Chapter Thirteen
“What’s got into you today?” Hayes frowned and aimed his spatula at Kelley.
Laughing, Kelley turned up the volume on the upbeat country song playing on the radio in the diner kitchen. She sashayed from the prep counter to the walk-in refrigerator and back.
“She’s been like this since I got here at opening.” Hayes flipped the hamburgers on the griddle and asked, “Did we get an espresso machine, and I missed a double shot?”
Chuckling, Frannie removed a batch of French fries and clipped the wire basket above the deep fryer for draining. “Not what, Hayes, but who.”
“Why can’t it simply be a good day?” Kelley tugged Frannie into a twirl before her little sister could blame Asher for Kelley’s sunny attitude. “There’s no rain in the forecast. It is not blistering hot for once. It’s a perfect summer day.”
Frannie took herself out of the second spin and shook French fries onto two plates. “You don’t like to be out in the summer humidity. It makes your curls frizz.”
“That’s what a cowboy hat is for,” Kelley countered and got back to sprinkling fresh bacon bits like fairy dust over a Cobb salad.
“I told you, Hayes.” Frannie waited for Hayes to slide the finished cheeseburgers onto the two plates with fries, then added them and the finished Cobb salad to her serving tray and started for the dining area. She called out cheerfully, “It’s all about a cowboy.”
Except Kelley had not seen her cowboy in two days, not that she was counting.
But she had been keeping tabs on him. Thanks to Frannie’s daily insider updates about the Blackwell happenings, Kelley knew Asher was sleeping at the stables to watch over the sick horses.
If he wasn’t in the twos’ barn, he was putting the finishing touches on the chicken coop or spearheading the parade float design or working with the pasture patrol trio.
Asher was busy. As was Kelley. Sure, he was on her mind, but that hardly meant anything. Kelley frowned at her little sister. “It’s not about a—”
“Careful, big sis.” Frannie’s joyful burst of laughter cut Kelley off. “I do believe you just might be protesting a bit too much.”
Kelley snapped her mouth closed and watched the door swing shut behind her sister. She peered at Hayes and said, “I can be in a good mood. Wear a cowboy hat. And want to enjoy my summer days without it being about a cowboy.”
Hayes hummed and nodded, then a grin appeared. “But there is a new spark to your cooking that’s been missing. And that does make it about a cowboy.”
Kelley dipped her head and concentrated on mixing up more salad dressing.
True, she was feeling more inspired in the kitchen than she had in a long while.
Ever since Asher encouraged her to ride Maple Moonlight earlier in the week.
It seemed she’d rediscovered more than her childhood passion for horseback riding that evening.
It was as if facing one fear centered her and lifted her spirits. She was ready to do rather than just consider what was next. To finally hit Submit on those résumés. To reach out to colleagues on the west coast and find that culinary hot spot where she could make her mark.
It seemed she had a cowboy to thank.
The back door opened. Sunlight streamed in.
Anticipation wove through Kelley. But the newcomer was not Asher.
Instead, Pauline breezed in; her long white sundress floated around her tall, dark brown cowboy boots.
And hot on her boss’s trail was none other than Eric Grahame, the owner of Lucky Lane Tavern.
Kelley refused to be disappointed. With her good cheer in place she greeted the new arrivals.
A quick hug and air kiss for Hayes, then Pauline followed Kelley into the small office and said, “Kelley, please tell Eric why we can’t stay here. Why we need to stretch our wings and leave town for good.”
If Kelley wanted to prove she was as good as her ex-husband, she needed a bigger culinary stage. Moving out of Gold Finch made practical career sense. Still, Kelley felt the sudden urge to argue and countered with, “Why can’t we stay here again?”
Eric leaned against the doorway to the office. A small smile filtered across the bar owner’s weathered yet distinguished face.
“Because…” Pauline said and wrapped her fingers around the amethyst heart pendant on her silver necklace as if grounding herself. “We must leave because we are following Mama T’s advice like she would have wanted us to.”
Kelley would have agreed not a month ago. It was always about leaving. Yet, now there was something about staying that was not quite as easy to dismiss.
Eric pushed his cowboy hat higher on his forehead, eyed Pauline and said, “Your mother wanted you both to be happy.”
Kelley opened the closet and took out several stacks of napkins to refill the holders before the lunch rush and considered how to maneuver around the pair. They were in a face-off and blocking Kelley’s exit.
“Mama T wanted Kelley and me to be deliriously happy.” Pauline repeated, “Deliriously.” Although she sounded anything but at the moment.
Kelley did not know about the delirious part.
That might be pushing it. But recently, she was happy.
More so than she had been in a long while.
Kelley found herself looking forward to being in the kitchen and yet she was just as eager to step out again, especially if it meant time with her cowboy.
Not that she was making this about Asher.
Kelley tried to sound helpful and upbeat.
“Hey, I want everyone to be happy, too.”
“Never mind.” Pauline’s lips were pursed and her words were low. “We’re getting off point.”
“What is the point?” Eric asked, patiently.
“I’m selling the diner,” Pauline said, her words clipped. “Once that happens, Kelley and I won’t have any reason to stay.”
Eric turned toward Kelley and said smoothly, “Kelley, I’m offering you a job at Lucky Lane. I could use someone with your culinary talent at the tavern.”
Kelley blanched. He wasn’t serious, was he? She was flattered of course. Not that she was seriously entertaining the idea, was she?
Pauline set her hands on her hips and stood her ground. “Eric, what are you doing?”
“I’m giving Kelley a reason to stay in town.” Eric’s smile remained in place yet there was something of a challenge in his gaze as if he had all day and was more than prepared to counter every one of Pauline’s arguments.
“You can’t just hire my best employee.” Pauline’s foot tapped a noisy beat on the tile floor.
“I just did. Now you both have a reason not to go. Kelley has another job. Thanks to me,” Eric said, a soft smile on his face. His amusement and affection were clear. “And you, Pauline, have—”
“Don’t say it.” Pauline’s mouth quirked up on one side. Her focus never strayed from the bar owner.
Kelley would have sworn she’d seen sparks fairly flash between the pair.
“My sister doesn’t need to work at the tavern.
” That no-nonsense comment came from Laura-Beth.
Kelley’s big sister squeezed her way around the tall bar owner and popped into the cramped office like Kelley’s protector.
Laura-Beth smoothed her hand over her slicked-back ponytail, then down over her fitted sundress as if to ensure all was in order.
“What with all the locals asking about Kelley’s catering services, I could have her calendar filled in no time. ”
“I’ve had similar inquiries,” Pauline said and frowned.
Kelley sputtered. “What have you told them?”
“Oh, me?” Laura-Beth pointed at herself and smiled at Kelley. “I invited them to the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, of course. I figured it’s a really good showcase of your food since you are cooking.”
Catering inquiries were news to Kelley. Surprising and welcome and intriguing all at the same time. But catering was supposed to be a temporary side hustle. It was not the statement-making exclamation mark Kelley warned her ex-husband to watch out for. Kelley hugged the napkins against her chest.
“We will need to update the menu now,” Laura-Beth stated, entirely unfazed. She waved her hand about the tiny room. “But not until we discuss the issue with the flowers. That’s why I’m here.”
“Well, we are not growing the diner business by offering catering services,” Pauline announced. “Given that we are selling the place.”
“On account of your whole cut-and-run-to-the-city exit plan,” Eric drawled. “I believe we’ve got that part.”
Pauline silently fumed. Kelley could spot the tell.
“What city, Pauline?” Laura-Beth perked up and added, “I’ve heard Charleston is lovely. I’ve always wanted to visit. But perhaps you were thinking someplace even larger.”
Eric shook his head. “Don’t get her started.”
Kelley did not know where to begin. Until another familiar face stepped into her view. Hello, cowboy. Kelley exhaled. Her good cheer began to expand again.
Asher shook Eric’s hand. He scanned the crowded room and asked mildly, “Am I interrupting something?”
“Asher. Perfect timing,” Pauline piped up and grinned. “Can you please tell Eric why people like us belong in the city and not here?”
Asher cast a perplexed look at Kelley.
“Pauline, you already roped Kelley into this,” Eric said, caution in his words. “Don’t go roping Kelley’s cowboy into it, too.”
Kelley’s cowboy. She should set the bar owner straight. And yet, Kelley liked the sound of that. Her gaze collided with Asher’s and stuck.
Asher raised his arms and held his palms out. “I’m just here about a possible special sandwich request. A blackberry bacon grilled cheese for Big E.”
He was not there for her. Because Asher was not Kelley’s answer.
Besides, this time around, Kelley intended to find her own reasons to leave and expand her career the way she wanted, or even to stick around, possibly.
Either way, she was not following someone else’s dreams, believing they were her own.
She already knew that was a recipe for failure.
Kelley cleared her throat and said loudly, “Out! Everyone needs to get out. Now!”