Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Miles
I was working in the back when I heard the front door open, and a woman called out.
I put the hammer down, wiped my hands on my jeans, and headed up front.
It wasn’t unusual to have people stopping by due to the ads we had posted for different jobs we needed to be filled, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to see the person standing in the empty room before me.
Her back was turned away from me as she scanned the room, but I immediately recognized the hourglass figure and curves of her hips that I had gripped and held onto the night we fucked at Ambrosia.
Her hair was longer, the dark curls touching the middle of her back, and her skin slightly tanned from the Texas skies.
“Can I help you?” I asked, catching her off guard as she spun around and looked startled to see me.
She blinked several times as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, slowly stepping toward me while avoiding the debris that still needed to be swept up.
“I work here.” I spread my feet apart and folded my arms over my chest, not missing the way her eyes traveled over my biceps as my t-shirt pulled snugly against me. “What are you doing here?”
She frowned and looked around as if trying to find something.
“I came to apply for a job. My friend gave me this address and said they were looking for an executive chef. I’m not sure I’m in the right place; I couldn’t find a sign outside.”
I felt the corners of my lips tug up into a smile.
“You’re in the right place,” I assured her.
She studied me nervously.
“So, why are you looking for a job?” I asked, desperate to hear her say that she was back for good.
“Things didn’t work out the way I wanted them to in San Antonio.”
We stepped closer to each other, the pull between us too strong to ignore.
“You didn’t like it out there?”
She shook her head and wiped away a tear.
“It was horrible. They were mean to me. I didn’t fit in,” she shuddered a breath. “And there was something really big that I was missing there.”
“What’s that?” I asked, gently brushing her tears away with my thumb.
“You.”
She closed her eyes and cried harder as I pulled her into my chest and held her.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she sobbed.
“I’ve missed you too. More than you could ever know.”
She clung to me for a few minutes before pulling away and wiping her face.
“How could you not tell me that you closed the food truck?” she blurted out with a frown.
I chuckled and then reached for her hand.
“Because I wanted to surprise you with this when it’s ready.”
She took my hand and allowed me to walk her through the empty space.
“I decided to close it down because I needed the funds from selling it to get this place up and going.”
“What is it?”
“It’s Miles High Food Club on steroids,” I laughed and squeezed her hand.
“I can see that, this place is massive!”
“It’s been abandoned for a few years, but when I saw it, I knew this was what I wanted.
What I needed. Even though the food truck will officially be shut down, this will take its place.
Same food, same culture, just a bigger space to serve more people.
Those who need some help but might not be able to ask for it. People like my dad before he died.”
Her eyes filled with tears again.
“Shh, it’s okay,” I whispered and hugged her again.
“I wasn’t able to save him, but I’ll continue to honor him every day by helping those like him.
My dad lived on the streets for years and refused to get help.
I found Darryl in need of help, and when he accepted it, I felt this energy rush through me and knew that this was what I was called to do in life. ”
“That’s beautiful. I’m so proud of you.”
“You’re beautiful.” I pulled her closer and kissed her lips, missing the way my body felt next to hers.
“So, are you still looking for an executive chef?” she asked when we finally came up for air.
I laughed, knowing that Jamie had been the one to tell her that I was looking for one. Miles High wasn’t really the kind of place that needed an executive chef, just a few people who knew how to cook without catching the place on fire.
“Do you know someone who’s interested?” I arched an eyebrow.
“Maybe. But it depends on the benefits package.”
I felt her hand slip down and grab my cock through my jeans.
“Oh, trust me, the package is quite impressive.”
She giggled as I tickled her sides.