries.
In the beginning your makeup was done to perfection, your hair neat and tidy, your clothes wrinkle-free. In the beginning maximum effort was put forth. But once you were comfortable and trusted your partner, that wall of perfection began to crumble, and you let your other half see your flaws.
It was those who had real love who saw those flaws as strengths instead of weaknesses. It was those who saw you through the frosted glass because you were their other half, and there were no such things as flaws in their eyes.
She didn’t trust that she could ever see someone in that light. And she certainly didn’t trust that a man could see her that way. Maybe Brooke and Sarah had found that. And as much as she wanted to believe they loved their husbands and their husbands loved them, she still wasn’t fully convinced the glasses wouldn’t one day shatter.
The attraction she felt toward Brandon terrified her. She could completely see herself falling for the man. She could imagine it would be absolutely perfect . . . for about three months. And then inevitably, it would all fall apart. When there was as much passion between two people as there was between her and Brandon, it was bound to go up in flames even hotter than most relationships. When those glasses broke, they’d break into a million pieces.
That would be awkward since they worked together. So knowing all of that, she had to be strong. But as he walked toward her, it was much easier said than done. The man was like a giant magnet—and she was definitely magnetized.
By a miracle of sorts, Chloe managed to rip her gaze from him. She quickly walked behind her counter and pushed her way through the swinging double doors into the kitchen, where the ovens were hot and her crew was busy cooking.
Nancy looked up, her smile quickly faltering, making Chloe wonder what it was the woman saw in her eyes. Was it panic, shock, resignation? She didn’t know. All she knew for sure was that she was so attracted to this man she didn’t trust herself alone with him. She hadn’t been able to even look at another man since their night together. If she were being fully honest, she hadn’t been able to look at another man since Brandon had strolled into town.
She went through the daily motions of life, worked hard at her place of business, and went out with her friends. But he was always on her mind. And even if she could push thoughts of him away during waking hours, there was nothing she could do to stop thoughts of him when she was asleep. He was that man. He was the guy you lost yourself in. Chloe wasn’t the girl to allow it to happen.
Besides her fear of having anything less than perfection, there was more that could go wrong in a relationship with Brandon. Though Cranston was a small town, she’d bought this restaurant on her own, and she’d made it successful—without the help of her parents. She’d been involved in every detail of the place. And though she wasn’t necessarily a wealthy person, she made it just fine on her own. That could all disappear if she were to get in a relationship with Brandon.
Just seeing him walk through her doors had threatened the very fabric of her happiness. He’d consume her. She was sure of it. She might not have experience with men, and she wasn’t afraid of them, but she knew he wasn’t anything close to ordinary. And when she did decide to play around with men, she looked for the ones who were easily forgettable.
“Chloe, what’s happening?” Brooke asked as she entered the room and took a cautious step forward. Chloe had forgotten Brooke had been sitting at the counter visiting with her and Sal. That’s how muddled Brandon had made her brain.
Chloe tried to form words as she looked at the worry on her friend’s face. Brooke knew sparks had flown between Chloe and Brandon, but Brooke didn’t know of their night together. Maybe it was time she confided in her bestie. Maybe they should call Sarah, and the three of them could come up with a plan together. That’s how it had always been between them.
Of course, now that Brooke and Sarah were married to Brandon’s brothers, she wasn’t sure they’d be allies. They might have matchmaking plans in their heads about the third in their trio marrying another brother. It was like a bad Hallmark movie. Okay, if she was being honest in her own head, she could admit she loved those movies. She didn’t hate love at all; she just didn’t think it was right for her.
“Brandon’s here,” Chloe whispered. Brooke smiled, and Chloe wanted to call her a traitor.
“Does he have you all hot and bothered? I don’t know why you always run from him. You two could light up the city with the electricity that sparks between the two of you. And with him being an electrician, I’m sure he knows which wires to cross.” She laughed at her own joke. At least she found herself humorous.
Chloe sighed as she rolled her eyes. That only made Brooke smile even wider. She knew now that at least one out of her two best friends wasn’t going to be any help to her. She was doubting her other best friend would do her any good, either.
No matter how many men Chloe had dated over the years, she was normally finished with a guy by date number three. Brooke knew this about Chloe, and it had never been a problem. As a matter of fact, her friends had been impressed with her willpower. Sarah had been pretty similar, actually. Not Brooke. Brooke had been in relationships before. But she was also one hell of a tough woman, and no man had been able to be her equal until Finn. Now her bestie was happier than Chloe had ever seen her before.
“I don’t want him,” Chloe hissed. “I did have him, though,” she added very quietly.
Brooke looked at her again, and then her eyes widened in understanding. The girls normally didn’t keep anything from each other, and Brooke wasn’t a stupid woman. She was putting the pieces together.
“When?” sh
e gasped.
“After Sarah’s wedding,” she admitted.
Now it was time for Brooke to be hurt and irritated. “Are you kidding me?” she said, one hand firmly planted on her hip. “You went this long without telling me and Sarah?”
If it had been simply anger in her friend’s gaze, Chloe wouldn’t have felt so scolded. It was the hurt that was her undoing.
“I’m sorry. I was hoping if I forgot about it, then it would just go away,” Chloe said.
“But we share everything,” Brooke said.
“I know. I know. But I didn’t mean for it to happen,” Chloe tried to explain.
“Oh, you just fell onto a bed and ended up naked and sweaty, then?” Brooke said. She was shaking her head at Chloe.
“No, I was very aware of my decisions that night. Plus, I was feeling sorry for myself, and he flirts very well, and you know—one thing led to another. It had been a really, really, really long time.”
“I can totally understand you sleeping with the guy. I just don’t get how you can keep it from your besties,” Brooke pointed out.
“I had to do the walk of shame for the first time in my life. That’s how I was able to keep it from you,” Chloe said as she threw her hands in the air.
“You know neither Sarah nor I would ever judge you,” Brooke said. “We’ve all done things that weren’t our proudest moments, but then we’ve also always had each other to talk to about it to make ourselves feel better.”
“I know. And I probably would’ve felt better long ago if I’d come to you guys, but I’ve been hoping he’d just forget about it.”
“You aren’t exactly a forgettable kind of woman,” Brooke said.
“And you are married to his brother. This is a mess,” Chloe said.
“If you really aren’t interested, then you have to be honest with him. I’m sure he’ll respect that,” Brooke said.
“He hasn’t done anything wrong, exactly,” Chloe told her. “He’s just always around. And now Joseph is pushing me hard to work on this kitchen, which means we’d be locked together for hours on end.” She was tapping her foot in agitation.
