Staying For Good (A Most Likely To Novel Book 2)

by Catherine Bybee

  “You’re sure the city won’t have an issue with us being there?”

  Zoe laughed. “You are greatly overestimating the concept of city. And no . . . Jo has already talked with the neighbors, and no one holds any issue with ‘movie making’ in River Bend.”

  Felix set his head back and closed his eyes. “We don’t make movies.”

  “That isn’t what they think.”

  Zoe’s current producer agreed to a segment surrounding a wedding. With his approval came his money and the ability for Zoe to bring in a team of prep cooks and help for Mel and Wyatt’s reception.

  The only cost to Mel and Wyatt was the actual food. Even then Zoe pulled a few favors and had much of it sent in at a huge discount.

  Her thoughts had been on the wedding, the prep for the reception, but her family drama sat on the sideline, waiting for an audience. “I’m going to apologize now for any drama my family causes while we’re here.”

  Felix rolled his head to the side and looked her way. “You don’t need to do that.”

  “I do. From lifestyle choices to looks . . . there is bound to be someone talkin’ smack. I’m hoping to avoid the lot of them, but I doubt that will happen.”

  Felix reached over and touched her hand. “Zoe, m’dear. I’ve been gay my whole life. I’ve lived with comments, laughter, and flat-out nastiness from my family. I expect nothing less from yours.”

  She patted his hand. “Thanks.”

  He turned back around and leaned back. “So how long of a drive do we have?”

  “Two hours.”

  “Wake me before we drive in . . . I want to experience River Bend at the city limits.”

  Zoe turned onto the highway and increased the volume of the radio once Felix started to snore.

  Maybe this wouldn’t turn out ugly after all.

  “Now this! This is a kitchen! Zoe, why didn’t you tell me how charming this was?” Felix gushed over Miss Gina and the outside of the inn before walking in like he owned the place. “I see great things.”

  Miss Gina grinned ear to ear. “I like this one, Zoe.”

  “Oh, has she been bringing other directors around I should know about?”

  “Of course,” Miss Gina lied. “You don’t think you’re the only man in her life, do you?”

  Miss Gina and Felix were from the same generation . . . or close to it. “I can tell this is going to be very entertaining,” Zoe said.

  “I think two cameras and one stationary from the pot rack.” Felix did what Felix did . . . he muttered instructions, only there wasn’t anyone there to make notes. “When is September arriving?”

  “In the morning, along with Rupert and the rest of the crew.”

  They were driving from Dallas and had headed out two days before.

  “We might need a wide angle to capture the whole space.”

  Miss Gina leaned on Zoe’s arm. “Is he saying my kitchen is fat?”

  Zoe laughed and turned when she heard Hope running in from the backyard, Sir Knight at her heels.

  “Auntie Zoe!”

  She knelt down and picked up Hope in a hug. “You’re getting too big for this.”

  “That’s what Daddy said.”

  Hearing Hope refer to Wyatt as her daddy warmed her soul. The girl deserved the best daddy ever, and Wyatt fit the bill.

  The back screen door slammed against the frame, announcing the arrival of Mel and Wyatt. “Look what the wind blew in.” Mel moved in for a hug.

  Zoe pulled back. “You look so damn happy.”

  “Swear jar!” Hope ran out of the room to retrieve the silly thing.

  The adults laughed and Zoe made the introductions.

  Felix embraced them both as if he knew them and talked about how he planned to make Miss Gina’s Bed-and-Breakfast a hit, starting with their wedding.

  By the time they moved from the kitchen to the living room, the front door framed Luke.

  He stood there watching her; only her.

  Zoe sucked in an unexpected breath and held it until she reached him. His arms slid around her back, his lips found hers for a proper hello.

  They broke apart when Hope walked down the stairs, saying, “Eww . . . why is everyone kissing all the time?”

  “It’s in the air,” Luke explained, his arm stayed snug on Zoe’s hip.

  Hope shoved the swear jar in Zoe’s personal space. “A quarter for the D word.”

  Zoe rolled her eyes and moved to where she’d left her purse.

  “Now that is a very enterprising idea, young lady. Be sure and stick around when we’re filming, you’re bound to make a ton of money,” Felix told her.

  “And come out cussing like a sailor,” Zoe added.

  “I think maybe Hope should stay clear of that.” Mel encouraged Hope to sit close to her.

  Hope tipped her jar and looked at the coins inside. “I make enough off Miss Gina. She cusses a lot.”

  Miss Gina’s mouth dropped wide. “I do not!”

  Everyone laughed except Felix.

  While Felix set up production in Miss Gina’s kitchen, Zoe directed a team in Sam’s kitchen at the diner.

  Ernie and Tiffany, her seconds on set, followed her into Sam’s diner after two o’clock the following day.

  A sign on the door of the diner said they were closed the day of Mel and Wyatt’s wedding and for dinner the night before.

  Sam met her at the door with a hug. His welcome made her feel at home. “My kitchen is yours.”

  “You’re just saying that because you want a free meal.”

  Sam patted his overextended belt line. “I can always use a good meal.”

  Zoe laughed. “Tiffany and Ernie will be doing most of the cooking.”

  “Any friends of yours are friends of mine.”

  Zoe did a quick scan of the diner.

  Sam lowered his voice. “She has the dinner shift.”

  For some strange reason, tears filled her eyes. She didn’t want to see her mother, and it seemed most of the town knew that. “Thanks.”

  She led Tiffany and Ernie into the first commercial kitchen she’d ever worked in. Sam had cleaned it. His effort lifted her heavy heart.

  “Your shipments started arriving this morning.”

  Zoe opened the massive refrigerators and found familiar supplies. She went through the inventory with Tiffany and Ernie standing close by, taking notes on what to expect. They went over the menu and discussed capacity of the ovens and storage.

  Brenda welcomed her through the window while she tossed up an order. Sam flipped frozen hamburger patties on the grill.

  Ernie and Tiffany exchanged glances but kept their comments to themselves. There was a difference between a cook and a chef. Sam had no issues with that. He liked the fact that Zoe Brown’s journey from cook to chef had started in his kitchen. Liked it even more when she was in town and helped fill the booths of his diner.

  “We should have the fresh herbs in with the shipment, but if something isn’t right, let me know. I know a few people in town with gardens who can help in a pinch.”

  Zoe pointed out issues in the kitchen she knew she’d had problems with in the past. One of the ovens ran hot, and one of refrigerators ran too cold no matter how many times Sam had it fixed. “I don’t need frozen romaine.”

  “Who is going to be here from the staff?” Tiffany asked.

  “Sam?” Zoe caught his attention. “Who did you assign to help?”

  “Brenda volunteered. As long as she can watch the wedding.”

  “All the food will be at the inn by then.” Or close enough to it.

  They talked about when they could dominate the space and the time span for preparation.

  By the time Zoe was leaving the diner, it was just before four.

  Just when she thought she’d skirt out of Sam’s before seeing her mother, the woman nearly knocked down Tiffany as they were walking out the back door.

  Sheryl stepped back, instantly irritated. “Who are . . .” Her eyes c
aught Zoe’s and her words stopped short.

  Tiffany and Ernie had expectant faces.

  Zoe didn’t feed them with an introduction.

  Anxiety crawled up Zoe’s throat. “Hello,” was all that came out.

  Her mom offered a quick nod and stepped around them and into the diner.

  Zoe released a deep sigh and felt dizzy as she exited the building.

  “Who was that?” Tiffany asked a few steps away from the car.

  Zoe yanked open the door. “My mother.”

  The lights of Sheryl’s car shone into the windows as she pulled it into the drive.

  “’Bout fucking time,” Ziggy muttered to himself.

  His hand was already adjusting his jeans to make room. He’d made Zanya go to her room with her baby hours ago. The smell of diapers never did anything for him. And Zane was due back before midnight.

  A little noise, a nice toss in bed, and he’d be ready for something to eat.

  Sheryl stepped inside without a whole lot of sound.

  “Hey, sugar.”

  She must not have seen him sitting there, because she jumped, and her hand went to her throat.

  “What’s wrong, you forgot I’m back already?”

  She shook her head, looked around the room. “Didn’t want to wake you if you were asleep.”

  He picked himself up off the couch and made his way to her side.

  She smelled like hamburgers and greasy fries. He caged her hips in his hands and ground his groin into hers. “Now you know I can’t sleep all pent up.” He pushed in closer. “Look what you do to me, sugar.” He nuzzled her neck and she tried to pull away.

  He didn’t let her go far, but looked at her face for the first time since she’d walked in the door.

  The black shit she put on her eyes ran in streaks down her cheeks. “Why are you crying?” Who was screwing up his night?

  “I’m fine. A little tired.” She tried to pull away again.

  His cock protested. He had one thing he looked forward to, and her tears were not going to stop him from getting it.

  “Fine, then. Let me help you out of those jeans.” His hand was already in her waistband.

  “Ziggy, please. I’m tired. It’s been a long day.” She twisted away and ducked out from under his touch.

  The muscles on his arms flexed, but he kept his finger loose. “Long day? You’ve had a long day?”

  Sheryl had the good mind to hesitate. “Yeah.” She moved into the kitchen, set her purse on the counter next to the dirty dishes. “Zoe’s in town.”

  “So this is about that prissy daughter of yours.”

  “Ours.”

  He rubbed the side of his groin to keep the anger from affecting his abilities. “You raised her.”

  Sheryl mumbled something and turned away.

  “You have something to say?” His voice rose above the noise of the television.

  “I—I said I’d make you something to eat.”

  Ziggy forced his teeth not to sink into each other and slowly followed her into the kitchen. “Is that what you said?”

  Sheryl turned her back on him. Her bony ass pushed out when she opened the refrigerator and reached for a gallon of milk.

  He grasped her elbow and put just enough pressure to keep her from picking crap from the fridge. “I don’t think that’s what you said. Would you like to try again?”

  The fear in her face when she looked at him now was a much better image than a moment before.

  “Let me cook you dinner.”

  “I don’t want dinner.” He pushed her against the counter, made sure she knew exactly what he was going to get before he ate. “And you need to stop lying. You know how I feel about lying.”

  She lowered her head. “I’m sorry. It’s a hard day is all. I’m tired.”

  “Hard?” He pushed a knee between her legs. “I’ll tell you what’s hard. Seventeen years with only your hand to fuck, and then when you get out, have your woman telling you she’s tired.”

  A squeak behind them had Sheryl looking beyond his shoulder.

  “It’s okay, Zanya. Go back to bed.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Ziggy noticed that Zanya didn’t move.

  “You heard your mother!” He didn’t hold his voice down.

  “Mom?”

  He twisted around and Sheryl grabbed his hips. “Go on now, Zanya.”

  Ziggy lifted his lips when Zanya turned away.

  “Now, let’s talk about how tired you are.” He pushed a hand into Sheryl’s pants, and this time she didn’t push him away.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.”

  Luke passed Mel on the porch en route to the kitchen.

  “That bad?”

  “She’s yelling at Felix.”

  Luke paused, waiting for the bad part. “And?”

  “That’s her director.”

  Luke lowered his sunglasses and winked. “I think I’m safe.”

  Mel went back to the magazine in her lap. “It’s your skin she’ll chomp on.”

  He laughed. “I kinda like it when she chomps on my skin.”

  “Men!” was all Mel said as he walked into the inn and straight to where all the noise came from.

  The smell of something sinfully sweet mixed with bright lights and more people shoved into Miss Gina’s kitchen than Luke had ever seen.

  “Oh, thank God. Luke, tell her she’s gorgeous.” Felix nearly jumped on Luke the second he peeked his head around the corner.

  “He has to say that, I’m sleeping with him.” Zoe glanced around September, who was putting powder on her face.

  A few people behind the cameras laughed.

  So did Luke.

  Instead of giving Felix satisfaction, he stepped over cords and boxes and moved into Zoe’s production space.

  She was stunning. A little more makeup than he cared for, but he knew the need for it on film. He saw the tired under her eyes, which was probably what she didn’t care for.

  “Something isn’t quite right,” he said.

  Felix grunted and September stepped aside to give him room.

  “I told you,” Zoe said over Luke’s shoulder.

  “Let me see . . .” He dipped his finger in the frosting she was working with, placed a dab on her lips.

  “Luke,” she gasped.

  Then, before she could say anything, he kissed some of the frosting off.

  She giggled under his touch. When she tried to back away, he placed a hand on her neck and held her from going too far. Then he licked the rest of the frosting off her lips.

  He felt some of her tension leave her shoulders.

  Luke sat back, looked at her. “Much better.”

  She licked the remaining frosting off her own lips and smiled. “You’re terrible.”

  “You’re beautiful.” He dipped another finger into the frosting before filling his mouth. “This is amazing.”

  “Okay, let’s get this over with,” she said.

  Felix slumped in his chair. “Finally.”

  Luke backed out of her space and watched from the edges of the makeshift set.

  For the next hour, he stood in place and watched Zoe’s world revolve around her. He couldn’t feel more pride for the woman.

  When they called the filming done for the day, two people Luke recognized but whose names he couldn’t recall stepped in and started to put together more of the dishes that Zoe had made for the purpose of filming.

  Luke was surprised to hear her say, “I just need to change, I’ll be back to help.”

  “Take your time.”

  He followed her out of the kitchen. “You have to be tired.”

  “Exhausted. But we need to prep for tomorrow so everything is ready for Saturday.”

  He stopped her before she reached the first step of the front staircase. “You’re pushing yourself.”

  “Mel deserves the best.”

  “And she’ll get it. You’ve thou
ght of everything. Even cut her cost for all of this.”

  “She’d do the same for me. I’ll only be in the kitchen for another hour or so. Then I’ll hit the porch for some lemonade.”

  “I’ll hold you to it.”

  Zoe turned to walk upstairs when the sound of a loud exhaust pulled their attention outside.

  They both walked out to find Mel, Miss Gina, and Felix already partaking in vodka infused lemonade. They’d all turned their attention to the drive.

  Zane slammed the door of his car, anger on his face.

  “Zane?” Zoe took a step forward, but Luke caught her arm, keeping her from going very far.

  “Nice going. You couldn’t just leave things alone, could you?” Zane yelled.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Mom . . . she’s been crying all day.”

  “I haven’t seen her.”

  “She said you ignored her yesterday, and today you sent that letter.”

  Luke made a point of standing in front of Zoe when Zane inched closer to the steps.

  “What letter?”

  “Telling her to uninvite herself to the wedding.” Zane’s eyes skirted to Mel. “Shitty thing to do.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “Everything was fine. You just had to come back and stick a fork in him.”

  Zoe stepped around Luke. “Can you stop yelling for a minute and listen?”

  “You think you’re better than us.”

  Miss Gina stood. “That’s enough!”

  “I didn’t send a letter, Zane.”

  “Dad said you’d deny it.”

  Luke saw the moment Zoe realized what was happening. He couldn’t help but wonder if Ziggy himself sent the letter to turn Zoe’s family even more against her.

  “Ziggy . . . you’re believing Ziggy over me?”

  “Now he’s pissed and yelling all day. Everything was fine.”

  Zoe pulled away from Luke and reached Zane in a few steps. “Zane . . . listen, please.”

  She placed a hand on her brother’s arm and everything moved in slow motion.

  Zane instantly shoved her away, causing her to stumble in her high heels. She met the ground, breaking her fall with her hands.

  Luke flew down the steps and crashed both hands into Zane’s chest, pushing him against the car. Adrenaline like nothing he’d ever felt drew his fist back and connected it with Zane’s jaw.