Chapter 1
Elyna
Dropping Braden off with Riley’s mom, Colette Jansen, made me feel uneasy.
I’d never left Braden with anyone before.
Although she was excited to meet her grandson and frowned about her son’s gambling antics, I still didn’t feel settled.
She hadn’t reached out to me my entire pregnancy or after Braden was born.
I knew Colette from growing up here in town and spending some time with Riley during high school, but that was it.
When I reached out to her she seemed happy and friendly enough.
She complained about Riley not keeping her updated on her grandson.
I didn’t want to complain to her that Riley didn’t do much at all.
Now it felt like I had my hands tied. I couldn’t exactly show up to Maple Valley Brewery & Restaurant for my pseudo job interview with a baby in tow.
My nerves were bad enough since I had to face Phoenix and ask him for a job, knowing what he thought of me.
Commuting to the city would be too much, and I didn’t know of other jobs in town that would pay as well as waitressing at the microbrewery.
From what I knew, the place was trendy and brought in high-class people from the city.
Customers who would leave handsome tips.
I kissed Braden and left him with Mrs. Jansen and then made my way over to the Thorne’s property.
My stomach was in knots, but this was not the time to let pride get in the way.
I had my sweet boy to care for. I needed money so we wouldn’t have to live with Papa for long.
I hated the idea of my baby sleeping in the same house as my good-for-nothing father, but I was out of options.
I pulled up to the parking lot outside the microbrewery.
There was a big rustic sign that said Maple Valley Brewery & Restaurant.
I parked my old car and got out. There was a nice patio out front with umbrellas.
Despite the chilly air outside, the patio was busy with a row of heaters keeping the patrons warm.
My heart beat fast as I opened the front door and looked around. The place screamed Phoenix, organized, purposeful, and successful. I was greeted at the front by a pretty young girl.
“Table for one?” she asked.
“No.” I felt my cheeks heat. “I’m actually looking for Phoenix Thorne.”
“Oh.” She grinned. “Boss is behind the bar.”
“Thanks,” I said and walked toward the bar. The place had a rustic, masculine feel that screamed success. I reached the bar not noticing Phoenix, but a guy who I assumed was the bartender walked up to me.
“What can I get you?” he asked with an English accent. He looked to be about my age.
“Phoenix Thorne,” I spluttered, my nerves getting the best of me.
“You want the boss? Coming right up.” The guy winked with a devious smile. I should’ve turned around and walked out the door right then. I seemed to be destined to put my foot in my mouth but my need for money pushed me forward.
I was tongue-tied as Phoenix straightened out from behind the bar.
His sleeves were rolled, exposing muscular forearms dusted with grease.
His eyes locked with mine and there it was, the immediate tension that seemed all too familiar.
He didn’t look surprised to see me, but he was definitely guarded.
His hair was the same floppy brown mess it was in high school, except now it looked…
intentional. Grown-up. Damn it. He was broader now, more solid, like life had carved away the boy and left behind something sharp, honed, and far too distracting.
“Elyna,” he said dryly. “I was told you may be stopping by.”
I smiled but it was forced. “Good to see you, Phoenix.”
He nodded. Why did I open with that?
“I heard you need a job,” he stated, getting to the point. Okay, so we weren’t letting bygones be bygones.
“I was hoping you’d be in need of a waitress,” I said sheepishly to him.
“We are,” the bartender answered for him.
Phoenix side-eyed him and gave him a dirty look. He leaned a hip against the bar, crossing his arms. His stance was unfair, the way it pulled his shirt across his chest. His dark eyes flicked over me like he was cataloging my every flaw. Every piece of proof that I didn’t belong here.
The guy winced. “Sorry, I’m Cooper. I’m the bartender and an old friend of Phoenix.” He shook my hand. How old a friend could he be? He didn’t grow up in Val-Du-Lys.
“Elyna, nice to meet you I grew up living next door to Phoenix,” I explained and shook his hand.
The guy was handsome with straight blond hair and green eyes. He smiled. “Phoenix never mentioned you before.”
“Yes, well I’m not surprised,” I answered casually.
“Are you here to discuss a job?” Phoenix cut in abruptly. Seemed I’d managed to anger him already.
“Yes, sorry. Look, I need the work. I can waitress circles around anyone you’ve got,” I assured.
“This isn’t high school, Elyna. People come here for the beer and food, not the cheerleading.”
I bristled from his harsh words. I wasn’t that girl anymore. I hadn’t been in a long time, and it hurt he still saw me that way. My throat tightened, but I refused to let him see it.
“Wow. Still bitter, huh? Guess some things never change.”
For a second, something flashed in his eyes, hurt, maybe, or anger. He shoved it down so fast I almost doubted I’d seen it.
I braced my palms on the bar and leaned closer, lowering my voice. “Look, I’m not here to relive high school drama. I’ve got a six-month-old baby, and I need steady work. You want someone who’ll show up, hustle, and not screw around? That’s me.”
His mouth twitched, like he didn’t know whether to sneer or soften. The mention of Braden threw him off-balance, and I caught his hesitation, the moment where he almost looked… human.
Cooper jabbed him in the ribs and Phoenix winced. “Fine, one trial shift. But the second you screw up, you’re out.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I said, lifting my chin. I deserved his wrath. I’d hurt him but it had been so long since it happened. I’d hoped he was over it. Clearly he wasn’t.
Phoenix’s lips pinched together. “Where’s your baby?”
The fact he asked about Braden threw me off. I wasn’t expecting that from him.
“His grandmother’s watching him. She’s going to babysit so I can work,” I explained.
His jaw tensed and began to pulse. “Where are you living?” he asked next, his tone clipped and to the point.
“With my dad,” I said evenly.
“I don’t have any employee cabins available right now, but if something frees up, I’ll let you know,” he said without me having to ask because under all that grumpiness was a good man.
“That’s if I make it past the first shift,” I replied with snark, and I immediately wanted to bite my tongue. Why was I pushing his buttons when he was trying to help me?
His dark eyes sliced into me, sharp and unflinching all at once. For a heartbeat, I thought he was going to lay into me. Instead, he leaned closer, his voice dropping low enough so only I could hear.
“Don’t test me, Elyna. I don’t have time for games anymore.”
The air between us tightened, thick with everything unsaid. My pulse jumped, and I hated I noticed the way his cologne clung to the warm air between us, or how his stare made me feel fifteen again, seen, judged, and unsettled in a way I couldn’t explain.
I squared my shoulders. “Good. Neither do I.”
“You can start tomorrow morning be here by nine. Dominic will train you,” Phoenix said, his tone clipped and final.
“I can show her around too,” Cooper offered with a grin.
Phoenix’s dark eyes cut to him, sharp enough to slice. If looks could kill, Cooper would already be six feet under. “Dominic will train her. Get back to work, Coop.”
Cooper just smirked, completely unfazed by Phoenix’s grumpiness. They must be close if he was that comfortable poking the bear.
I cleared my throat, focusing on Phoenix again. “Thanks for this opportunity. I won’t disappoint.”
The words came out steadier than I felt, because the truth was I wanted him to see I’d grown up, that I was not the reckless girl he remembered from high school. I wanted him to know I’d changed, that I could stand on my own two feet now.
But if I was being honest with myself, it was not just about proving I deserved the job. My pulse was racing, my blood hummed under my skin, and I knew exactly why. No matter how hard I tried to deny it, Phoenix still got to me. And that could only mean one thing. . . I was in deep, deep trouble.