Charleston Harbor Novels: Books 1 - 3

by Debbie White

  “I need the job. College is expensive.”

  “Go on.”

  “My mother works two jobs just to help me and to cover her own living expenses.”

  Annie nodded. “You do realize this is just a part-time job? Probably no more than twenty hours a week.”

  “I have another job, so that’s perfect.”

  “You have another job?” Annie said.

  “Yes, I work for Jack Powell.”

  Annie tossed her head back and laughed. So this is how Jack wanted it to play out. He hired Mary, and now she would hire one of his own. “Are you related to Jack?”

  The young man excitedly shook his head. “I clean out the cars, wash, and wax them.” He puffed out his chest.

  “Do you generally work the weekends for Jack?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have a couple of more applicants still to see.” Annie pushed back her chair and stood. “It was nice meeting you today.” She extended her hand.

  She watched as the lanky boy walked out of the shop.

  “One down, two to go,” she hollered to Morgan as she iced cupcakes in the back.

  Morgan appeared at the counter, brushing crumbs off her apron. “He seemed like a sweet boy.”

  “Boy? He’s nineteen.”

  “Boy.” Morgan turned and headed back to icing cupcakes.

  The bell over the door rang, and Annie looked up. In walked a petite black girl. She had a beautiful smile.

  “Hello,” Annie said. “You must be Rebecca?”

  The girl nodded as she extended her hand. “Rebecca Hutton.”

  “Please, have a seat,” Annie said, motioning toward the chair.

  Rebecca sat down and clasped her hands in front of her.

  “It says on your application that you have cooking experience. Where did you get your training from?”

  “My grandmother and mother.”

  Annie nodded. “I see. Do they own a restaurant?”

  Rebecca gaffed at the idea. “No, we do a lot of baking for church activities, and also we have a foodie truck.”

  “A foodie truck! How awesome.”

  “We have the Cajun on Wheels truck,” Rebecca said.

  “I love that truck. I get the Cajun flavored fries and the shrimp. The shrimp is so good,” Annie said.

  The young woman nodded.

  “What kinds of things have you baked before?”

  “Cupcakes, regular cakes, cornbread, cookies, bread, and muffins.”

  “I see. You do have a lot of experience. Are you going to college?”

  “Yes, I have one semester left.”

  “What’s your degree in?”

  “My major is in business with a minor in hospitality and tourism.”

  “I’m only guaranteeing twenty hours a week. Is that good for you?”

  “As long as it’s during the week, yes. I work the food truck on Saturdays, and on Sundays I have church.”

  Annie nodded. “I think we could work that out. Right now, all the applicants can’t work the weekends. I guess if I can get help during the week at least, I’ll have some time off. Right now, it’s just Morgan and me.” Annie looked back toward the kitchen.

  “When will you make a decision?” Rebecca asked.

  “I just did. You’re hired.”

  Annie promised to call her later. She watched as Rebecca glided out the front door, clearly on cloud nine. Annie sat back and waited for the final applicant of the day. She glanced at her watch. She had about fifteen minutes and decided to make a mad dash to the little girl’s room. “Hold down the fort,” she called out to Morgan.

  When she emerged from the bathroom, an older woman sat in the chair the applicants had all shared. “Can I help you?”

  Morgan appeared quickly from the back and interrupted her. “She’s here about the job.”

  “Oh, thanks, Morgan.” Annie took a seat across from the older woman.

  “I have a lot of experience. I hope you won’t discount me because of my age.”

  Thinking fast, she began with a refusal of any such thing. “Of course not. We don’t care about age here.” She laughed.

  “Good. I have twenty-five years of baking experience. I used to make wedding cakes for a living.”

  “Oh, well, that’s good to know. Why did you stop?”

  “I still make them for friends and family, but I closed the shop doors a few years back. It was just too much keeping the place up, paying all the bills, and hiring people. I can sympathize with you on that.” She nodded.

  “Are you available on weekends?” Annie cut right to the chase.

  “I could be. I’m retired, so one day is like the next for me. Every day is the weekend.” She smiled.

  “You’re hired.”

  “Don’t you want to know my name?”

  Annie laughed. She picked up the woman’s application and scanned it. “You’re hired, Mrs. Walker.”

  “Please, call me Betsy.”

  “Betsy. And, I’m very pleased to meet you. I think we’ll work just fine together.”

  Chapter 13

  Very few words were spoken between them. She enjoyed the quietness they shared. The way he guided her with his hand gently placed on her back, the way he softly pushed the stray strands of hair out of her eyes, or when he laced his fingers with hers. These were unspoken words. Words she bathed in and reciprocated by circling his thumb with hers, reaching up and cupping his hand as he swept the tendrils away, or how the hair on the back of her neck stood up and she quivered when he placed his hand on the small of her back. These—these were the words she’d forgotten how to say. To hear.

  “Here we are,” Jack said as he pulled back the throttle and eased the boat into a berth. He jumped out of the boat and tied her up and then extended his hand to Annie.

  “I’ve never been here before. I’ve wanted to come, though,” Annie said as she glanced around.

  “Well, we already have the place that serves the best shrimp and grits. Wait until you taste their flounder It’s really good. Everything here is delicious.” He ushered her down the dock toward the restaurant.

  They waited for the host to seat them. Annie glanced around the dining area. “I hope I've dressed all right,” she said, looking down at her black slacks and flat black shoes.

  He tilted her chin up with his finger. “You look beautiful,” he said, resting his hand on the shoulder of her purple satin blouse.

  The host led the way to a table for two near the window that looked out to the inlet. Annie sighed. “It’s a gorgeous night.”

  The host pulled back her chair. “Yes, it is,” he said. “Your server will be here shortly.”

  “This place has such ambiance. I’m so happy you brought me here tonight,” Annie said, smiling.

  Jack leaned in.

  “Good evening,” a waiter holding menus said.

  Jack pulled back and sat deep in his chair. The server went over the specials of the evening by memory. Jack’s eyes lit up when he heard the specials. “I just told her how delicious the flounder is here,” Jack said, looking at the server.

  “Flounder for me,” Annie said.

  “Two flounder dinners, please. Oh, and may we see the wine list?” Jack requested.

  The server nodded. “Any appetizers to start?”

  Annie shook her head.

  “House salad or Caesar?”

  “House for me with ranch,” Jack said.

  “I’ll have the same,” Annie said, thinking how lovely things were going.

  Jack reached across the table and Annie placed her hands in his. “Annie, there’s been something I’ve wanted to tell you.”

  Ah ha. Was he going to come clean about sending the kid about the job at the bakery?

  “I know we just met, but something about you makes me feel like we’ve known each other for a long time.”

  “I feel like that as well. From the first day you walked into Sweet Indulgence, I was drawn to you. I guess it could be fate
that you came in that day looking for cupcakes for Crystal.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t tell you the entire story. See, I was asked to order those cupcakes from the grocery store bakery and I forgot. Diane had a million things going on, so I volunteered to take something off her plate. I panicked that morning when I realized that I had failed to do the one job she assigned me. I did a Google search, and your cupcakery popped up. I prayed so hard that you’d be open, and that you’d have two dozen cupcakes.” He squeezed her hand.

  “It was your lucky day in more ways than one.” She squeezed his hand back.

  Jack tilted his head, and when he did, the lights in the restaurant and the lights outside reflecting on the water added sparkle to his eyes. Annie focused on them hard.

  Jack slowly released her hand, sitting back in his chair. He took his hand and brushed it through his dark wavy hair and then placed his hands on his lap. “You got that right, Annie. You saved me from being the awful uncle, and you kept me from living the life of a monk.” He laughed.

  “You, a monk? I hardly think that is possible.” She lightly licked her dry lips.

  He pushed a fork around and played with his water glass. “I was ready to give up on women.”

  Annie lifted her brow.

  “Not give up on women as for good …”

  Annie laughed. “I know what you mean. I almost gave up on men.” She smiled.

  “So can we mend these broken hearts of ours?” Jack asked.

  Annie paused a moment, taking a long drink of her wine and savoring the taste of black cherry fruit, mineral, and tannin overtones. “I think with a little luck and a lot of practice, we can mend them.”

  Jack rubbed his jawline. “I’d like to try.”

  Annie leaned in across the table. He met her halfway. She began to lift herself up on her elbows to close the gap, but just then the server returned. She pulled back and sat down. The kiss would have to wait. It was just as well. Time would be the only test this relationship had to make it work. Like the great wine she just appreciated, nothing so beautiful could be created overnight. Especially over fresh seafood.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were sending someone over to apply for the job at the bakery?”

  “Busted.” He laughed. “Well, did he make the cut?”

  “He’s a great kid, but he doesn’t have a lick of experience in a store or bakery setting. Every time I asked him a question he followed it by—”

  “I’m a fast learner?” Jack supplied.

  “Yes, that.”

  “I know. He’s young and doesn’t have a lot of experience. But I have to tell you, he cleans my cars until they shine, and he’s a hard worker. Just give him a chance, won’t you?”

  Annie lowered her gaze to the shining utensils on the table. Jack had a valid point. “I’ll give him a chance. But I had two other applicants that are going to be so good for the bakery, that well, he’s going to be the odd man out. Literally.”

  “Annie McPherson, are you gender biased?”

  Annie raised her brows. “Of course not. If he could bake or do something I wouldn’t even blink an eye.”

  “I know! He can be your janitor. I’m telling you, your shop will be the cleanest this side of Charleston.”

  Annie smiled from ear to ear. “Jack! That’s a perfect solution. Thank you.”

  “I should be thanking you.”

  “Let’s make a deal. If either Mary or …”

  “Peter,” Jack said.

  “Peter—if either of them don’t work out, we’ll have to buy the other dinner.”

  Jack lifted his arm and put out his hand across the table. Annie took his hand and gave it a firm shake.

  They were about fifteen minutes from the dock where Jack kept Lady Powell when it began to rain. Light rain fell at first, and then it seemed to drop in buckets. They huddled under the canopy of the boat, but the wind drove the rain inside, and it felt like bullets hitting their skin. The sky cracked, and bolts of lightning followed.

  “It’s getting wicked out here,” Annie said.

  “We’ll be home soon,” Jack said as the boat crested another wave. “I didn’t expect the storm to hit now. The weatherman said it would hit around midnight.”

  Annie hit the button on the side of her watch, making the crystal face light up. “It’s eleven thirty.”

  Jack tossed his head back and a deep throaty laugh escaped his mouth. “Time flies when you’re having fun. No wonder they were giving us dirty looks. I think the restaurant closes at ten.”

  Another bolt of lightning startled Annie, drawing her closer to Jack. She laced her arms in his as he steered the boat. She sunk her face in his strong arm and closed her eyes.

  “Now, you aren’t afraid of a little summer storm, are you?” Jack said teasingly.

  “A little.” She poked her head out from the safety of his body.

  “Look.” He pointed in the distance. “Those are the lights from the dock.”

  “Oh, I can see them,” Annie said, relieved.

  Jack tied up the boat in record time, and the two ran as fast as they could to his car. She pulled down the visor that had a mirror and stared at the girl with mascara running down her face, her hair slicked against her skull, and cheeks rosy red, and laughed. She turned toward Jack and laughed some more.

  “What? Do I have mascara running down my face, too?” He gently poked at her arm.

  “No, silly. I was just thinking about how funny we must have looked running to the car.”

  Jack leaned across the seats and pulled her close. She gazed into his deep brown eyes, getting totally lost in them. He pulled her closer and their mouths touched. He pressed open her lips and teased her with his tongue, taking deep strokes as he did. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held tightly, not wanting the kiss to stop. He must have got the message because he didn’t stop kissing her until she relaxed her grip.

  He sat back deep into the seat and stared out the windshield.

  “What’s wrong, Jack?”

  “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I need to get you home so you can dry off.” He started the engine and turned on the wipers.

  And the evening ended much like it began, with few words spoken and only the sounds of the wipers as it drew water across the windshield.

  Chapter 14

  It was the first day of training at the bakery and Annie had it all planned that it would be a fun day as well as informative. Peter, Rebecca, and Betsy all arrived on time. That in and of itself brought a smile to Annie’s face. She passed out the aprons and hair nets, and the five of them stood around the large stainless steel table that served as an island and went over the basics of making the batter.

  “Any questions on what we went over here today?” Annie said.

  Betsy raised her hand.

  “Yes, Betsy?” Annie said.

  “Are we all going to be bakers?”

  “Good question. I would like everyone to learn all the different areas of the shop. Some of you will be better at baking, and some of you will be better with customer service.” Annie smiled at Rebecca.

  “What about me?” Peter said.

  Nodding her head, Annie started off slow with her answer. “You’ll learn these areas too, but because you have experience with cleaning, and I might add that Mr. Powell gave you a stellar recommendation, I thought you could help me best by keeping the shop clean.” She locked eyes with him.

  “That’s cool. I can do that for you.”

  “Okay, great. Then it’s settled. Icing the cupcakes takes a bit of more experience, and I think we’ll leave that for another time. But by learning how to mix the batter and bake them, you’ll be helping us tremendously. Tomorrow we’ll go over the basics of the cash register. By next week, all of you will be on the schedule. If no one has any more questions, you’re dismissed.”

  Annie turned and moved away from the group when she heard her name. She whirled around to see Rebecca.

  “My mom was wondering i
f you’d let us leave some flyers in your shop about food truck night.” She handed one for Annie to look over.

  “I think this is a great idea. In fact, I plan to stop by this Saturday after I finish up here. Will you be working?”

  Rebecca nodded. “Every Saturday I’m there,” she said with less than enthusiasm.

  Annie held out her hand for more flyers. “I know what you mean. I do hope you get a chance to have some fun.”

  “It’s hard to find time for that. In fact, I almost forgot what it’s like to have a good time.” She lowered her gaze.

  “Ahh, Rebecca, that saddens me. Well, if it’s any consolation, working hard does pay off. One of these days you will have a lot of fun.”

  “See you tomorrow,” Rebecca said as she bolted through the door.

  “Good night,” she said in a whisper, hoping she was right about the fun thing.

  Chapter 15

  Annie plopped down on the sofa and closed her eyes. She quickly opened them when she heard Buffy whining. “I know, girl. Give me just a few minutes to rest my eyes,” she said, barely able to keep her heavy lids from shutting.

  You know that deep sleep you get when you first doze off—especially after a very tiring day? Annie drifted there, dreaming of what else, but Jack, when Buffy let out a loud bark, waking Annie out of a deep sleep. Annie opened her eyes wide, her heart beating a mile a minute. She leaned forward and glared at the little fluffy dog. “What was that for? You scared the crap out of me.”

  Buffy began to dance around the coffee table and then ran over to where her purple leather leash hung on a hook near the door.

  “Really?” Annie pulled herself off the coach and slowly made her way to the leash.

  Buffy led the way down the hall and stairs and out the door. Annie giggled when Buffy squatted at the first sign of grass. “Sorry, little girl. You had to go. Next week after everyone is trained, we’ll be back on our schedule. Right now, it’s just a bit hectic.” Annie patted her on the head.