Chapter 1 Allie #2
I slam the door shut and peel out of the parking lot.
What the hell was Craig Holder doing at The Emberfield Lantern office?
And what did he mean we would be seeing more of each other?
Most importantly, what was that horrific reaction I just had to him?
I’m always the picture of control when it comes to men.
They chase me, not the other way around.
I don’t catch feelings…like ever. Okay, so maybe I had a tiny crush on Craig for the better part of a year after I first went to his restaurant, Willow & Thyme.
But his steak frites melted in my mouth, and don’t get me started on the scallop parfait.
Avocado mousse? Fucking brilliant. Not to mention the things that man can do with a shallot.
When I caught a glimpse of him in the kitchen, calling out orders to his staff, the feminism clear evaporated from my soul.
A shudder racks my body as I cruise down the main part of town. I haven’t even thought about Craig in months. I’m only having this reaction to him because I haven’t gotten any in a while. A long while. Not since…
Don’t you dare think about that.
I shake the thought away. I haven’t lost my edge.
I am a strong, confident woman, and I don’t need a man for anything.
Well, one thing. Although lately, I’ve been doing that on my own as well.
Thank God for Thor, my trusty golden silicone friend.
He has six settings and doesn’t talk back, so it’s win-win.
As I pull into my driveway and exit the car, it becomes clear that there are only two things that can make me feel better about the multiple shit shows I’ve just endured.
My best friend…and tequila.
Unfortunately, I’m out of tequila, which leads me to knock on Emory’s door. We used to live together in the cottage I rent from her father until she moved in with her fiancé, who lives next door. I knock again, but no one answers, so I grab the spare key from my purse and unlock the door.
“Hello?” I call, but it’s still silent. That is until I walk a few more steps and am met with the distinct sound of a bed thumping against the wall.
Of course. I should have guessed. Those two can’t keep their damn hands off each other.
I make myself at home, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and plopping down on the couch to look through my phone.
As I check my socials, the thumping gets louder and more urgent until there’s a muffled cry and a lot of cursing.
It’s quiet for a moment, and then a door creaks open, allowing me to hear footsteps advancing toward me.
“You should probably be more gentle,” I say. “You know, so you don’t hurt the baby.”
Luke, presumably on his way to the kitchen, spins around and nearly walks into the wall.
“Jesus, fuck, Allie.”
“What?” I ask innocently.
“You scared the shit out of me. What the hell are you doing?”
“I need to borrow a cup of tequila,” I deadpan, holding out the mug I brought for this purpose.
“Allie, that key is for emergencies.” He shakes his head before calling out to his fiancée. “Em, we have a situation.”
“This is an emergency,” I mumble as the door creaks again and my best friend, looking freshly fucked, walks into the living room. She’s about five months pregnant and has the cutest little bump. That is, if you find things like that cute, which I don’t.
“What’s wr—Allie?”
“The one and only.” I move my hand up, mimicking a half-bow.
“What are you—oh, the interview.” She looks at Luke, who is both shirtless and not amused. “I’m sorry, babe. I need to take this.”
“I figured.” He pushes a water bottle into her hand. “Remember what the doctor said. You need to stay hydrated, Em. Especially after…”
“I think we get the picture,” I interrupt. Normally, their sickeningly sweet relationship doesn’t bother me, and maybe it’s just that I haven’t been laid in months, but I can’t stomach it right now.
“Exercise,” he finishes.
Emory blushes and takes the bottle from him, but before she can turn around, he places his hands on her cheeks and fuses his mouth to hers. She stands up on her toes and deepens the kiss for a second before pulling back. “That’s all you’re getting right now, Sir,” she giggles.
“Did you just—” Luke shakes his head as he backs up out of the living room. “You made your bed for later, baby. I hope you know that,” he calls as he retreats into the bedroom.
“I sure do,” she calls back before giving me a sympathetic look. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for being happy, Em. I love seeing you this way.
” It’s not a lie. I love Emory like a sister, and she went through hell with her ex when we were in college.
If anyone deserves to be utterly blissed out with a little baby bump and a fiancé who would walk on shards of glass for her, it’s Emory.
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ll never be in her shoes.
It’s by design, of course. I call what I do dating, but it’s not really.
It’s one-night stands dressed up in pretty date-night dresses.
“How did it go?” Emory’s voice jolts me from my thoughts.
“It went.”
Her eyes flood with sympathy. “What do you need?”
“Any chance you have tequila?” I ask, holding my mug up again. “I’m fresh out.”
“No.” She takes the mug from me and sets it down on the coffee table. Her face takes on the same unamused look Luke wore a few minutes ago. They are definitely spending too much time together.
“What? Just because you’re not drinking doesn’t mean there’s no tequila in this house.”
“There’s no tequila in this house,” she repeats.
“Ugh, fine. I’ll have a beer then.”
“Allie.”
“What?”
Her face softens. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Do I look like I want to talk about it?”
“Allie,” she tries again.
“Don’t you dare pot-kettle me, Ms. Caldwell.”
“I deserve that,” she sighs as she places her hand on her belly. “I also know that holding things inside can break people…strain relationships.”
“Luckily, ours is rock-solid.” I throw in a wink for good measure, but she still doesn’t seem amused.
“Okay, fine. If you must know…I bombed the interview. I got in my head and I’m not even sure what I said. My car door got stuck, and my shoe flew off. Craig had to help me with it.”
“Wait, Craig? As in…”
“Holder, yeah.”
“He helped you with your shoe?”
“With the car door,” I clarify.
“What was Craig Holder doing at your interview?”
“He was in the parking lot after. I don’t know why he was there, but he looked good, Em. Damn good.”
Emory’s eyes light up with pure mischief, and I can’t tell if she’s about to jump up and start clapping or suggest we throw on masks and rob a bank.
“Don’t even look at me like—” I’m interrupted by my phone buzzing. I glance down at the local area code, but I don’t recognize the number. I hold a finger up to Emory and rush into the hallway to take the call.
“This is Allie,” I answer in my most professional voice.
“Ah, I’m so glad I caught you. This is Theo Aldridge. I wanted to thank you again for coming in today.”
I swallow the saliva building at the top of my throat. “Of course,” I reply. “Thank you for having me.”
“I’m going to cut to the chase here, Allie. As I said earlier, I have a few other interviews scheduled for next week, but I’d much rather cancel them and have you start on Monday.”
“You—” I try to formulate a coherent thought. “I’m sorry?”
Theo chuckles. “You made quite the impression, Allie. With your writing experience, knowledge, and passion for food, I think you would make a great addition to our team as our resident food writer. If you decide to accept the position, I’d also like to add a weekly column for you to write about the history and stories associated with various cuisines—maybe some articles about family-owned restaurants? ”
I close my gaping mouth before drool starts sliding down my chin. This was not what I was expecting when I saw this number come up on my phone.
“I’m happy to give you a day if you need to think about it,” Theo goes on. “But I’d rather not keep the other applicants waiting, so the sooner, the bet—”
“I’ll take it,” I say, cutting him off.
Theo coughs out a laugh. “Wonderful. And you can start on Monday?”
“Absolutely.”
“Splendid. I’ll have my assistant send over the paperwork this evening, and you can bring it with you then. I look forward to working with you, Allie.”
“Thank you, Theo. Same. I mean…I look forward to it as well.”
I move my hand to end the call, but Theo’s voice rings out again.
“Oh, Allie?”
“Yes?”
“How did you know?” When I don’t answer right away, he elaborates. “That I ordered dessert so my first date with my wife wouldn’t end?”
“Lucky guess,” I say as I start to pace back and forth in the hallway.
“Well, you certainly seem to have quite an understanding of the human experience. Congratulations, Allie. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Thank you. I’ll see you then.”
I end the call and run into the living room, only to be greeted by the sound of moaning.
Jesus Christ, I left them alone for five fucking minutes.
Emory’s sitting on the couch, eyes rolled to the back of her head, while Luke is on his knees in front of her.
“You have to be kidding me? Can you at least keep it in the bedroom?” I call out, and Luke pops his head up to glare at me. Emory’s eyes fly open and her cheeks turn beet red. “He’s not—”
“We’re not doing anything,” Luke finishes for her. I take a tentative step forward, moving past the couch to reveal Luke massaging Emory’s right foot from his place on the floor. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Montgomery.”
“I don’t think you can blame me, considering what was going on when I walked in earlier…”
“You mean when I was having an intimate moment with my fiancée in our private home?” he snaps back.
“I’m not sure ‘intimate moment’ is how I would describe what I heard.”
“Okay, enough, you two. Who was on the phone?” Emory asks, holding her other foot out when Luke drops the one he was massaging.
“Oh, I got the job.”
“What?” she screeches. “You didn’t lead with that?”
She attempts to jump up, but her belly slows her down, and she falls back onto the couch. Luke drops her foot again and holds his hand out to pull her up. When she’s finally standing, she rushes over and throws her arms around me.
“That’s amazing, Al.”
“Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?” I ask as I rub her back.
“It’s the hormones.” She pulls back and moves her hand in the air as if she can wave them away. “I’m just so happy for you.”
“I’m happy too, Em.”
It’s the truth. I’d be lying if I said my life has been easy, but for the first time in months, maybe even years, I feel hopeful.