She leaned in across the table and I couldn’t help but mirror her movements. It was like there was a magnet inside of her that was tugging me in. “Yeah… how?”
Her smile widened. “You could figure out a way to ship your baked goods in the United States. But you and Neil could also create a cookbook. Sell some of your recipes widely across the U.S.”
“But… won’t that cut into our sales here in the bakery?”
She snorted again and waved a hand. “No, no. People will always buy the real thing. They’ll try to recreate your cupcakes, but they won’t be totally successful. You saw my terrible unicorn cupcakes and that was with you right beside me baking, too. Plus, you’ll never reveal a handful of your best recipes. Those will only be available here for purchase.”
I fell back in my seat, staring at Chloe as she confidently grinned back at me. If those ideas were just off the cuff, imagine what she could come up with if she had time to pitch and create a year-long plan. “You’re hired,” I said.
Her confident smile slipped momentarily, my declaration catching her off guard. “I—I’m what?”
“You heard me. You’re hired. Neil and I are in over our heads here. And… you didn’t hear this from me, but Neil is leaving the country for a couple months on another gig.”
She nodded, frowning. “I heard.”
“Right.” Elaina told her. “Anyway, these ideas are incredible… but I don’t have the time or energy to keep running Beefcakes and implement them. We can afford to pay you and maybe working for us will help open some doors for other Maple Grove businesses who could use your consulting.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re serious?”
What was I doing? This was Chloe Dyker. My brother’s ex-girlfriend’s sister. The girl who I’d thought about more times than I’d like to admit since our make out session in high school, and I was inviting her to come work for me? Yeah, it was probably a crazy idea. And yet, I found myself nodding.
Shit. Neil didn’t even want to give her the damn leftover donuts. He was going to kill me for hiring her without consulting him first.
“On one condition…” she said.
I wasn’t sure she was in a position to negotiate when we hadn’t talked anything of contracts, fees, or hours yet. But I couldn’t help but wonder how her curious mind was working. What could her ‘one condition’ possibly be this early on?
“On top of helping you market Beefcakes, I want to help you develop a plan for your food truck.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s your one condition?”
“My sister mentioned something the other night… and it gave me an idea. She said that she wished there was a food truck that delivered junk food when you were dumped. Things like donuts…” she lifted the donut in her hand. “And cheesecake. And maybe even the infamous Beefcakes cupcakes.”
“A food truck that serves junk food…” I repeated her, skeptically.
“To the specific target audience of people who’ve been dumped.” She spread her fingers into jazz hands and swept them across the air in front of my face like an invisible scroll. “Imagine… The Dump Truck.” She grinned at me. “What do you think?”
“I think… I think you’re kind of crazy.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, that’s a given. But the idea is good. Admit it.”
I closed my eyes, imagining it. The Dump Truck. Not the most appetizing name. But it was funny. And cute. Much like Beefcakes, it would be catered to women, I’d imagine. Overhead would be lower than a traditional food truck because I wouldn’t have to cook anything in the truck. I could bake here on the premises and simply serve food out of the truck. It was… huh. I was surprised to admit, it was actually a pretty good idea.
I shook my head. “I can’t just steal your business concept, Chloe.”
“You won’t be stealing it. We could be partners,” she said, as though the thought only just occurred to her.
“Moments ago, you were talking about interviewing for marketing positions and maybe having to move out of Maple Grove.”
“That was before this idea hatched!” She stood pacing the bakery and tapping a cotton-candy-pink painted fingernail to her bottom lips. “You would handle the baking. I would take care of marketing and publicity. We would share the business work, like selling and accounting and taxes and stuff.”
“A working, used food truck or trailer is at least twelve thousand dollars,” I said. Even though I sounded doubtful, I could feel myself growing more and more excited by the prospect.
“Are you telling me that with the six-figures your brother won on the show, Beefcakes doesn’t have twelve thousand dollars to spare?”
I licked my lips, looking at the door where Neil had stormed out not all that long ago. “He’ll never go for it,” I said. “He was barely on board for Beefcakes as it was.”
Chloe shrugged. “Then he doesn’t have to be a part of it. We can do this ourselves. Co-owners. Partners. Your dream for once.”
It did make it awfully convenient that he was leaving the country soon. The perfect time to start a new venture while not under the standard Neil Evans scrutiny. “Okay,” I said, holding out my hand for her to take. “I’m in. At least to consider it.”
She took my hand firmly and pumped it once. “You’re not going to regret this.”
As a matter of fact, I already was regretting it.
7
Chloe
“Okay, it’s official,” I said, wandering around the furniture store. “Shopping on a budget sucks.”
Elaina snorted and linked her arm into mine. “Well, maybe next time you’ll think twice before going all Edward Scissorhands on your reclining chair.”
“Dan’s recliner. Not mine. And I hated that chair. It deserved a slow death.”
“You could have sold it. Profited off of it and then used the money to buy something you do like—”
“Okay. God, do you have to be right all the time?”
Elaina snickered in my ear. “Well, I’m proud of you for sticking to a budget. The Chloe I know would have just put a whole new living room furniture set on a credit card and called it a day.”
I sighed. That Chloe was still here and desperately wanted to buy that luxurious white leather sectional in the corner of the store. I did have savings. A decent amount of savings in my account, actually, that I barely touched while Dan and I were engaged. We had a shared credit card and a joint account. Joint being a pretty loose term, since I didn’t contribute anything to it. But I refused to feel bad about that. I quit my job because he suggested it. Not me. And even after what an ass he turned out to be, I wasn’t going after anything within that “joint” account, even though Tanya told me I should.
“Do I even need a new recliner chair? I have my super cute sofa, and the matching loveseat is at Mom and Dad’s… maybe I could ask for that back?”
Elaina smiled. “I think that’s a great idea. And it saves you money.”
“Yeah? Mom and Dad aren’t using the loveseat, are they?”
She shook her head. “Actually, when I was living with them after Brad, it was down in the bonus room, never being used.”
I exhaled a relieved breath. Reclining chairs were like one of those stupid things that I’d only ever seen men want or have. They’re ugly and … okay, comfortable, yes, but so is a couch!
“How’d the job interviews go?” Elaina asked, breaking me away from my thoughts and brushing her hand across the arm of a microsuede loveseat.
I shrugged. “The interview at the tech start up went well, I guess. I haven’t heard anything yet, but…” I trailed off.
“But?” Elaina pushed.
“I don’t really see myself there. I don’t know or understand technology. Nor do I really care to.” I paused. “I was actually thinking about what you said the other night.”
Elaina tilted her head, studying me carefully. “What did I say?”
I cleared my throat and picked up a crystal pear that wa
s on display atop the dining table. “That maybe I should start my own marketing firm here. Freelancing would be fun. And exciting.”
Elaina grinned. “I think it’s an amazing idea.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, yeah. It was your idea.”
“I know. I’m so smart.” She winked at me.
“I mean, we both know that with my ADHD, working for one company is probably a doomed idea, you know?”
“That’s true,” Elaina nodded. “With a consulting firm, you could bounce around and not grow fatigued.”
“At least not as quickly.”
Elaina picked up one of the other pears from the table and turned it over in her hands. Her face went white as a sheet, and her jaw dropped. “Oh my God! Who would spend seventy-five dollars on glass pears?” she hissed.
I plucked it from her hands and set the pears carefully back onto the table. “They’re seventy-five each. And mom owns the set of apples.”
Elaina sighed. “Of course she does.”
I knew that sigh well, and I smiled despite the exasperation in her tone. I’d heard that damn sigh from Lainey directed at me my whole life.
“I’m really proud of you,” Elaina said. “And I mean that in the most non-condescending way possible.”
I smiled, warmth swirling down my chest. “I know that. But, um… keep that warm, fuzzy feeling for a second. Because, I actually already booked a client.”
Elaina’s eyes went wide. The sun streaming in through the window caught their ice blue color and made them look like crystals sparkling beneath the water’s surface. “You did? Oh my God, Chloe, that’s amazing!” She launched herself around the table and hugged me hard, then quickly pulled back, regarding me carefully. “Wait, why would you tell me to keep that warm fuzzy feeling? Why wouldn’t I be happy about that news?”
I sighed. “Because… my first client is Beefcakes.”
Her smile flickered like a dying flame. “Oh.” She caught herself quickly and plastered a smile back on her face, but it was dry, brittle—and my heart broke for my big sister.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t have to take it.”
She shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a good opportunity for you. And didn’t you say you and Liam were sort of friends now?”
I nodded. “Yeah. And… I wouldn’t even be working with Neil because he’s… you know. He’s leaving soon.” Oh God. Her face crumbled like a paper bag in a trash compactor. I winced because I caused that. “Shit, I’m so sorry Elaina—”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. Really. I’m happy for you.”
The door to the furniture store slammed open, and true to her nature, Tanja came floating in, her silky kimono fluttering behind her like butterfly wings. “Sorry I’m late!” she squealed.
From the corner of my eye, I watched Elaina roll her eyes. She never particularly liked Tanja… and that was probably made worse by the fact that Tanja was kind of the reason that terrible photo of Elaina went viral after my bachelorette party.
Even still, Elaina gave Tanja a polite smile. “Just as well, I need to get back to work.” She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, whispering, “Congratulations.”
She pulled away from the hug, hiking her purse higher onto her shoulder, and pointed at me and Tanja. “Don’t let her change your mind and convince you to buy a lounge chair or something stupid like those pears, okay? Take the loveseat back from mom and dad.”
I nodded… but secretly, I really wanted those pears.
8
Liam
I could sense triumph in the air.
And it smelled like puttanesca.
My twin sister, Addy sat at the kitchen island in my condo while I stood over the simmering white wine caper sauce. I dipped the wooden spoon into the sauce, and when I withdrew it, it was perfectly coated.
I grabbed a clean spoon and dipped it into the sauce, holding it up for her to taste. “Here,” I offered. “Try it.”
Addy was the hardest person in our family to please. She told it like it was and then some. But I could hear her stomach growl from across the room. She took the spoon from my hand and carefully placed it in her mouth, thinking as she swallowed. “Pretty damn good,” she said. “But it needs more lemon.”
I rolled my eyes. “You always say that. Not everyone has a love for lemons like you do.” Most people have a sweet tooth—Addy had a sour tooth.
“Fine. If you’re not going to add more lemon, then it’s good enough.”
There was a knock at the door, and I jerked my chin toward it. “That’s probably Finn and Neil with Mom.”
Ever since Mom’s diagnosis, we’d all been taking turns cooking for her. She claimed she didn’t need us checking in on her like that, but secretly, I think she liked it. Prior to her cancer diagnosis, it had been years since we’d had a family dinner that wasn’t on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Addy took my cue and hopped to her feet to open the door. From down the hall, I heard some low murmurs… and they sure as hell didn’t sound like Mom. Or Neil. And then… laughter. Uncontrollable, belly-rumbling laughter that I recognized as Addy’s.
“Liam!” she called. “You better come see this for yourself!”
I turned off the heat on the sauce, which was basically done, and poured it over the spaghetti squash I had roasted earlier. Then, placing a lid over top to keep it warm, I wiped my hands on the apron and made my way across my condo.
Standing at my front door was Chloe. She was in pastel pink jeans and a white lacy top. God, she was cute. Was she always this cute? Or was my brain reacting differently ever since she kissed me in her foyer?
Her blond hair was smooth as silk and fell across one shoulder in a single, elegant wave. The curled edges of her hair brushed the tips of her nipple. As hard as I tried not to, my eyes dipped to her breasts, the nipples hard and piercing through the flimsy top she wore. Swallowing a curse, I blinked and tore my gaze away. It was nearly the end of summer and hotter than hell outside. Definitely no hint of a chill in the air –how could her nipples be so damn hard? Was it simply to torture me? “Uh… hi?”
Her brows ticked higher. “Was that a greeting or a question?”
Addy bit her bottom lip, the edge of her teeth hitting her lip ring as she glanced back and forth between us. “Both,” I said. “What are you doing here?”
She stepped to the side, holding her hands out like Vanna White. “Tada!”
Behind her, parked on the street was a rusty truck. A ripped blue and white awning billowed from the top of it in the summer breeze. “What the hell is that?”
“Our new… drumroll please… food truck!”
I blinked in shock, frozen in place until Neil’s voice cut through my haze.
“You’re starting a food truck?”
I tore my eyes away from the piece of shit parked in front of my condo to where Neil, Mom, and Finn were walking up my driveway. “No—”
“No?” Chloe’s hand clamped to her hip and she tapped her toe against my stone entryway.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I mean… yes, but I just didn’t know it was happening now. I thought we would talk through some things first. Create a budget. Save up to buy a truck—”
“Well, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass us by!” she cried, gesturing again at the piece of shit truck behind her.
“That’s an… opportunity?” I asked, pointing once more to the truck that looked like it belonged in a salvage yard.
“Yes!” she did a funky cheerleader-like hop that did crazy, gravity defying things to her breasts. This time, I groaned aloud.
“I’m sorry…” I said. “This is just a lot to take in right now. I was about to have dinner with my family, so if you want to—”
“Oh, I would love to join you!” She breezed past me into the house, not waiting for any of us to lead the way or even follow her.
I was going to say, If you want to discuss this later, I’ll call you, but Tasmanian Chloe st
rikes again.
Finn gave me a compassionate glance, and Mom smiled, pushing onto her toes to give me a kiss. “She’s a sweet girl,” Mom said. “And always a joy to spend a dinner with.”
“But… I didn’t invite her to join us,” I whispered.
Mom patted my cheek. “Well, maybe you should have. Let that be a lesson to you.”
Oh, it was a lesson all right. Never let Addy answer the door.
Speaking of the devil, Addy snickered and I flipped her off.
“I’m sorry,” she said, laughing. “But you have to admit, she’s really entertaining.”
“I’m surprised you would like any of the Dyker sisters,” I grumbled.
Addy shrugged and smoothed her fire engine red hair with the palm of her hands. We were twins, but we looked nothing alike. Since middle school, Addy had been dying her hair and partying. I, on the other hand had always been more like Elaina. Well, Elaina now. Back then, she was a smart party girl. Whereas I was studious. Kind of nerdy. I was more concerned with getting good grades than being popular. Which was why that night that Chloe kissed me had been so shocking. I wasn’t her type. I was so far out of the realm of her type, I didn’t even think she knew I existed. If our siblings didn’t date back in high school, maybe she never would have.
“I never had an issue with Chloe,” Addy said. “And, even though it doesn’t matter now, Elaina’s growing on me finally.”
“Addy,” Mom hissed with a click of her tongue.
But it didn’t seem to deter Addy in the least. She just rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry… did I not give it enough time before I said she who shall not be named? Her damn sister is sitting at Liam’s dining table as we speak, so maybe we should get used to hearing her name now and then.”
Speaking of, could Chloe hear us? What was she doing in there, alone in my kitchen?
Neil grimaced, his features twisting in a way that I think he meant to look like a smile. “It’s fine. Elaina and I will have to find a way to coexist in Maple Grove.”
Sugarlips (Beefcakes Book 2) Page 6