Chapter 1
Two Months Earlier
The Depot Café
Napa, California
Ella sighed, mentally stomping her foot.
She hated leaving things half done. It went against her grain.
That included having to hand off customers mid-meal.
She watched her younger sister Sophie seat them at her open table.
Then, quickly grabbing a fresh pot of coffee, Ella headed their way, determined to get them in and out as fast as possible.
She whirled and weaved her way around the counter to where the group of five guys had been seated and greeted them.
“Welcome to The Depot. Who wants coffee?”
All five of them looked up at her with bloodshot eyes, sporting the Napa morning-after look.
“For all that is holy, fill this cup and keep it coming,” one of them groaned.
The others nodded in agreement as she began filling mugs.
They sucked down the steaming black coffee like their lives depended on it.
At that moment, it probably felt like it did.
Hangovers were commonplace here. After a little grease and a little hair of the dog, these guys would be good to go for another round of winery roulette.
Giving them a knowing look, Ella asked, “Anybody here need a Bloody Mary? If so, I just need to see some ID.”
All five nodded yes as they began to fish their wallets from their back pockets.
After checking their licenses, Ella pointed to the plastic menus on the table.
“Today’s special is red chile huevos rancheros.
That comes with biscuits, breakfast potatoes, a choice of bacon or sausage, and fruit.
Take a look at the menu. I’ll be right back. ”
Walking over to the small bar area at the front of the diner, Ella handed the drink order to her father. She was not old enough to legally serve alcohol, so her father made the drinks and delivered them to the table. She headed to the kitchen to pick up another large order that was ready.
Meanwhile, across the diner, Benjamin Carrington slid into the only empty chair at the large round table with the guys and tossed a bottle of ibuprofen in the middle of it.
As the only one of the bunch not currently hanging hard, he had run over to the nearest Jefferson Market as an act of mercy.
He chuckled as all five of his best college buddies played snatch and grab with the bottle and then downed the pills as quickly as possible.
“Wow, slow down, dudes.” Ben teased. “No one is going to die from a hangover.”
Jack, who was resting his head on the table, raised up slightly and gave Ben a look that said death was definitely a possibility, before dropping his head back down with a groan.
“Have you ordered yet?” Ben could see they had managed to get coffee and the now almost empty Bloodys.
Davy shook his head. “No, we haven’t. Just ordered drinks. Our waitress will be right back.”
Brooksie, who until that moment had looked like he was at death’s door, perked up. “Dude, you missed it. The babe that seated us was super-hot. Like top shelf, smoking hot.” Pointing a finger at his friends, he added, “And, FYI, all of you turds back off. She is mine. I call dibs.”
Madison rolled his eyes. “Seriously, bro? You can’t call dibs on a woman. What are you, a sophomore calling shotgun in his buddy’s car? Have some respect.”
Ben had yet to see the woman his friends were talking about, but he agreed it was disrespectful to call dibs on a female as if she had no say in the matter.
Before he could put in his two cents on the issue, Jack sat up.
With his eyes closed and his head in his hands, Jack croaked, “Sorry, hate to break it to you, Brooksie, but I saw her first. Why would she want you when she can have me?”
“Because that woman is the future Mrs. Jefferson Brooks,” Brooksie fired back with such conviction that if Ben had not known what a player his friend was, he would have believed him.
The whole table roared with laughter. “Your future wife, really? I thought we met her last night. I distinctly remember you telling us to keep our distance from the blonde at dinner as she was your future wife,” quipped Liam.
Without missing a beat, Brooksie shrugged and very nonchalantly replied, “That girl is going to be my first wife. This girl is my forever wife. Major difference.”
All five guys once again erupted in laughter. They each took turns teasing Brooksie and Jack for their ongoing declarations of love for every woman who crossed their paths.
While Ben and his buddies were joking around, Ella was headed back into the dining room with a tray full of food for the table next to theirs.
Walking past them, she noticed that a sixth guy had joined the group.
Wonderful! Just what she needed, more customers.
She felt a wave of frustration ripple through her.
A table of six to turn and still leave on time was next level impossible.
As Ben’s friends continued to banter back and forth, he casually looked around the diner.
Suddenly his eyes landed on the stunning waitress coming toward him.
He was impressed she could carry such a large tray, which he imagined must be quite heavy for one so small.
But his focus wasn’t really on that. What really grabbed his attention was how beautiful she was.
Thin and petite with nicely tanned legs that peeked out from under her blue jean mini dress, the waitress had long, dark hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail that swished behind her as she walked.
Ben had always been a leg man, and though this girl was tiny, her legs were perfection.
Ben watched the waitress maneuver the large, cumbersome tray.
With surprising expertise for one so petite, she whipped out a stand and set down the tray with precision.
Ben was impressed with how quickly she served the table.
He was as captivated by her quick, efficient movements as he was struck by her natural beauty.
She was hands down the most gorgeous girl he had ever seen.
He literally could not take his eyes off her.
That’s why when she lost her footing and began to slip backward, he saw a crash coming.
Instantly, he sprang out of his seat and caught her before she hit the ground.
Scooping her into his arms, he pulled her close.
It took a minute for Ella to react. Adrenaline, embarrassment, and shock all rolled over her in one gigantic wave.
One minute she was falling backward, and the next she was being swept up in a stranger’s arms like a ragdoll.
Instinctively, she began to struggle to free herself, but the arms around her tightened.
“Settle. It’s okay. I’ve got you.” The stranger’s voice was smooth and reassuring.
At his words, Ella’s eyes flashed to his face.
She had every intention of demanding to be put down; however, her words died on her tongue when she locked eyes with him.
Her entire body short-circuited. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Breathing and reasoning ceased to function as well.
Instead of catapulting herself out of the stranger’s arms like any normal person would have done, Ella just lay there, staring, lost in his beautiful blue eyes.
For what felt like several seconds but could have only been a nanosecond, Ella tried to force her brain to reboot.
Though words failed her, her arms and legs still worked, and she tried unsuccessfully to wrench herself free.
Tightening his grip, Ben stilled her movements. “I said settle.” Glancing down at the nametag on her chest and then back up to her face, he gave her a sexy smile that sent her brain reeling all over again. “Ella? Right?”
Ella nodded. “Well then, Ella, it’s all good. I’ve got you.” Then, very slowly, Ben lowered Ella’s leg to the ground. Once he was sure she could stand on her own, he extended his hand in greeting. “Ben Carrington. Nice to meet you.”
Ella looked at Ben’s outstretched hand, blinked twice, then slowly placed her much smaller hand in his.
“Ella. Ella Santiago.” Her words were back, but her voice was someone else’s.
It was too weak to be hers. First-born girls are not allowed to be weak.
They have to be strong and maintain control at all times—especially older sisters with six younger siblings like Ella.
She was a master at never showing weakness and always maintaining control, though at the moment, it felt like the only thing Ella had mastered was staring into Ben’s eyes as he continued to hold her hand long after the shake ended.
Becoming aware how awkward the whole situation had become, Ella abruptly snatched back her hand.
“Please excuse me. I’ll just put this tray away and be back to take your orders,” Ella mumbled, then spun on her heels, grabbed the empty tray, and disappeared back toward the kitchen.
Watching Ella walk away, Ben assumed she was the girl his buddies had been talking about earlier.
Though he was ashamed to admit it, he wondered if Brooksie and Jack had been onto something.
If he had seen this girl first, he would have gone all Brooksie on them and called dibs on her—appropriate or not.
Watching Ella disappear into the kitchen, Ben assured himself that if anyone at this table was going to be with her, it was going to be him.