Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 52100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“You look lovely,” Keller said, standing up from his seat at a table for two at 3Bs as I approached him the next day.
“Thanks,” I said, taking off my baseball cap and shaking out my hair.
It was a beautiful summer day in the Beard, the temperature in the midseventies. Since I was only working on kitchen prep and paperwork today, I’d dressed in my favorite worn jean overalls, a tank top and Birkenstock sandals.
Keller, on the other hand, wore a crisp pale-blue dress shirt and dark dress pants, his black dress shoes shining. He was in his early forties and starting to go gray at the temples, but it suited him.
“Hey, Shea,” a server named Katie said, “what can I get you?”
“My usual iced chai, please.”
“You got it. And for you, Mr. Strauss?”
He smiled at her. “Call me Keller. I’ll take a black coffee, please.”
“You got it.”
The locals called Beard Books and Brews 3Bs, and it was my favorite place to go if I could get away from work for an hour during the day, which didn’t happen much. The bookshop, with a coffee and snack bar, had eclectic furniture and lots of plants. Greenery trailed down from shelves and lined every window. And it had the best smell in the world—coffee mixed with books.
“Thanks for meeting up with me,” Keller said.
“Thanks for the flowers. You didn’t have to do that.”
He smiled. “I was hoping to get your attention.”
“Well, I suppose it worked because here I am.” I glanced at the clock on the wall. “I don’t mean to rush things, but I have to be back at work in forty minutes.”
“Oh, sure.” He tapped his fingertips on the table. “Well, let’s get to it, then.”
Katie delivered our drinks and Keller took a black folder from his messenger bag. It had a gold foiled “Strauss Enterprises, Inc.” logo stamped on the front.
“That has information you can look over later about the benefits I offer. Healthcare, dental, retirement and all. I know you’ve turned me down several times, but I hear you’re overworked at your present job, so I hoped we could work something out where you work for me with clearly defined time off.”
“Time off has been hard to come by,” I admit.
“Let’s say you came to New York with me for a couple of weeks. I realize that for you, that’s a twenty-four-seven commitment. You could have the following week off.”
I arched my brows with surprise. An entire week off? It sounded too good to be true.
“You’ve got all the negotiating power here, Shea,” he said. “There are many chefs I could hire, but the only one I want is you. So tell me what it’s going to take.”
I knew exactly how Keller liked his filet mignon cooked, and he raved about my eggs benedict, but I’d never realized food meant this much to him.
“How many people would I be cooking for?”
“Most of the time, just me and my two assistants. Sometimes I entertain, though, especially when I’m in New York. I’d say usually, those nights would be around twelve people, but as many as fifty at times. And, of course, you could always hire as much help as you need.”
The thought of not being responsible for three meals a day, seven days a week, for hundreds of people was appealing. What had started as a challenge had worn me out over the years I’d been doing it.
“Shea!”
I turned to see Spencer running toward me. When he got to me, I had just enough time to open my arms for his hug.
“Hey, Spence, how are you?”
“Good. Where have you been? I haven’t seen you.”
My heart rate kicked up as I saw Holt and Marley approaching behind Spencer. Questions swirled in my head, but of course, this wasn’t the time.
“I’ve been working, but you know you can stop by the kitchen anytime,” I told Spencer.
“Shea, I caught a fish!” Marley said. “It was wiggly.”
Holt met my gaze, putting a hand on Spencer’s shoulder.
“Guys, we’re interrupting.”
“Not at all,” Keller said. “What brings the Sellers family to 3Bs today?”
“Story time,” Holt said.
A handful of children were gathered on a big rug in the book section of the store.
“And cookies.” Marley looked up at her dad. “You said we could get cookies.”
“Let’s go pick them out,” Holt said, giving me a long glance that made my heart squeeze. “See you guys later.”
Once they were out of earshot, Keller cleared his throat, his expression turning serious.
“I hope I’m not out of line for asking, but are you and Holt seeing each other?”
Were my feelings that obvious? I forced myself to maintain a neutral expression as I answered.
“No. He and his kids are staying at The Moose, so I’ve gotten to know them, but we’re not involved.”
“I have to be honest with you, Shea. I heard you and Holt were at The Hideout with Grady and Avon recently and that’s why I extended my offer to you.”