Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
T he lunchtime rush was in full swing at Grits and Grub, and Jed was on edge. The sizzling of the grill, the clattering of plates, and the constant hum of kitchen chatter grated on his nerves. Every sound was too loud, every movement too rushed. He wiped his brow, feeling the familiar sting of exhaustion creep in. It wasn’t physical fatigue that had him on edge—it was something else.
“Rob, that brisket is overdone."
The line cook's brow furrowed in disbelief. He grabbed the thermometer from the counter and plunged it into the thickest part of the brisket. The number on the digital display blinked higher than it should.
"You gotta watch the timing,” Jed barked, his voice sharp as he hovered over his line cook.
Rob gave a quick nod, his face paling as he scrambled to fix the mistake.
“Mitch, those fries are soggy. How many times do I have to say it—crisp, golden, perfect.”
Jed’s crew had been with him for years, and they were good, but today, everything was rubbing him the wrong way. He leaned over the pass, checking each plate before it went out, finding fault with nearly every detail.
He pushed a plate back toward the line. “The garnish is sloppy. Come on, we can do better than that.”
“Yes, Chef” was all he heard in response. Those two words used to thrill him. Now they rubbed him the wrong way.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Jed yanked the device out, glancing at the screen. Rick Landers. Great. Just what he needed in the middle of this chaos.
Jed answered the call, walking to the corner of the kitchen, but his eyes never left the line. “Rick, not a good time.”
“Jed, listen. I know you’re busy, but I’ve got good news. We’ve got one spot left on the show, and we really want you.” Rick’s voice crackled through the phone, full of excitement. “We even have a girl lined up to pose as your fiancée. It’s perfect!”
Jed’s mind wasn’t on reality shows, and it sure wasn’t on pretending to be engaged. Not when all he could think about was her.
Jami. And Ryan.
What was she doing with him? Ryan had always been wrong for her. The guy was a mess—always broke, always one bad bet away from losing everything. And the loser had lost everything. He'd lost Jami all because of a stupid dare.
But even before the dare, the writing was clear on the wall about Ryan. Jed’s stomach twisted as the memory surfaced, clear as day. The night Ryan had asked him for a loan while he was on a date with Jami. They’d been at some fancy restaurant, and Ryan’s debit card had gotten declined. Jed had ended up footing the bill, watching Ryan play the doting boyfriend with Jami none the wiser.
And now she was back with him? Why? Why would Jami go back to someone like that? Jed’s grip tightened around the phone, his knuckles white as the frustration surged.
“Jed? You there?” Rick’s voice brought him back. Barely.
Ever since that night of the debit card disaster, Jed had fairly stalked Ryan and Jami. The thought of Jami being embarrassed in front of others or having to pay for Ryan's mistakes irritated him like nothing else. And it was a good thing Jed had hovered. The first decline of Ryan's card hadn't been the last. And then there had been the dare.
The dare that never should have happened. But Jed was so glad it had. He'd never have gotten a taste of Jami otherwise.
"It would be great exposure for you and the restaurant. And trust me, this girl knows the score. She just wants the screen time to build up her social media following and then you can go your separate ways."
Jed had thought Ryan and Jami were going their separate ways when he'd learned they'd broken up. But when Jed had asked Ryan about it, Ryan seemed to think they were just on a break and they'd be getting back together. Jed hadn't been convinced. and Ryan had likely read it in his expression. That's when the joker had made the dare.
"I mean, think about it—a nationally televised competition. You can't beat that kind of publicity."
Jed had had to watch for nearly a year as Ryan paraded her around. Or more like she led him around on a leash. Ryan had never been the most assertive of guys. Which was again why Jed had never understood the attraction.
Jami deserved someone who could keep up with her, someone who didn’t drag her into their messes. Someone who saw her for everything she was—fiery, brilliant, unstoppable.
"Her name is Mika."
What kind of name was Mika? It sounded like a truncated version of Michael. It certainly wasn't lyrical like the name Jami.
“I’m out, Rick,” Jed said abruptly, cutting off whatever pitch Rick had been making. “I’m not doing the show.”
“Wait, what? You don’t want to do it?”
“No,” Jed said, his voice firm. “I’m not interested.”
“Jed, this is a huge opportunity. You sure you?—”
“I’m sure,” Jed interrupted, his tone final. Because the only woman he wanted for the part wasn't available.
Jed hung up, not waiting for a response. He didn’t want a fake fiancée for a reality show. He didn’t want a fake anything.
He wanted Jami. He wanted her to know that. He needed to tell her. He’d waited too long, and now she was slipping through his fingers. Back into the arms of the wrong man.
Jed pushed open the heavy kitchen door and stepped into the back alley behind Grits and Grub. The sharp scent of grease and smoke from the kitchen was replaced by the crisp evening air, carrying with it the faint odor of the nearby dumpster. He rubbed his neck, feeling the tension from the day winding tight in his muscles, his mind still reeling from that phone call with Rick and, of course, Jami.
Just thinking about her made his gut twist. The way she had looked at him this morning, how he’d felt every bit of history between them come rushing back, only to have her say she was getting back together with Ryan. Ryan, of all people. The same guy who had spent more time making bets than making good decisions.
It was maddening.
Movement down the alley caught his eye. Ryan stood in the shadows near the far end, talking to someone Jed instantly recognized. Jimmy Connors, the local pawn broker. Shady character, always involved in people’s bad choices.
Jed paused, curiosity prickling the back of his neck. He wasn’t one to eavesdrop—well, not usually—but the tension in their postures drew him in. The way Ryan stood, shoulders hunched, voice low, gave off a vibe that something was seriously wrong.
Jed edged closer, keeping to the shadows as he caught snippets of their conversation.
“I told you, Jimmy,” Ryan was saying, his voice low and defensive. “I’m gonna have all the money in just a couple of days.”
Ryan and money issues? Sounded like the same old, same old. Nothing new there.
Jimmy’s voice, however, was anything but patient. “You’ve been saying that for weeks, Ryan. You’ve had more than enough time. I want my money, and I want it now.”
Ryan shifted, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I’m about to get married. My new wife—she’s about to come into her inheritance. I’ll be flush with cash. You’ll get every penny I owe you.”
Jed’s heart slammed against his ribs. New wife. Inheritance. The pieces began to fall into place. In his mind's eye, Jed watched as Ryan's jagged edges closed in around Jami.
Jimmy let out a bitter laugh, stepping closer to Ryan, his face inches away. “I want my money now, and if you don’t have it, you’re gonna have a problem manning up for your wedding night.”
“I’m serious, Jimmy. I just need a few more days. Once we’re married, everything will be squared away.”
Jimmy grabbed Ryan by the collar, yanking him closer. “You’ve had enough time. No more excuses, Ryan. You either pay up, or I’m coming for you. And trust me, it won’t be pretty.”
Jed should’ve turned his back. Walked away. This wasn’t his problem. Ryan had made his bed, and he deserved to lie in it. But the thought of Jami—his Jami—being dragged into this mess because of another bad bet Ryan had made? No. He couldn’t let that happen.
Without thinking, Jed stepped out of the shadows. “How much does he owe?”
Jimmy and Ryan both whipped around, startled by the sudden interruption. Jimmy’s hand loosened on Ryan’s collar, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Jed. “Winchester. This ain’t your business.”
“It is now,” Jed replied, stepping closer, his gaze locked on Jimmy. “How much?”
Ryan opened his mouth to protest. Jed cut him off with a glare. He was done playing nice. He was done standing on the sidelines, watching Jami get tangled up in a mess she didn’t deserve. The only woman he’d ever thought about marrying wasn’t going to be used as someone’s meal ticket.
Jimmy’s eyes flickered with amusement, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Well, well. Seems like you’ve got a knight in shining armor here, Ryan.” He glanced at Jed, sizing him up before finally spitting out the number. “Five grand. That’s what your buddy here owes me.”
Five grand. It wasn’t chump change. It also wasn’t a fortune, not for the Culinary Casanova. Jed knew exactly what he had to do.
He turned to Ryan, his jaw tight, anger simmering beneath the surface. “You’re not marrying Jami for her inheritance.”
Ryan’s face paled, his hands trembling slightly. “Jed, look?—”
“No,” Jed growled, cutting him off. “You’ve already screwed up enough of your life. I’m not letting you ruin hers, too.”