Chapter One #2
Around them, gas lights flickered in wall sconces, and battery-operated candles glowed in centerpieces. A sleek black bar extended from the building on one side. The staff wore matching white dress shirts, black bow ties, and suspenders or fitted black vests.
Mona placed the menus onto a low table surrounded by equally low bench seats and waited while the group sat. “I’ll give you a few minutes to acclimate yourselves, peruse the options, and enjoy the scenery.”
Tessa watched them stride away, wishing for half their confidence on heels that high.
Hallie gave a soft whistle as she took in the surroundings. “This is incredible. Packed on a Monday night. Nice choice, Kate.”
Kate’s lips pinched into a tiny grin. “Where do you think the boss is?”
“I’m jealous I didn’t pick this place,” Hallie continued, uninterested in the source of their free drink, and pulled a menu onto her lap. “If the food is half as good as the atmosphere, you’ll have to take over as our location selector on a permanent basis.”
Kate stacked and arranged items on the table, then snapped a photo.
“Not going to happen,” she told Hallie. “You are the chef and resident foodie. I just wanted to get a look at this place before the Influencers Ball.” She opened a leather-bound menu and removed a sprig of dried flowers from a bud vase, then arranged it on the page.
A few adjustments to the votive candle, and she snapped another photo before returning everything to its original position.
“I already bought my dress for the ball. Six months ago. I’m relieved to say the look is perfect for the venue. I better get an invite.”
Hallie thumbed through her menu. “Why can’t I work here instead of Roll with It?”
Kate fixed her with narrowed eyes. “I think the better question is, Why don’t you apply?”
“Because I’m destined to retire from a café where every order literally has a roll with it.”
Tessa crossed her legs at the ankles. Hallie would fit in someplace like this far better than she did at the café she’d worked at since college. “Why don’t you apply?” Tessa asked. “You’re an excellent chef with fifteen years of restaurant experience. You’d be an asset anywhere.”
Hallie closed her menu and set it aside. “If they make a decent dirty soda, I’ll call Quinn and quit before the food arrives.”
Tessa highly doubted that. Hallie’s boss, Quinn, was a middle-aged tyrant who liked to subtly harass and berate Hallie when he wasn’t busy kicking puppies. She pulled a novel from her bag and set it on the table. “Have you guys read this?”
Kate cocked her head, reading the cover as she retrieved her e-reader from the clutch at her side. “No. Is it good?”
“Yes.” Tessa nodded. “I know dystopian isn’t your favorite genre, but you have to try it. The heroine begins as a slave and fights her way to freedom, ultimately partnering with a man of influence, who stands with her as she leads a rebellion to free the other women.”
Hallie leaned forward. “A story of women rising to power in a male-dominated world? Wild that it’s packaged as dystopian instead of nightly news.”
“I picked a rom-com,” Kate said, turning the screen of her device to face them. An adorable cartoon-style couple smiled at one another as they walked hand in hand.
“I think I know that one,” Hallie said. “They’re making a movie for Netflix.”
Kate clutched the device to her chest. “I would love that. I wish everyone online wasn’t so obsessed with true crime documentaries right now. I can’t participate in the weekly What Are You Reading Wednesday posts until the trend changes.”
“Or,” Hallie said, “you could try a true crime novel.”
Kate’s expression flattened. “I’m not giving myself nightmares over this.”
Hallie shrugged.
Tessa lifted her chin toward the hardcover Hallie put face down on the table. “What are you reading?”
Hallie grinned. She flipped the book to reveal a glossy black-on-matte-black image of a shirtless man wearing an animal mask with horns. The woman in his clutches appeared bewildered but eager.
Kate grimaced. “I can’t tell if she’s his lover or his prey.”
Hallie sank back in her seat, arms splayed wide. “Both.”
An unexpected laugh burst from Tessa’s lips. “Well, all right then. Maybe I should read that one next.”
“Probably,” Hallie said. “When the fun dries up in reality, fiction will never let you down.”
“So has the fun dried up?” Tessa teased. “Bryce still working late every night?”
Hallie slumped forward. “Yeah. His dad insists the team see him putting in the time. He’ll inherit the company either way, but blatant nepotism is a bad look and terrible for morale.”
Kate closed her e-reader and returned it to her bag. “There’s a fine line in family businesses. Respect is important.”
“I guess,” Hallie said. She turned a pensive expression on Tessa. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“You’ve been married before,” Hallie said.
Tessa’s lips turned down in distaste. She’d married her college sweetheart, then divorced him within a year. The courtship lasted three times the length of the marriage. It wasn’t her greatest achievement. “Yet I only think about it when you bring it up.”
“How did you know when the spark died?” Hallie asked.
“I think once you ask that question, the moment has already come,” she admitted. “That’s why I’ll never center my life around a man again. It’s my life. What could a guy possibly add to it?”
“Sex,” Hallie said.
Tessa hiked a brow and pointed to the book between them. Hadn’t Hallie just implied she and Bryce were bored in bed?
Kate scoffed. “You’re both awful. Having a partner is more than just convenient hot sex. How about joy?” she asked. “Or companionship and friendship? Not to mention someone to help shoulder your burdens.”
Tessa frowned. “You guys already do that for me. Besides, I have excellent shoulders. Broad. Strong.” She patted one as if in proof. “Having a husband doesn’t guarantee he’ll do anything to make life easier.” She’d learned that quickly and bailed. “Statistically, the opposite is true.”
Kate sighed. “Well, I think we all have a life partner out there somewhere, and I’d like to find mine.”
Mona returned to take drink orders before Tessa could ask about Kate’s most recent invitation to coffee. She dated actively and consistently, always on the hunt for true love. Tessa hoped, for Kate’s sake, she’d find a guy worth her time soon.
“That’s one French 75,” Mona recounted, pointing first at Kate, then to Hallie and Tessa. “A dirty soda with coconut syrup and lime, and one champagne cocktail, on the house.”
“Can we also put in an order for some appetizers?” Hallie asked. She didn’t wait for an answer. “Bacon-wrapped figs, sweet-and-spicy crostini, and the caprese bruschetta.”
Mona tipped an appreciative nod in Hallie’s direction. “You won’t be disappointed.” Then, they turned and left.
Kate watched Hallie, a contemplative expression on her face. “I’m sure the spark will come back,” she said. “The pressure from your future mother-in-law to pull off a perfect wedding must be a bit of a mood killer for both of you.”
“Maybe Bryce just isn’t sparky,” Hallie suggested. “He’s a good guy, a hard worker, and he’s dedicated to his family, the company, and me. I can hardly fault him for a single shortcoming. But he is the definition of vanilla. Maybe vanilla has to be okay with me for the rest of my life.”
Kate formed her mouth into a little O. “Hallie Jean Montgomery, what on earth did you say?” She set a palm on her collarbone, cheeks red, probably searching for her proverbial Southern pearls. “You must not settle. Maybe Bryce is open to suggestions.”
“Pull up the dictionary,” Hallie said. “I’ll show you.” She pretended to search on her phone for vanilla’s definition.
Tessa laughed, feeling the tension ease from her shoulders.
“Bryce is not the Merriam-Webster definition of vanilla,” Kate said.
Hallie looked up, pensive. “Okay, then search for missionary.”
Tessa’s head fell back as she cackled.
“Pardon,” a male voice interrupted.
A man with thick sandy-brown hair and a nice smile looked down at them. He wore the same uniform as the staff, but he hadn’t come with their drinks.
Maybe this was Mona’s boss.
“I’m truly sorry to interrupt,” he continued in a lightly British accent, “but it’s been busy tonight, and I wanted to stop over before I missed my opportunity.” He cast a perfunctory look at Hallie and Tessa before his cool gray eyes returned to Kate. “You’re MC Kate?”
“Just Kate,” she said slowly, dismissing her social media handle and accentuating her natural drawl. A lifetime in the Deep South had fine-tuned the lilt. And the endless etiquette courses and cotillions had perfected her wide-eyed I-declare expression that generally brought men to their knees.
The man cleared his throat. “I’m Sam. It’s lovely to meet you. I hope it’s not too forward, but I wonder if I can take a selfie with you?”
Kate’s smile grew, and her posture straightened. “Of course.”
Hallie rose and extended an arm in Sam’s direction. “I’ve got it.”
“Thank you,” he said, passing her his cell phone.
Hallie motioned them into position, then she snapped several photos.
Sam was careful to sit close, but not too close, with one arm along the back of Kate’s seat without actually touching her.
Tessa gave him points for that. Typically, she and Hallie had to remind strangers to step back when interacting with their friend. Heaven forbid Kate set boundaries. She’d probably be murdered online for rudeness, a blacklistable offense.
Hallie returned his phone, and Sam rose to his feet with a smile.
Kate blushed.
The pause grew between them, and Hallie gave Tessa a goofy look.
Sam was the first to snap out of it. “Oh,” he said, a bit breathless. “Would you also autograph a napkin for me?”
Kate nodded, apparently still speechless.
He pulled a black drink napkin from the apron at his hips and set it on the table. Next, he produced a silver marker.
She scribbled something on the napkin.