Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
PENNY
Two hours later, I stood in the industrial kitchen of Hungry Bee Catering.
Each chef had their own individual station, and at this time of day, most of them looked like a natural disaster had occurred at Williams Sonoma.
Everything was chaos—pots and pans and utensils scattered on countertops and in sinks, the scent of myriad spices filling the air, and the easy chatter between the cooks.
I’d just cleaned my station and was loading up the food for delivery. At the station to my right, my best friend and fellow cook, Violet, was still putting the finishing touches on her meals while she recounted her blind date from the night before.
“…he ordered steak and lobster, and two bottles of wine,” Vi said, waving a spatula.
“A total cliché, but whatever. And then, when the bill came, he patted down all his pockets, making a big show of looking for his wallet—which he didn’t find, by the way.
After letting me cover the whole thing, he trailed me to the parking lot, where he had the nerve to come in for a kiss.
I mean, I did my hair for this date. I even put on a bra for this date. ”
I stopped in the middle of boxing up the food and slid her a look. “Is he still alive? Do you need help burying the body?”
“Eh, it wasn’t worth jail time. I told him the only thing he could kiss was my ass. But definitely worst date of all time.”
“And yet you keep bugging me to join a dating app.”
Renee, who was Hungry Bee’s bookkeeper and Vi’s sister, stopped on her way through the kitchen.
Unlike us cooks, who were all dressed in black pants, white tops, and aprons if we were cooking, Renee wore a fitted maxi dress that I couldn’t have pulled off for a dozen reasons, not the least of which was because I was five foot four—if I had shoes on and stretched my neck.
“My sister wants everyone to join a dating app,” Renee said. “Even though I keep telling her I do not want to meet the woman of my dreams online.”
“Well, how else are you going to meet her in a small, one-bar town like Star Falls?” Vi asked, hands on hips.
“Right now I prefer TV and books anyway.” Renee eyed their stations hungrily. She liked to pop by just after we loaded up, in case there was something good left over. Today she nabbed the sole mini quiche left on Vi’s stovetop.
“Well, one of you has to get a life,” Vi said, transferring her dirty pots and pans to her sink. “I need to hear someone else’s horror stories for a change.”
“Hard pass,” I said. “Been there, done that, zero stars, do not recommend.”
“What if you’re missing out on finding The One?”
This made me laugh. “I’ve got better odds of flying to the moon.”
Renee pointed to her own nose and nodded sagely.
“You’ll get lonely,” Vi said.
“I’ve got a vibrator and excellent batteries,” Renee said. “Way cheaper than dating.”
We were all still laughing when a voice broke into our amusement. An icy voice that belonged to our boss, Kiera Anderson. “Am I paying you all to sit around and reminisce?”
Vi, her back to Kiera, went wide-eyed, looking like maybe she’d swallowed her tongue.
Renee squeaked and rushed back to her office.
I gulped. I needed this job, badly. I loved Star Falls, a charming, quirky little town that was like The Little Engine That Could, serving local winery and ranching communities, along with river and beach tourism.
But as far as my particular skill set went, unless I wanted to make the two-hour commute to San Francisco every day, Hungry Bee was what I had to work with for now.
“We were just heading out,” I said, smiling at the petite brunette dynamo who had zero tolerance for bullshit of any kind.
I used to be good at the whole smiling thing, but I was clearly out of practice because Kiera didn’t look impressed. Instead, she scanned our counters, frowning at Vi’s—who hadn’t yet cleaned.
“Our clients do not want to hear excuses. Nor do they pay us to be late. Get moving.”
Vi and I scattered like mice.
My heart was still pounding as I headed outside and loaded up the Hungry Bee van. My first client of the day was Colburn Restorations, specialists in high-end renovations of historical buildings far and wide. Ryder was the CEO.
Oh, and fun fact, also Kiera’s brother.
Twice a week I cooked three days’ worth of food and stocked the staff kitchen for his employees. I could only hope Ryder wasn’t here after this morning’s nipple-gate.
And it wasn’t just that. We’d had an actual conversation. Sort of. And there in that dark hallway, before even the crack of dawn, something had happened. I wasn’t sure what exactly, but there’d been a dark, alluring spark. Dark being the key word because I didn’t want to be allured.
I had one need—financial security so I could take care of Grandma and Wyatt. Okay, make that two needs, because I also could use a nap. Driving these needs were my fears—failing my family, and (this one I kept buried deep) that I’d never free up my heart and soul enough to find a life for myself.
So I should be immune to such a thing as a hot guy, darkly alluring or otherwise. Theoretically…
Shaking my head at myself, I loaded up and got on the road, giving in to my favorite pastime—overthinking.
I liked to stick with my strengths. At least the scenery was incredible.
Rolling green hills, a tapestry of wild grass dotted with colorful wildflowers and cypress trees, their dark forms stark against a stunning azure sky.
Beyond the fields, the Pacific Coast unfolded dramatically, the rugged cliffs sculpted by the crashing waves.
The only thing that could top off this view would be this view and pancakes.
At this time of day, I rarely hit traffic, but of course today, a train was stalled on the tracks and I started sweating the tardiness and what Kiera would say if she found out.
And she would. Kiera always knew everything.
Fifteen minutes later, which felt like fifteen years, I turned onto Star Falls Drive.
The main drag welcomed me with a charming combination of Victorian, Craftsman, and American Colonial Revival architecture that housed an eclectic mix of local specialty shops selling everything from wine and baked goods to handmade candy and jewelry.
Colburn Restorations had parking in the back of the building, but for ease of unloading, I usually pulled up at the front curb by the main entrance.
The only available spot was across the street on a blind turn, and at this time of morning, with the sun beginning to peek over the trees, it could slant right into the windshield, making it impossible to see past the glare.
But late was late, so I rushed to load my cart then tried to jog across the street, but of course two of the wheels decided this was the morning to fight me. Every few feet, I had to stop and kick a wheel back into place.
“Come on, come on,” I muttered.
The story of my life. My epitaph would probably read: She Was In A Hurry.
A horn blasted, and I looked up to see a truck barreling right for me. Before I could so much as open my mouth to scream, someone plowed into me, sending me flying out of the way.
Brakes squealed as I fell to my hands and knees. My savior hit the ground right next to me, but was up in a flash, scooping me up, dragging the both of us to the sidewalk as the truck finally skidded to a halt—right where I’d been standing.
Craning my neck, I stared at the man who’d just saved my life.
Ryder Colburn, mouth dialed to grim, eyes dark with anger.
Reflex had me shrinking back, and he stilled, lifting his hands as if to say I come in peace.
His fury wasn’t directed at me, I realized, but at what had nearly happened.
Knees suddenly wobbly, I sat down hard on the sidewalk.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice a low, rough rumble.
Was I? I had no idea, but I nodded and made to get up. Because that was what I did when I got knocked down. I got back up. Always.
But Ryder crouched at my side, balanced on the balls of his expensively shoed feet. “Give yourself a minute.”
“I’m fine.” My eyes locked on a faint scar slashing through his right eyebrow. I opened my mouth to ask about it, but running footsteps came from the truck, and then the driver stared down at me in dismay and dread.
“ Oh my God, lady, are you okay? ”
“You nearly fucking killed her.” Ryder’s voice was quiet, deathly quiet, but also still deeply furious. And yet no yelling, no sense of a temper out of control…
The driver swallowed hard, still staring at me. “I didn’t see—the sun slanted right into the windshield, blinding me.” Pale, he swallowed. “You came out of nowhere. You all right?”
I took mental inventory and found everything to be attached. That had to be a good sign.
“You need an ambulance?” he asked. “A doctor?”
“No,” I said quickly. My insurance was crap. The out-of-pocket expense alone would kill me. “I’m fine.”
Ryder gestured the driver back a step from me, then met my gaze, voice quiet steel when he asked, “Do you hurt anywhere?”
Only my pride . “No.”
Nodding, he held out a hand, giving me the choice to take it or not. Seeing as my knees were knocking, I put my hand in his.
His touch was shockingly gentle as he helped me up. “ Take a minute.”
“Really, I’m good.” I drew a breath, then gasped in horror. The food! I whirled to find my cart on its side like roadkill, the boxes spread across the asphalt. “Oh my God. Kiera’s going to kill me.”
“This wasn’t your fault.” Ryder slid the truck driver a look, and the poor guy blanched, then pulled out a business card and thrust it at me.
“Call me if you need anything.”
Ryder was already at my cart, righting it with an easy show of strength, before helping me gather the fallen boxes. A handful of employees had rushed out of the building to help. I knew them by name, and by their favorite foods.