Chapter Three
Chantel practically leaped out of her seat the moment the plane came to a complete stop at the gate in Baltimore. Her body was already moving before the fastened seatbelt sign even dimmed. She couldn’t afford to waste a second if she wanted to make her connecting flight to Knoxville.
Even though the flight from Boston to Baltimore was short, they were delayed by an hour leaving Boston.
With her backpack securely on her back, she weaved through the slow-moving passengers in the aisle and grabbed her carry-on roller bag before rushing toward the exit. She muttered a hurried “excuse me” as she squeezed past people. She felt like a hypocrite, considering she couldn’t stand people who did what she just did. She promised herself that she would make up for her rudeness later.
Once out of the jetway, she checked the time on her phone. Thirty minutes. She had to sprint across the airport to make it, and of course, her connecting flight was entirely in another terminal. With a deep breath, she gripped the handle of her suitcase and took off, her sneakers pounding against the airport floor as she raced toward the signs for Terminal C.
The airport was busy, packed with holiday travelers lugging suitcases and carting kids to their gates, but Chantel maneuvered around them with practiced ease, determined not to miss her flight. Her pulse quickened as she saw the gate in the distance, but just as she approached, she noticed something that made her heart sink.
The gate agent was on the phone, looking annoyed, while a group of passengers stood huddled around the counter. Seconds later, the gate agent hung up the phone and announced, “It looks like flight two-two-six to Knoxville is going to be delayed, folks. We’re not sure for how long, but with the storms moving across the country, cancellations aren’t out of the question. Stay close by, and we’ll keep you updated.”
Chantel’s heart sank as she heard the last part of the announcement. Canceled? She glanced out the large windows at the blanket of gray that stretched across the horizon. A storm was sweeping across the country, snow piling up in the Midwest, and cold fronts gripping the southern states. She hadn’t expected it to reach this far east so soon, but the weather didn’t care about her plans.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Chantel checked the flight board. Her flight was already showing a one-hour delay. Great, just great. All she wanted was to get away from Boston and the tangled mess that was her life. The idea of being stuck in Baltimore, still too close to Mario’s reach, filled her with unease. Even though she had managed to get out of Boston unscathed, Baltimore wasn’t far enough. Mario knew people everywhere. He had contacts, influence, and a way of finding out things he had no business knowing.
Chantel shook her head, trying to shake off the lingering fear. She was now free, and that is what mattered. And honestly, she should be glad she found out about Mario’s cheating now instead of after she married him. The thought made her stomach churn. Three years of her life, three years of love and loyalty, and it had all been a lie. But it’s better now than later.
Now, all she had to focus on was getting away—decompressing, resetting, and figuring out what her next steps were.
She glanced around the crowded terminal, looking for an empty seat, but they were all taken by stranded passengers just like her. Maybe I should book a room or see if there’s a rental car available. The thought of driving through a snowstorm didn’t exactly thrill her, but she wasn’t ruling anything out. Anything to keep moving. She didn’t want to sit idle. If she encountered bad weather, she could always pull off and find a hotel.
As she walked through the terminal, her thoughts drifted back to the engagement ring that had once sat on her finger, a ring that now felt like a distant memory. Her eyes automatically lowered to her bare finger, the skin where the ring used to be oddly pale.
How did it all fall apart so fast? she thought bitterly. She still couldn’t believe Mario had betrayed her like that. Everything had felt so perfect. Or maybe that was just the lie she had been telling herself for years. Had there been signs that she didn’t notice?
Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the crowd of people moving through the terminal until it was too late.
“Oof!” Chantel stumbled forward as she collided with someone solid, her balance thrown off. Before she could react, the unmistakable warmth of coffee splashed across her sweater.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” came a deep, apologetic voice.
Chantel gasped, stepping back to assess the damage. Hot coffee dripped from her sweater, the dark stain spreading rapidly across the cream-colored fabric.
She looked up, ready to say something—anything—but the words were stuck somewhere in her throat.
Standing in front of her was quite possibly the most stunning man she’d ever seen in her life.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his deep voice tinged with panic as he frantically fumbled for napkins.
Chantel blinked, trying to force her brain to process his words, but all she could do was stare. He was tall. If she had to guess, he stood above six feet. He had broad shoulders that filled out his dark green Henley in a way that should probably be illegal. The fabric clung to his chest and midsection, hinting at lean, defined muscle. His dark jeans fit perfectly, snug over his thighs like jeans on men were meant to fit.
Her gaze wandered lower, out of sheer curiosity, of course, but before she could get a good look at the rest of him , she felt her cheeks flush. Focus, Chantel. Coffee. Sweater. Disaster.
But then she looked back up at his face.
Even though he was clearly mortified, with his lips pressed into a worried line and his brows furrowed, he was unfairly good-looking. His chiseled jaw sported just the right amount of scruff, and his dirty blonde hair was slightly messy, like he’d run his fingers through it one too many times.
And his eyes were something you don’t see often. They were light gray and were staring right at her, filled with genuine concern.
“I…I’m so sorry,” he stammered, holding out a handful of napkins he must have snatched from a nearby counter.
Chantel opened her mouth to say something, but her brain refused to cooperate.
Instead, she blurted out, “Uh...it’s fine. Totally fine.” She winced internally. Smooth, Chantel. Real smooth.
The man gave her a sheepish smile, his relief evident as he handed her the napkins. “I feel terrible. I wasn’t looking where I was going, and—”
“It’s okay, really,” she said quickly, waving him off while patting the front of her sweater. She glanced down and grimaced. There was now a very obvious brown stain blooming across the front of it.
“Let me buy you a new sweater or something,” he said, his words rushing together.
Chantel glanced up at him, and for a brief moment, her brain screamed at her to say yes. It wasn’t every day that a tall, ridiculously attractive man practically begged to buy her a shirt.
But then reality hit. What in the hell was she thinking?
Just yesterday, she found her fiancé in bed with another woman, and here she was, drooling over a stranger who spilled coffee on her.
The last thing she needed right now was to throw herself into a rebound just because someone looked like they walked off the cover of a fitness magazine.
“No, it’s really not necessary,” she said, shaking her head. “Accidents happen,” she told him honestly.
The man looked unconvinced, his brows knitting together again as his gray eyes searched hers.
“Are you sure? I—”
Chantel caught herself staring at his mouth and immediately looked away, heat creeping up her neck. Get a grip, Chantel.
“Positive,” she said, cutting him off before he could protest further. She took a step back, clutching the damp napkins to her chest like a shield.
But her retreat was short-lived when her eyes betrayed her once again, sneaking another glance at him. She couldn’t help it. He was just... ugh, why did he have to be so attractive?
That’s when she realized he’d caught her looking.
His lips quirked up in a faint smile, and a spark of something playful flickered in his gray eyes. “You’re sure that you’re okay? You’ve been staring at me like I’ve got two heads.”
Her mouth dropped open, mortified, as she scrambled to respond. “I…no! I wasn’t—” She stopped herself, knowing full well there was no point in lying. “Okay, maybe a little, but that’s only because—”
His smile widened, and she groaned inwardly.
“Because I spilled coffee on you?” he offered, his tone teasing.
“Exactly!” she said, seizing the lifeline, even though it was the worst excuse imaginable.
His laugh was low and rich, sending an uninvited flutter through her chest. “Well, if it helps, I’m Zach.”
“Chantel,” she said before mentally cursing herself for giving her name.
“Nice to meet you, Chantel,” he said with an easy grin, extending his hand.
She hesitated, then shook it briefly, hyperaware of how warm and solid his hand felt in hers. No. Nope. Don’t even think about it, she reminded herself firmly. Was this the universe’s way of testing her resolve? Because if all men looked like Zach, she was in serious trouble.
◆◆◆
Zach Walker shifted his duffel bag higher on his shoulder as he navigated the crowded airport terminal, the familiar smell of coffee wafting from the cup in his hand. He had a few minutes before his flight was called, and caffeine was non-negotiable after the early start of his day.
He took a distracted sip of his coffee. His mind was half-focused on the list of things he needed to handle when he got home, and unintentionally, he bumped into someone.
It all happened so fast as the force of the impact caused the lid of his coffee cup to pop off, sending the hot liquid splattering onto the sweater of the petite woman he’d accidentally walked into.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” Zach blurted out as he stepped back and stared at the spreading stain.
The woman, to her credit, didn’t immediately freak out. She blinked, wide-eyed, at the mess on her cream-colored sweater, her lips parting in surprise.
And then she looked up at him.
It took him all of two seconds to realize he was in trouble.
She was stunning. Petite, maybe five-foot-five, with long brown hair pulled into a ponytail that somehow made her look effortlessly youthful yet completely put-together. Her striking green eyes were mesmerizing—clear and bright, and for a moment, Zach forgot why he was even standing there.
“Are you okay?” He asked, feeling both embarrassed and horrible.
“Uh...it’s fine. Totally fine.” She replied . Her voice was soft but not panicked.
“I feel terrible. I wasn’t looking where I was going, and—”
“It’s okay, really,” she said quickly, waving him off while patting the front of her sweater with the napkins he handed her.
Zach stared at the ugly brown stain. It wasn’t okay. He’d just ruined her sweater and potentially her day, but before he could get another apology out, he noticed something else.
She wasn’t looking at the coffee stain anymore.
Her gaze had shifted, traveling up and down his frame in a way that made heat crawl up the back of his neck. She was staring.
And Zach, as embarrassed as he felt for the spill, couldn’t help but find it a little amusing.
“I—uh—” she started, snapping her gaze back to his face like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink, and Zach bit back a grin.
“Are you okay?” he asked, trying to sound as earnest as possible while holding out more napkins.
“Me? Oh, yeah. Totally fine,” she said quickly, her voice high-pitched. She grabbed the napkins from him, her hands brushing his briefly, and her blush deepened.
Zach couldn’t help but notice how small her hands were compared to his. Everything about her seemed petite and delicate—even her slightly flustered demeanor. But there was also something quietly confident about the way she held herself, even while dealing with an embarrassing situation.
“Let me buy you a new sweater or something,” he offered, feeling genuinely terrible.
She shook her head quickly, her ponytail swishing with the movement. “No, no, it’s really not necessary. Accidents happen.”
Zach frowned, unconvinced. He could see her trying to brush it off, but the stain on her sweater was undeniable. “I still feel bad,” he insisted. “Are you sure? I—”
“Positive,” she said, cutting him off. “It’s fine,” she said, waving a hand as if to dismiss his guilt. But then her gaze flickered down again—just for a split second—before snapping back up to his face.
Was she checking him out again?
Zach couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at his lips. She was trying so hard to act nonchalant, but her eyes kept betraying her.
“You’re sure that you’re okay? You’ve been staring at me like I’ve got two heads.”
Zach wanted to laugh as she tried to respond.
“I…no! I wasn’t—” She stopped and took a small breath, looking back up at him. “Okay, maybe a little, but that’s only because—”
Jesus, she was too fucking adorable.
“Because I spilled coffee on you?” he teased.
“Exactly!” she said.
Zach couldn’t hold back his laugh this time. He then held his hand out.
“I’m Zach,” he said, figuring that an introduction might lighten the mood.
“Chantel,” she said.
“Nice to meet you, Chantel,” he said, genuinely meaning it. There was something about her—beyond the spill and her flustered reaction that had him intrigued.
“Same,” she mumbled, dabbing at her sweater with the napkins, though it didn’t seem to be helping much.
He gave her another look. There was no way he was letting her walk around with that stain on her sweater.
“Now, I honestly cannot let a beautiful woman walk around the airport with a huge ugly brown stain on her sweater, especially when I was the cause of it. Please, let me buy you a new shirt from the gift shop. It’s the least I can do.”
She blushed and hesitated at first but then nodded. “Alright. Thank you.” As they started to walk, she stopped and turned to look up at him. “Are you sure you have time? You seemed to be in a hurry.”
Shit! One look at a beautiful woman and he had forgotten about his flight.
He pulled his phone out and opened the airline’s app. A small smile spread across his lips. For the first time in his life, he was happy to see his flight was delayed.
He looked back at Chantel and grinned. “My flight’s delayed.”
She laughed. “I think all the fights are.”
As they walked toward the gift shop, Zach felt increasingly guilty with each step. Once they were inside, Chantel found a rack of t-shirts emblazoned with various Baltimore landmarks. He told her to get something a little warmer, like a sweatshirt or another sweater, but she politely declined, saying that a T-shirt would be enough. Plus, the only sweatshirts they had were the Baltimore Orioles, and she was a Red Sox girl. Chantel picked out a soft, grey one, and Zach paid for it without hesitation.
“Thank you,” she said as they left the shop. “You really didn’t have to do that.”
“No problem,” he said with an apologetic smile. “How about I make it up to you further by buying you a coffee? I promise I won’t spill this one.”
Zach wasn’t sure what made him ask her that. Normally, he wanted to be left alone. Unless it was his family, he wasn’t much of a people person. Maybe that was because of his background.
Being a Marine assigned to MARSOC, the Marine Corps’ only Special Operations Unit, had its drawbacks, such as being around people. He was not a people person and hated crowds. Then again, he was questioning himself: why was he asking this woman whom he just met to have coffee with him?
He looked at Chantel, and it only took a second to know the answer to his question. She intrigued him. What most impressed him was her calmness and kindness when he was at fault.
Chantel smiled at him. “I could use a good coffee right now. But I need to change first.”
Zach grinned. “Of course.” He saw a small coffee shop that still had a few open tables. “How about I get us the coffee and grab a table while you go change?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“How do you like your coffee?” He asked, praying she wasn’t going to give some long-winded special coffee order.
“Black,” she said.
Zach did a double-take. “Black?” He repeated.
She grinned. “Yep. Just black. I’m simple.”
Zach smiled. “One black coffee coming up.”
Chantel laughed. “Thanks. I’ll be back in just a minute.”
Zach walked over to the coffee shop and placed an order for two black coffees.
As he waited for the barista to pour the coffee, he spotted Chantel heading his way. A faint grin tugged at the corners of his mouth as he spotted Chantel weaving through the crowd. But the closer she got, the more his grin faded. Her brow was furrowed, and her lips were pressed in a thin line. She was glaring at her phone screen. It was the total opposite look of what he’d seen from her in the small amount of time he’d known her, and curiosity stirred within him. By the time she reached him, the scowl was gone and replaced by a smile. However, it seemed a bit forced.
“Everything okay?” he asked, unable to keep the concern out of his voice. “Does your phone owe you money or something?”
She seemed a bit surprised that he asked. But that was just his nature. He was a great interrogator.
“Yeah. Sorry about that,” she said as she slid her phone into her bag.
He didn’t believe her one bit. But was it really any of his concern?
He grabbed the two cups of coffee, and they grabbed one of the small tables in the back.
Zach handed her one of the cups.
“Thank you,” she told him.
“You’re welcome. It’s the least I can do for spilling my first cup on you.” He looked at her shirt and grinned, looking at the crab on the front of it, which was designed in the Maryland state flag colors. “The shirt looks good on you,” he told her.
Chantel laughed. “It does, doesn’t it,” she joked, looking down at it.
Zach took a sip of his new coffee and looked at her curiously. “So, Chantel, where are you headed?”
“Knoxville,” she said, warming her hands around her cup. “You?”
“Same,” Zach replied, surprised by her answer. “Are you going home for Thanksgiving?”
Chantel set her cup down and started to play with the corner of the napkin. “No. I actually caught my fiancé, slash boss, in bed with another woman. So, I needed to get away for a bit, so I’m flying solo for Thanksgiving.”
Zach’s eyes widened, and his eyes dropped to her now bare ring finger. “Wow, I’m really sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks,” she said with a small smile. “But I guess it was better to find out now than when we were married.”
“That is true. But you seem like a great woman. So, it’s his loss. What made you choose Knoxville?”
She took another sip of her coffee. “Actually, I’m staying in Gatlinburg. Knoxville was the fastest and closest airport I could get out of Boston.”
Zach smiled. “Have you been to Gatlinburg before?”
“No. I’ve always wanted to visit, especially around the holidays.”
“It is a great town, and it is beautiful around the holidays,” Zach told her. “So, you say you are from Boston. What do you do there?” Zach asked.
“I’m an Executive Chef,” she told him.
“A chef?” Zach said, seeming impressed. He loved food.
“Yep, though, I think I need to start looking for another job.”
Zach grimaced. “That’s right. You said that your ex was also your boss.”
“Yep,” Chantel said, popping the “p.” She picked up her coffee and took a long sip. When she set it back down, she looked at him.
“What about you, Zach? Are you heading home for Thanksgiving?”
He nodded. “I am. I’m planning to spend it with my family.”
She smiled. “That’s nice. Where do you live now? What do you do?”
Ugh …Zach hated talking about himself.
“I’m a Marine. I’m stationed at Camp Lejune in North Carolina.”
“Oh! Thank you for your service,” Chantel said sincerely. “I bet your family will be happy to see you.”
“Yeah, they will,” Zach agreed. “But I have to get there first, and with the storm systems wreaking havoc all over the country, I’m not feeling too confident about getting a flight out of here.”
“No kidding,” Chantel said, glancing at the departure board.
Zach nodded, then looked at her thoughtfully.
They continued to talk, the conversation flowing easily despite the chaos of the airport around them. They found themselves sharing stories and laughter, forgetting about the predicament for a while. Zach was surprised at how comfortable he felt around Chantel. She was different than other women he met. She was genuine.
“This sucks,” Zach said, referring to the delay.
Chantel laughed. “Yeah, it does. But at least I’m in good company.”
Zach grinned. “I feel the same.”
Suddenly, an announcement was made in the gate area.
“Attention, passengers. This is a gate announcement for flight two-two-six to Knoxville. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, your flight has been canceled. Please proceed to the customer service counter to speak with an agent regarding your rebooking options.”
Zach leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair as the announcement echoed through the terminal.
“Well, I guess it’s official,” he said, his tone light despite the disappointment in the air. “Time for Plan B.”
Chantel gave him a small, half-hearted smile, but he could see the flicker of frustration in her eyes. She looked like she was about to ask what his Plan B was when his phone buzzed loudly on the table. He glanced at the screen and sighed.
“Sorry, it’s my mom,” he said, standing. “Do you mind watching my bags for a minute?”
“Sure,” Chantel replied, her voice soft, though her curious gaze lingered on him as he walked away.
He made his way to the large windows overlooking the tarmac, the glow of the terminal lights reflecting off the planes parked in neat rows below.
“Hey, Mom,” he greeted, keeping his tone upbeat. “How’s the Thanksgiving prep going? Got the pies in the oven yet?”
“Zachary, I…” her voice cracked, uncharacteristically shaky. “I fell this morning. I slipped on some ice outside the grocery store. And, well, I broke my wrist.”
Zach straightened, the casual smile dropping from his face. “What? Are you okay? Did you go to the hospital?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine physically,” she rushed on, her words tumbling over each other. “Your dad, thankfully, was with me and took me to the hospital.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “But Thanksgiving, Zach! Do you know how much more there is to do? There are still things I need to buy, I need to clean the house, and the place cards aren’t even written! Everyone’s coming over in two days, and now I can’t do anything.”
Her voice pitched higher with every sentence, and Zach could practically see her pacing in the kitchen, one-handed and panicked. His mom had always been meticulous, a perfectionist who could organize a party down to the last doily. Thanksgiving was her magnum opus, and now she was spiraling at the idea of it falling apart.
“Mom, calm down.”
“How can I calm down? I have a house full of people who are expecting a Thanksgiving dinner in four days.”
“Mom...” Zach pinched the bridge of his nose as his mom went into another rant. It wasn’t any use trying to interrupt her, so Zach stayed silent as his mom finished.
“Your father and brothers can only cook meat on the grill. None of you can cook a turkey. And your sister, well, we all know that Clover isn’t allowed near the stove except to bake. I swear that girl could burn water. The only person I have faith in is Jocelyn, but she and Bear and the kids aren’t getting in until sometime Wednesday.”
“I just don’t know what to do. I’m sorry, honey. I don’t mean to burden you with all this when you have your own problems to deal with. Has there been any update on your flight?”
“Actually, we just found out that the flight was canceled. Apparently, the weather all over the country is causing flights to be grounded. But knowing there was a possibility of this happening, I reserved a car. Since it is getting late, I was thinking of getting a hotel nearby, and then we’ll head out early in the morning. That way, we’ll get there before the storm moves in.”
“We?” she questioned, curiosity ran in her tone. “I didn’t know you were bringing someone with you. Which knucklehead teammate of yours do we have the pleasure of hosting this year?”
We? He thought to himself. Did I say “we?” Had he said that because he had been sitting and talking to Chantel for the last couple of hours?
Zach scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit nervous. He stole a quick glance at Chantel, noting how cute she looked as she sipped her coffee and scrolled through her phone. He wondered what she was going to do now that their flight was canceled. Suddenly, an idea went off like a lightbulb in his head.
“Actually, it isn’t someone you know.”
“Oh....”
“Yeah, the person is actually she. Her name is Chantel.”
Silence greeted him, and he wondered if the call was still connected.
“Mom? Are you still there?”
“Sorry,” she apologized and cleared her throat. “You caught me off guard there for a moment. I didn’t realize you had met someone and obviously serious enough to bring home to meet the family,” she finished with a bit of excitement in her tone.
Zach could hear both the excitement and skepticism in her voice, and it made him grin. He never brought home a woman to meet his family. Hell, he hadn’t even been committed to a woman since Naomi, his high school sweetheart, had ripped his heart out. She was the main reason he had no interest in a committed relationship. At least not until he was done serving his country.
Before his mom could start planning his wedding, he needed to set the record straight and let her know who Chantel was.
“Mom, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“What do you mean? Isn’t she your girlfriend?”
“No. She and I just met today.”
“You just met her today at the airport, and you’re bringing her home?”
He laughed, knowing it sounded crazy. Especially the way he was wary of people.
“Hear me out, mom.” He then explained how they met and how that incident led them to sit and talk over coffee. He explained about her being alone for the holiday and what her fiancé did to her.”
“My, God. That poor woman. I just don’t understand people. Well, she is more than welcome to spend Thanksgiving with us. The more the merrier.”
His eyes rose, surprised by how quickly she welcomed Chantel. “You really don’t mind?”
“Why would I mind?”
“Because I’m practically bringing home a stranger.”
“I trust your instincts. You’ve always had a knack for reading people, and if you say she’s a good person, then I do not doubt that she’ll be an issue.” She sighed. “However, I hope she doesn’t mind a scaled-down kind of Thanksgiving dinner.”
Zach grinned. “What if I told you that Thanksgiving dinner can still be what you want it to be?
“I don’t understand.”
“Chantel loves cooking. She’s actually a chef, and I’m sure she won’t mind helping out after I explain to her what happened to you.”
“She’s a chef?” His mom asked, and he could hear her excitement in her tone.
“Yeah, and she’s apparently pretty good. At least according to the reviews she gained at the five-star restaurant she worked for in Boston.” Yeah, he had looked her up while she was in the restroom.
“Wait a second. You said her name was Chantel?”
“Yeah.”
“And she’s a chef from Boston?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Well, if it’s the same Chantel from Boston, I think I know who she is?”
“What? You do?” Zach asked, his eyebrows scrunching together.
“Remember that trip to Boston that you and your brothers and sister gave to your father and me for our anniversary two years ago?”
“I do.”
“Well, one of the restaurants I wanted to try was Harbor Stone Table. I had heard so many wonderful things about that place. Your dad and I had dinner there one night, and we had the opportunity to meet the Executive Chef, and her name was Chantel.”
“Are you serious?” Zach asked, thinking how this sounded unbelievable.
“I swear! I was so excited because, according to the staff there, she never comes out of the kitchen.”
“What are the odds that she could be the same Chantel?”
“I think they are pretty high. But regardless, Zach, do you think she’ll really mind?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh my gosh! Chef Chantel is coming to my house and cooking Thanksgiving dinner,” she squealed, and Zach had to move the phone away from his ear.
“Mom. Don’t get too excited. I need to ask her first.”
“I know. But I just can’t believe it is actually her. And considering you and her met, and she is now single—”
“Mom, don’t go there. Don’t be playing matchmaker. She’s just someone I’m helping out. Plus, she literally just got out of a relationship.”
“If you say so,” she told him, though he could hear the smile in her voice.” When should we expect the two of you?”
“If we head out early and depending on traffic, we should be there early afternoon.”
“That’s good because that storm is supposed to hit our area overnight tomorrow.”
“As long as we don’t encounter any problems, we should be there before it rolls in.”
“Alright. Well, be safe and keep me updated.”
“I will, mom.”
“Love you, sweetie.”
“Love you too. Bye.”
After disconnecting the call, Zach headed back to the table. He wondered if the Chantel he’d been talking to was, in fact, the same person his mom had met.
He sat back down and looked at Chantel, and she flashed him a warm smile.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.What are you doing?”
She gave her shoulder a shrug. “Figuring out what I’m going to do. Any suggestions?”
“Well, it’s funny you ask that.”
“It is?” she asked, one of her eyebrows were raised.
“How would you like to come with me and spend Thanksgiving with my family and me? Every year, my mom puts on a huge dinner. All my brothers and my sister will be there this year. They provide a lot of entertainment.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Speaking of family, what would your family think?”
“About what?”
“They won’t mind having a stranger in their home and sharing a traditional holiday with them?”
“No. In fact, my mom insisted that I bring you to the house.”
“What?”
He chuckled, loving how cute she looked flustered.
“Relax. Plus, she is in a bind.”
“What kind of bind?”
“She slipped on a patch of ice this morning and broke her wrist.”
“Oh no! Is she okay?”
“Yeah. Though I’m sure the drugs are helping. But she’s in a panic because she is the only one who cooks Thanksgiving dinner.”
“I see,” she said, a knowing smile tugging the corners of her lips. “You are hoping I say yes so I can save your family’s Thanksgiving.” She lifted her coffee cup to her lips and smiled over the rim.
God, he could get lost in her eyes.
He chuckled. “Alright, I may have mentioned that you liked to cook.”
She quirked her eyebrow, and it made him laugh.
“Okay, I might have also mentioned that you were a chef.”
“And....”
“My mom actually knew who you were.”
“She does?” Chantel asked, looking surprised.
“My mom is a huge foodie fan. She and my dad took a trip to Boston two years ago, and one of the nights, they had dinner at your restaurant, and she had the opportunity to meet you.”
Zach watched as Chantel appeared to be deep in thought.
“Hang on a minute,” she told him and started playing with her phone. After finding whatever it was that she was looking for, she smiled and then turned the phone around so he could see it.
Zach’s eyebrows shot upward when he saw the picture on her phone of Chantel posing with his mom and dad. They were all sitting around a table, obviously in the restaurant where she worked.
“I’m guessing from the look on your face that these are your parents.”
Zach nodded, his mouth agape. “That is them.” He looked at the picture again and then at Chantel, shaking his head in disbelief. “This is crazy.”
She nodded in agreement, “Definitely a small world.”
“So, you remembered them?”
“I do. They were so cute, especially your mom. It was the first time that a patron wanted to meet me.”
“Seriously? I thought foodie people always wanted to meet chefs.”
“In most places, that’s accurate. But in my case, my ex-fiancé played interference and wouldn’t let me out of the kitchen, telling customersthat I’d love to meet them; however, I was too busy at that moment.”
“Possessive much?” Zach mumbled, but judging from the amused expression on her face, she must have heard him.
“You’re not wrong. I just didn’t realize it until one of the hostesses told me.
“How did my parents manage to meet you then?”
She grinned. “Because I just happened to be coming back from the restroom when I heard her say my name. So, out of curiosity, I walked over and introduced myself. I remember vividly how surprised she was.”
“Knowing how excited she can be when she meets someone, I hope she didn’t embarrass herself.”
Chantel laughed. “Not at all. She was very sweet. So was your dad.”
Zach snorted a laugh.
“What?”
“You are using my dad and sweet in the same sentence.”
“Well, he was. I could tell that your parents were very in love. It’s nice to see that.”
“So, does this mean that you’ll come home with me?”
She set her coffee cup down and looked at him. A smile slowly spread across her lips. “I would be honored to cook Thanksgiving dinner for you and your family.”
“Really?”
Still smiling, she nodded. “Really.”
“Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me? It should be the other way around. I should thank you. This will be my first Thanksgiving in years where I wasn’t working.”
“But you’re cooking. Isn’t that work?” Zach asked, feeling confused by her statement.
“True, but it won’t be at a restaurant. It will be nice to feel a little more relaxed.”
“I can understand that.”
“So, how many people are we talking about?”
“Between fifteen and twenty.”
“Oh wow! All family?”
“Yep. I have three brothers and one sister. Bear is the oldest and is married. He and his wife Jocelyn have two kids, both adopted. Then there are my two single brothers, Justin and Ethan. And finally, the baby of the family is my adventurous sister Clover. Her boyfriend, Joker, will be there as well. Plus, my aunt and her husband and their two kids. Sometimes, a few neighbors who don’t have any family show up.”
“I can’t believe there are five of you.”
“Sometimes I can’t believe it either,” Zach said with a slight laugh. His siblings could all be a pain in the ass, but he wouldn’t trade them for the world.
“Alright, so what is the plan?”
“I hope you don’t mind driving the rest of the way.”
“I don’t mind at all,” she replied with a small smile.
Zach grinned. “Good. It is about an eight-hour drive. I told my mom since it was getting late that, we’d find a place nearby and then leave early in the morning. That way, we’ll arrive at my parent’s house before the snowstorm is supposed to hit. I just need to look for a hotel. However, it may be hard finding a room because of all the cancellations.”
“Actually, I already got a room,” Chantel said.
“You did?”
“Yeah. That was what I was doing while you were on the phone with your mom. Since I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, I figured that I would just hunker down at a nearby hotel for the night and hope I could get a flight out in the morning. And you are correct, there are not many rooms left. The lady I spoke with at the hotel said that I got the last room.”
Damn...Zach wondered what he was going to do if he couldn’t find a room.
“I don’t know what other hotels are nearby and if they have any rooms left. But if you don’t mind sharing, my room does have two double beds. You’re more than welcome to one of them.”
“Are you sure?” Zach asked.
She laughed and waved him off. “If you are trusting enough to take me to your family’s home for Thanksgiving, then I think I can trust that you won’t pull any funny business.”
Her funny expression made him laugh.
“I think that is fair.”
“Well, now that we have a plan. Let’s hop on the shuttle to the rental car center and then head over to the hotel.”