Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
RACHEL
“You did great.” Paige flashes a reassuring smile at me.
We just got through working for almost three hours straight at the window, taking orders and ringing up customers, and while I was nervous as crap, I was also feeling pretty confident with the register system since it’s the same one at the ice cream counter.
I just needed to find all the various items we have on the menu, which took me extra time and slowed me down.
The line was a mix of locals and vacationers, and traffic was steady, never letting up until around two thirty.
“Thank you.” I’m exhausted, but in a different way than when I work the ice cream counter. This is more of a mental tiredness than anything else, always needing to be “on” and smiling as I deal with customers. It’s a lot. “It’s only going to get worse, huh?”
“Afraid so. Next week will be extremely busy. That’s why I thought this week would be better to train you. Ready to take a break?”
“Please.” I did take a fifteen-minute break earlier, but I was back at the window within ten because orders started to back up. No one had to point that out to me either. I realized it on my own.
Not that I deserve a medal for doing that, but I’m realizing I don’t mind hard work. There’s a satisfaction in it that I’ve never had before, and I’m never bored like I used to be. Would I still kill for an afternoon lounging by the pool and doomscrolling social media? Sometimes.
What sounds even better? Hanging out by the lake and enjoying the sunshine for a few blissful, quiet hours.
I clock out for my lunch break and nearly run into Nate McKinney, who is currently holding Dottie’s hand and wearing a shit-eating grin on his face.
He has that smile almost every time I run into him, which makes me feel like he’s extra mischievous.
A bit of a troublemaker. The complete opposite of his older brother.
Hmm. If Nate has Dottie with him, does that mean Wyatt is here too?
“Hey, Rachel.” Nate’s smile turns up a few watts, and I can see why Paige is completely into him. He’s aggressively handsome, just like his brother. “We thought you’d be at the ice cream counter.”
“I got promoted. Working the order window today.” I wave a hand in the direction of said window, where Paige is currently. “Paige is training me.”
Nate’s smile widens, if that’s possible. “Congrats on the promotion. You’ll be running this place by the end of the summer.”
A laugh escapes me. That’s completely unimaginable. “I doubt that, but we’ll see.”
“Been busy today? I know the ice cream counter is.”
“It’s been steady, yeah. Paige warned me it’ll only get worse next week.”
“She’s right. The tourists come for July and stay through Labor Day.” His brows lift. “Are you staying through Labor Day?”
“Oh. I-I don’t know.” My stomach drops at Nate’s question. How long will I actually stay here? I have no clue. A few weeks ago, I was ready to pack it up and run back home with my tail tucked between my legs, readily agreeing with my father that he was right: I had no clue how to live on my own.
But why would I leave now? Things are just getting good around here. I like working at Mitchell’s, and I’m having the best time with Paige. Plus, I want to see where things go with Wyatt. And speaking of Wyatt . . .
“Is your brother here?” I try to sound as nonchalant as possible, but Nate sees right through me.
“Oh, he’s here.” He pauses. “Looking for you.”
My heart starts to beat a little faster, and it takes everything I’ve got not to ditch Nate and go in search of him. “Where is he?”
“In line at the ice cream counter.”
“He’s getting me an ice cream,” Dottie adds.
I smile and kneel down so I can get on her level. Kids seem to like that. “Are you wanting bubblegum again?”
She slowly shakes her head, sticking her lower lip out. “Daddy says I can’t have bubblegum.”
Oh, that’s right. He doesn’t like Dottie treating his house like a trash can by leaving her chewed-up gum everywhere. I get it. That’s gross. “What about cotton-candy ice cream then?”
Dottie’s eyes light up at the suggestion. “What color is it?”
“A swirl of pink and blue.”
Her eyes get even wider. “Is it good?”
“It’s absolutely delicious.” I nod. I’ve only tasted a sample, and it was extremely sweet. “I think you’d love it.”
“I want it!” Dottie glances up at Nate. “We should go tell Daddy.”
“Why don’t you two go and tell your daddy, hmm?” The look Nate sends my way has me rolling my eyes, but I take Dottie’s hand and head over to the line in front of the ice cream counter. It seems to have shrunk a little, and Wyatt’s almost to the glass case to make his order.
The moment he catches my eyes, I witness the transformation of his face—how happy he is to see me—and my giddy heart responds.
I can feel a giant smile stretch my mouth wide, and I don’t bother holding back.
I wave at him as we approach, trying to calm myself so I don’t sound too high-pitched, like I can get when I’m excited.
“Hey.” I’m playing it cool, despite the way I’m grinning at him.
“Hi.” Wyatt’s gaze shifts to Dottie. “Where’s your uncle?”
“I don’t know, but Rachel told me they have cotton-candy ice cream now. Can I get it? It’s pink and blue,” Dottie says.
“You can get it. Sounds like the perfect alternative.” He looks back at me. “You’re not working your usual spot.”
I love that he noticed. “Paige put me at the window today. I took everyone’s lunch order like a pro.”
“That sounds like a promotion.”
“I think it might be.”
“Congratulations.” His gaze remains steady on me, his smile faint.
“Thank you.” My cheeks heat, and I don’t know why.
Maybe it’s the way he just said that, like he’s proud of me.
I never feel like anyone is proud of me, least of all my family.
I’m the screwup, the dumb heiress who wants to marry for money so she doesn’t have to ask her father for it anymore.
The girl who’ll never amount to anything except for her looks.
She’ll be a great wife and mother someday.
And while there is nothing wrong with being a wife and mother—and if that’s what a woman wants, then that’s what she should do—but I was never given the opportunity to try for anything bigger.
Better. I feel like I amounted to what they expected from me, and then my parents—my father—ended up disappointed anyway. Totally unfair.
This man, though? The way he’s looking at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen? Who genuinely seems proud of me and wants me to do better? I could get used to this.
Used to him.
“Doing anything to celebrate?” Wyatt asks.
“Umm . . .”
He steps closer, dipping his head so his mouth is at my ear. “Want to go to dinner? Tonight? Just the two of us?”
“Can you?” I ask when he pulls away from me the slightest bit. I realize Dottie has let go of my hand, and she’s got her face plastered to the glass case, in search of that cotton-candy ice cream, no doubt. “Get away, that is.”
“I can manage it.”
I love his confidence. His strength. There is no real hesitation with this man. He just does what he wants, and damn the consequences. Though he always has to consider his child, and he does. I can see that.
There are so many facets to Wyatt—ones I don’t know about yet but want to explore. If we go out to dinner, just the two of us, that means I have him all to myself for hours and can question him. I want to know more. I want to know everything.
“Okay,” I finally say.
“That’s a yes?”
I nod. “Definitely.”
“What time do you get off work?”
“Six.”
“How much time do you need to get ready?”
His faint eagerness is appealing. He’s not playing games. This man knows what he wants, and he wants . . .
Me.
“Oh gosh, at least an hour. We won’t even get back to Paige’s until around six thirty.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven forty-five. Does that work?”
“Definitely.” I’m smiling again. So hard, my cheeks hurt.
“Paige gave me your number. I hope that was okay.”
“Of course it’s okay.” I think of how aggravated I was when he texted her earlier, and now I don’t care. He’s taking me out to dinner.
On a date.
“Good. I’ll text you when I’m on my way.”
“Daddy! It’s our turn!” Dottie yells.
His smile turns rueful. “Duty calls.”
“More like Dottie calls, but yeah. I’ll see you later tonight.”
I turn and walk away, though I can feel him watching me.
Can hear Dottie calling him again, annoyed that he’s not paying attention.
I’m not wearing anything special at the moment.
A blue Mitchell’s T-shirt, the one that all employees have to wear, though they come in a variety of colors, and a pair of khaki shorts I found buried deep in the suitcase I brought with me.
My skin hums, sensing his eyes on me, and I cast a quick look over my shoulder to find he is very much still watching me.
Not even bothering to turn away when he gets caught. Instead, he smiles.
I feel that smile all the way to my toes.