Chapter 2 Rachel #2
“Excellent!” Jay exclaims. “I was hoping you’d say that. Actually, my friend is here tonight,” Jay continues, “Come with me and I’ll introduce you to Luke and his wife, Marley, who’ll be running the restaurant.”
Jay leads me out of his office and back into the crowded bar. We skirt around the dance floor to approach a man in a wheelchair with a woman perched on his lap. They are sitting next to an empty booth.
The couple appears to be deeply in love.
I’m a little taken aback at their PDA, but to each their own, I suppose.
Who’s to say I might not be into PDA if I had someone to display affection with.
Rosco’s face pops into my mind. I stifle a snort, like that’s ever going to happen.
He’s likely already forgotten all about me.
I’m not the kind of woman to attract a man like him.
I focus on the couple. The man is quite handsome with short, black hair. He has a full beard and mustache, neatly trimmed. His upper body is muscular. His biceps bulging against his shirt sleeves. There is a familiarity to him that I can’t quite place.
The woman has long, wavy, brown hair. She has a heart-shaped face and a bright smile as the man whispers something to her causing her to blush profusely.
She has curves for days. I envy her beauty.
I’ve struggled to maintain a healthy weight.
The strain of caring for my brothers while on the run has not been conducive to keeping an hour glass figure.
I’ve been eating too much take out and not getting regular exercise in the last few weeks during the move.
Just another item to add to my ‘to do’ list.
“Hey, Luke,” Jay speaks loudly to be heard over the music and noise of the bar. The man and woman smile up at Jay.
“Jay!” the woman calls, “How are you tonight?”
“I’m good,” Jay answers. “I hear there’s lots to be celebrating this evening.” The woman’s face is practically glowing as her smile widens even more.
“Hey, Jay,” the man joins in, shaking Jay’s hand. “There sure is. I’m going to be a father! And Bo and Shelby are engaged and expecting a baby, too!”
“So I heard.” Jay is grinning as he slaps the man on the shoulder, giving it a squeeze. He leans down for a hug from the woman, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m so happy for you both.” He stands then and turns to urge me to step forward.
“I heard about your plans to open a restaurant. I have this young lady who applied to work for me, but I don’t have any openings at present.
She has a really impressive resume, and I thought you might be interested.
Luke, Marley, this is Rachel Miller. Rachel, this is Luke and Marley Robertson.
” I inch closer, holding out my hand to shake both Luke’s and Marley’s hands.
Wait! Robertson? Wasn’t that the hottie’s last name, too? What are the odds?
As if I conjured him by thinking about him, Rosco is suddenly at my back. His scent hits me, and I can feel the heat of his body behind me.
“What’s going on?” Rosco inquires over my shoulder.
His deep voice vibrates through me like a base drum at a rock ‘n roll concert. It causes more highly inappropriate thoughts and reactions to occur. I’m going to need a moment to get my reaction under control.
I don’t want to ruin this unexpected opportunity.
“Jay was just introducing us to this lovely lady, Rachel Miller,” Marley proclaims. “We are thinking of hiring her for the restaurant and catering business. Rachel meet Rosco, Luke’s brother.”
“Rachel and I have met,” Rosco rumbles. Just like the first time, I can’t hold in the shiver his voice saying my name causes to run through me. “You are looking for work?” He moves to my side giving me a questioning look.
“Yes, I’ve recently moved to the area,” I finally manage to get out without sounding breathless.
I turn to the Robertson couple. “I have a vast experience in the restaurant industry. I’ve worked as a waitress, a hostess, and restaurant manager.
I’m also handy in the kitchen. I have experience as a chef, both pastry and sous.
I’m sorry I don’t have another copy of my resume with me at the moment, but I can get you one. ”
I don’t want to appear to be too eager, but even I can tell I sound desperate. My resume is solid. I have worked in all those positions over the years, just not as Rachel Miller, though I have that covered.
I’m not only skilled in cooking and all things restaurant related, but I’m very skilled with computers. Not to toot my own horn, but I’ve managed to stay at least one step ahead of the demons chasing me and my brothers by manipulating a few online details.
“I can forward the one I have,” Mr. Gordon offers, helpfully.
“Thank you, Jay.” Marley smiles up at the man, “That would be wonderful. Please, Rachel, have a seat.” Marley gestures to a space at the booth next to them.
I take a seat. Rosco follows and slides onto the booth seat next to me, pinning me between the wall and his hard body.
Two men slide into the seats across from us.
The first guy is scary looking. He is literally covered in tattoos, including his bald head.
I try not to stare, but damn, it’s hard not to.
The other man is one of the guys, who’d hit on me when I first arrived.
Awkward! I hadn’t been the kindest when I’d declined his offer to give me a night I’d never forget.
I suppose that’s just what this is, because I’m not sure I’ll ever forget how this night has gone so far.
In my defense, he had been the third guy in a row to attempt to pick me up.
By that time, my patience had reached zero.
“Dalton, Kelvin, I like you to meet Rachel,” Marley introduces me.
“Rachel this is Dalton and Kelvin. They are friends of the family and work at Luke’s security company along with Rosco and Luke’s other two brothers, Bo and Enos.
” She glances around the bar. “They are here somewhere. I’m sure you’ll meet them in a few minutes. ”
I nod and smile at the men, even the one who’s blushing profusely, likely remembering our first meeting a few minutes ago.
“Hi, Rachel,” Kelvin, the guy who’d hit on me, speaks. “Sorry about earlier, but you can’t blame a guy for trying, right?” I quirk a brow, because, yeah, I can blame a guy, but I’ll let it go. I really need this job.
“It’s nice to meet you, Rachel,” Dalton, the tattooed guy joins in, rising to stand in the booth while reaching across the table to shake my hand. “Ignore him.” He gestures toward Kelvin. "He doesn’t have any social skills.”
Kelvin shoots him a dirty look while apparently kicking Dalton under the table if the jerking of both their bodies and the grunt from Dalton are anything to go by. Dalton glares at Kelvin before turning back to me with a grin.
“I rest my case.” I can’t keep from giggling at the men and their interactions. I take Dalton’s hand, again noting there isn’t any tingling or gooseflesh rising at the contact. Dalton sits back down beside Kelvin.
“Oh, Kelvin!” Marley exclaims. “You didn’t hit on her, did you?” Kelvin’s gaze darts to Marley. His expression reveals his guilt while shrugging his shoulders without replying. His eyes drop to stare at the table.
“Good Lord! Please don’t tell me you are trying to take Bo’s place, now that he’s settled down?”
“Who’s taking my place?” a deep male voice demands from just behind us. Glancing over my shoulder, I see a man as tall, dark, and handsome as Rosco standing near our table. He has his arm around a very beautiful, curvy, blonde who is tucked into his side.
“Kelvin,” Marley grumbles to the newcomers. “It seems he’s vying to be the new playboy of the group.”
“I am not!” Kelvin denies, vehemently. “It’s not like I asked her to go back to my place for the night.”
I raise an eyebrow at him, because while he might not have said those exact words, I knew what he was hoping to have happen if I’d taken up his offer to ‘have a night I’d never forget’.
He glances at me briefly with concern. I have no intentions of calling him out.
I’m not interested in continuing this conversation.
I want to get on with the interview and secure the job.
I need to get back to my brothers. They are seventeen years old, so they’re old enough to be left alone, but they tend to cause havoc if left to their own devices too long.
“We all know you would have gotten around to it.” The newcomer chuckles at his comment. The blonde with him, gives him a playful swat on the arm.
“Don’t embarrass him more than he already is,” she scolds, rolling her eyes as she shares a look with Marley. “What are we going to do with these guys? It’s impossible to keep them all on the straight and narrow.” Marley laughs, and the men grumble at the woman’s comment. I’m at a complete loss.
“Oh, Bo, Shelby, meet Rachel Miller,” Marley introduces me to the couple. “Rachel, this is another of Luke’s brothers, Bo and his fiancée, Shelby Brooks. We are here celebrating their engagement.”
“Congratulations,” I say to the couple, nodding to each one. “It’s nice to meet you both.” Bo pulls up a couple of chairs, and they join us at the booth. This has to be the strangest job interview I’ve ever had.
“So Rachel you were saying you just moved to the area?” Marley questions. I nod. “How long have you been here, and what brought you to the area?”
Debating how much to disclose, I decide a little truth is usually the best option.
I can’t tell them the real reason I’m here or where we originally came from.
No matter how nice these people seem to be, I can’t let anyone know my real identity.
It’s just too dangerous, not only for me, but for my brothers, too.
“I moved here about two weeks ago,” I answer her first question.
“As for the reason, I used to come here with my mother as a child. Some of my fondest memories are of the vacations she and I took before…she passed away five years ago. I guess being here makes me feel closer to her.” Marley gives me a warm smile.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Marley conveys sincerity in her voice. “I can’t imagine not having my mom, even though I don’t see her as often as I’d like.”
“How are you liking Virginia Beach so far?” Shelby jumps into the conversation, seeming to sense my sadness and wanting to change the subject to ease my discomfort. “I recently moved here myself.” She smiles with deep affection at Bo, who leans closer to kiss her temple.
“It’s very nice,” I admit. “I’m still getting used to the area, but everything has been good, so far. I’m anxious to find work so we can get into a routine.”
“We?” Rosco asks from beside me. I’ve gotten so involved in the conversation I’ve managed to dismiss the man beside me. I turn to him startled to see the expression on his face. Is that jealousy? Surely not.
“Yes,” I reply, “I’m raising my twin brothers. I became their guardian when mom died.” Rosco’s tense posture relaxes. I refuse to believe it has anything to do with what I just said. I turn back to Marley and Luke.
“I’d love to sit and chat all night, because I rarely have the opportunity to have adult conversations, but I can’t stay, too long. Although they are nearly grown, at seventeen, if I leave them alone for too long, I might have to buy a no longer usable hotel.”
“Oh! Are they that bad?” Shelby questions, concern lacing her voice. I giggle at the dire expression on her face.
“No,” I assure her with a smile, “but boys will be boys, and my brothers can get very creative when they’re bored and motivated. They both have an affinity for the sciences and love to play pranks on me.
“They once booby trapped our front door. When I came home from work and opened the door, I got soaked with syrup and covered in feathers. The mechanics of it were impressive, but I was hard pressed to be proud of their skill. I had a hard time getting all the syrup out of my hair and it took them forever to clean up the mess.”
“Good Lord!” Marley exclaims, laughing. “That sounds like something these guys would do!” I look around at the men seated around the table with a raised eyebrow.
Marley, noticing my expression, elaborates.
“I know they look like grown men, but they act more like children half the time. Constantly playing pranks on one another. It’s all Shelby and I can do to keep them in line.
” Her eyes dart to the man next to me. “Isn’t that right, Rosco? ”