Fries Before Guys (Cupid's Cafe Where love is on the menu Book 5)

by Ashley Lauren

Tammy closed her eyes and had to fight back her own tears. The pain on Jack’s face was so raw and close to the surface. She’d known he loved his wife, but it was painfully clear that he still loved her. I just don’t think there’s enough room in his heart for him to love me that much, too. Tammy spun on her heel and exited Jack’s study.

  Tears blurred her eyes as she walked down the hallway, to the stairs, and toward the front door. I finally found the perfect guy, and his heart is already taken. It just isn’t fair. Tammy knew that Jack was the one, but she couldn’t share him with Ellie. It wasn’t fair to her or Jack.

  Tammy exited the house. It was rude to leave, but she just couldn’t stay. She had to get away so that she could think and regroup. It was only a mile or so to her house, and the walk home would clear her head. Tammy got halfway down the street when she realized she was still wearing Jack’s sports coat. I can’t even make a clean getaway.

  Tammy turned and began to walk back to the house. There were two chairs and a small table on the porch that Tammy hadn’t noticed before. She slipped the coat off, intending to leave it on the chair when the door opened.

  “Tammy, what’s going on?” Jack asked.

  Chapter 15

  After Jack had made up with Dixie, he’d looked up to thank Tammy, and she was gone. He’d searched the house and hadn’t found her. Worried, he’d gone to the front door and found her placing his jacket on the chair.

  “I… um… It was just such a personal moment that I thought it was better I leave,” Tammy said, stepping off the porch.

  Jack was confused. Tammy was the one who’d asked Dixie to apologize. Why would she need to leave for that?

  “You didn’t have to do that. Dixie wanted to watch a movie, and I thought I could make popcorn for all of us,” Jack said.

  Tammy looked at him with an odd expression. She blinked a couple of times, and he saw a tear roll down her cheek. He stepped forward and gently took her arm.

  “Tammy what’s wrong? Why are you upset?”

  Tears flooded her eyes. “I just can’t be second best.”

  Jack shook his head. “Huh? What are you talking about?”

  It was clear that something had gotten Tammy emotional, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what that was from her statement.

  Tammy sniffed. “You’re still in love with your wife, and I can’t compete with that. I want your whole heart Jack, not just the part that’s leftover.

  Jack’s eyes widened. Ellie. The dress. That’s what has her upset. Jack stuck his head into the house and yelled, “Dixie, why don’t you pick out the movie. I’ll just be on the front porch with Tammy. Okay?”

  Dixie’s answer filtered in from the family room, “Okay.”

  Jack shut the front door and turned back to Tammy. She stood there looking like a lost puppy with its heart shining out if its eyes. Jack gestured to the chair.

  “Please, sit. Let me explain.”

  Tammy sniffed and shook her head. “I just want to go home.”

  “Then, I’ll drive you home, but give me a chance to explain.”

  Tammy glanced over her shoulder toward the street and then back to the chair. She shuffled forward and sat, looking out at the street and away from Jack.

  “You’re right. I did… do love Ellie very much. I’ll always see her smile in Dixie’s, but just because I love her doesn’t mean there isn’t room for you.” Jack took her hand and squatted down so that he was at her level.

  Tammy looked at him for a second, then away. “I’ve waited too long to find someone I felt I could be with, and I don’t want to share.”

  Jack’s heart pulsed. Could she really love him so soon? He had to admit that if he pictured his life from this point on, he saw Tammy in it. And that was something he’d learned about love from his wife. Love was so much more than a romantic feeling, it was a willingness to share your life with someone and make room for them in your heart.

  “Honey, you don’t have to share me or my love. Don’t you know that the best part about love is that it can grow and expand without limits or bounds? Just because I still have a place in my heart for Ellie doesn’t mean that there is any less love for you.”

  “Really?” Tammy looked at him with hopeful eyes.

  “I’m absolutely possible. When Dixie was born, I couldn’t believe how overnight my heart grew twice as big.”

  A tear leaked down Tammy’s cheek. “That’s so sweet.”

  “So, are you willing to see if both our hearts can expand to fit each other?” Jack said, pulling Tammy to her feet.

  Tammy stared at her feet for what felt like an eternity to Jack, but it was only a few seconds. Then, she looked directly into Jack’s eyes, and he felt his heart expand just a bit.

  “I think I am,” Tammy answered and pressed a light kiss to Jack’s lips. “When did you get so smart about love?”

  Jack pulled Tammy’s ear to his lips. “Want to know a secret? I learned it from a Barbie movie.”

  Tammy laughed. “You’re joking!”

  Jack made an X over his heart. “I swear. Dixie loves those movies. I think it was one about a princess on an island.”

  Tammy pushed at his shoulder. “You’re incorrigible.”

  Jack pulled Tammy to his side, right where she belonged, and opened the door. “Most definitely. Now, how about the popcorn and movie? Maybe it will be Barbie so you can verify my claim.”

  “That sounds great.”

  Jack led Tammy into the family room. Dixie was waiting.

  “Can I sit between you two?” she asked with an angelic look on her face.

  “Of course,” Jack answered, sitting down on one end of the couch. Tammy sat down on the other, sandwiching the little girl between them. “How’s this?” Jack asked, kissing the top of her head.

  “Perfect.” She giggled, leaning against her father and clicking through the movies.

  “So, what are we going to watch?” Tammy inquired, looking up at the large screen.

  “I’m trying to decide between The Power Puff Girls Movie and Barbie…” Dixie explained like it was one of the hardest decisions in the world.

  Tammy snickered under her breath. “Hmmm, both of those sound good…” She eyed Jack with a mischievous grin. “What do you think, Jack?”

  “Oh, don’t ask me. I know nothing about these Powder Duff Girls.”

  “Power Puff Girls, daddy!” Dixie reprimanded.

  “Oh, my apologies. Power Poff Girls.”

  “No, Power Puff Girls.” Dixie’s face was getting red.

  “Ah, Power Puff Girls. That makes total sense.”

  Dixie pouted, narrowing her eyes at her father. “We’ll watch Barbie, instead.”

  Tammy let out a bark of laughter and Jack grinned.

  He winked at Tammy and said, “You’ll see. All my great wisdom has come from a Barbie movie.”

  Dixie pushed his shoulder and cried, “Daddy you hate Barbie movies.”

  Tammy laughed so hard, she began coughing. Dixie offered Tammy a drink of her water. Eventually, they settled down and watched the movie.

  Dixie watched the movie without a pip. Jack was surprised. He didn’t know what had gotten into her. Maybe it was the late hour, but she was acting like a saint. He gently ran his fingers through her long dark hair and smiled to himself, enjoying this moment of serenity. It wasn’t often that he got to spend quiet, quality time like this with his daughter.

  And it seemed that Tammy was the cause of all this. The kindergarten teacher had a way of taming his little devil of a daughter. And a way with me, too. Smiling at the thought, he reached over and took Tammy’s hand.

  Tammy looked over and smiled. Their fingers tangled together, and she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. They continued to hold hands behind Dixie. Jack felt content for the first time in ages. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling. He’d found someone who could make him truly happy.

  Tammy had suddenly appeared in his life one day. He was a regular at Cupid’
s but had never seen her there before. What were the odds that he would run into her on his daughter’s first day of school when she got in trouble? It was a chance encounter, and he would be forever grateful for it.

  He leaned over and planted a small kiss on Tammy’s cheek. She turned her head and kissed him back.

  Just like when they were under the arch, the kiss was sweet and passionate. Their lips lingered for a moment longer before they pulled away and gazed into each other’s eyes. Jack felt like he could see the whole world in the depth of Tammy’s blue eyes. A shiver of elation crawled under his skin.

  Before he could think about it any further, Dixie turned on the couch, nuzzling her head into her father’s lap. He looked down to find her fast asleep. He chuckled, turning off the TV. “I think I should put her in bed. I’ll be right back, okay?”

  Tammy nodded. Gently, he placed his arms under his daughter’s body and hoisted her up.

  Effortlessly, he carried her up the stairs. In her room, he tucked her in tightly, kissing the top of her head. He was glad she was learning to behave herself.

  “Goodnight, pumpkin,” he whispered, placing Mr. Waddles, her stuffed penguin, in her arms. He turned off the light and left the room, making his way back downstairs.

  In the living room, he stopped in his tracks, seeing Tammy fast asleep and curled up on the couch. He stood and admired her. Her flawless skin. Her fiery hair. Her curvy figure. She really is a fairytale princess. Jack took another few seconds to enjoy the scene before he walked over and picked her up, careful not to wake her.

  He carried her upstairs where he brought her to his room. Gently, he placed her on his bed. He gathered the blankets and covered her after taking off her shoes. He took one more moment to look at her sleeping face before leaving the room. Downstairs, he grabbed some fresh pajamas from the laundry room and put them on. He settled himself on the couch, smiling at the thought that there were two gorgeous girls sleeping on the floor above him. How did I get so lucky?

  ***

  The heavenly scent of cooking bacon infiltrated Tammy’s nostrils. She stretched out her arms and legs, wondering where the scent could be coming from. Her eyes felt heavy, and she rubbed at them.

  Suddenly, something landed on top of her, knocking the air from her lungs. “What…?”

  Dixie bounced on Tammy’s stomach. “Tammy! You slept over! But what are you doing in Daddy’s bed?”

  Tammy’s eyes grew wide. She was in Jack’s bed? Had they slept together? Quickly, with her heart pounding in her chest, she glanced over at the other side, but it was completely untouched. It didn’t look like anyone had slept there. She sighed in relief. This relationship was important to her, and she didn’t want to rush things.

  “Um… I don’t know. I think I fell asleep,” Tammy answered.

  “Well, breakfast is ready. Daddy told me to come get you. He made scrambled eggs and bacon. It’s the best.” She giggled, rolled off Tammy, and bounced off the bed onto the floor.

  “Come on Tammy!” Dixie began tugging on Tammy’s hand.

  “I’m coming. Give me a second to get out of bed.”

  Soon, they were in the kitchen together. Jack was standing there in his pajamas, an apron around his body. At that very moment, he was flipping a pancake. Tammy was quite impressed when she noticed the meal he had prepared. Bacon. Eggs. Pancakes. This was a breakfast that could even match Cupids. “Wow…”

  “I hope you like it,” Jack said, keeping his eyes focused on the skillet in front of him. “I didn’t know what you preferred in the morning so I made a little bit of everything.”

  A gentleman who could cook lasagna and pancakes. “It all sounds good to me, but I would have been happy with toast. You really didn’t have to go to all the trouble.”

  “Nonsense,” Jack said and turned to wink at Dixie. “Dixie here loves any excuse for pancakes.”

  “Sit next to me!” Dixie chimed, pulling out a chair for Tammy.

  “Okay, okay.” Tammy sat in the seat that Dixie offered.

  “Are you going to sleep over all the time now?” Dixie asked.

  “Oh well...” Tammy answered, a little unsure how to answer this question. She’d only known Jack a little over a week, and she had no plans to move their relationship along that quickly. She decided to stick to the facts for Dixie. “Actually, I think I just fell asleep on the couch. It must have been past my bedtime.”

  Tammy poked Dixie in the tummy, and she giggled.

  “You’re silly. Adults get to stay up as late as they want. They don’t have bedtimes.”

  Tammy was relieved she’d managed to distract Dixie from the sleepover question, and she played along. “Yes, they do.”

  Dixie put her hand on her hips and declared, “No, they don’t.”

  “Okay, you win. Adults get to stay up late so that they can play with all the kid toys while you are sleeping.” Tammy kept her face completely serious.

  Dixie’s eyes widened. “I knew it!”

  Tammy put her finger to her lips. “Shhh. It’s a secret.”

  Dixie pretended to zip her lips shut.

  “Alright. One chocolate chip pancake for you Dixie,” Jack said and slipped a pancake onto the plate in front of her. He turned and picked up a second pancake for Tammy. “And here’s yours, my lady.”

  Jack leaned in and whispered into Tammy’s ear. “You’re more than welcome to come over and play with Dixie’s toys with me anytime you like.”

  Jack winked, and Tammy flushed bright red. Maybe he’s not such a gentleman after all!

  Chapter 16

  Weather anchors all over Berkeley were in a flourish, broadcasting about the small flurry that had made its appearance on Christmas day. Many people were terming it a ‘Christmas Miracle.’

  “Look! Daddy! Tammy! It’s snowing,” Dixie cried.

  The past few months had been a little bit of heaven for Tammy. Jack, Tammy, and Dixie had spent as much time as possible together. So much time that Tammy often felt they were a family.

  “Is it really? In Berkeley?” Jack asked.

  The TV had been off all morning so they hadn’t heard the weather report. In a state of disbelief, the new couple walked up to the window. Lo and behold, it was indeed snowing outside. Small snowflakes fluttered from the sky. It wasn’t enough to stick to the ground but was a beautiful sight nonetheless.

  “It’s wonderful,” Tammy breathed. It only snowed in Berkeley about once every forty years. She was glad to be able to share this magical moment with her newfound family.

  “Can I go outside and play?” Dixie asked.

  “Yes. But stay in the backyard, where I can see you from the kitchen window, okay?” Jack warned.

  Dixie nodded quickly and then ran up the stairs to get her winter outfit. Moments later, she was all geared up in a large fluffy parka, a hat, gloves, and big red snow boots. She was barely able to waddle down the stairs in the excess of clothes.

  “Go on, you abominable snowman,” Jack teased his daughter.

  Dixie struggled with the door, to the point where Tammy had to open it for her. Alfred rushed outside before either Jack or Tammy could stop him. Tammy was about to go after him when Jack shook his head.

  “Don’t worry, we have a gate, and Dixie has been pretty good about not opening it since the time she ended up hosing you down.”

  Tammy smiled, remembering the day that was now nearly four months in the past. It was mind-boggling to think that so much had changed in such a short amount of time. She had bounced back from the worst date of her life and gotten the best boyfriend she could ever ask for. Life was really taking a turn for the better.

  “So, are you still good with stuffed chicken for our Christmas dinner?” Jack opened up the fridge, looking inside.

  “Depends.”

  “On?” He raised an eyebrow in her direction.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer. “Whether I get to cook it with you.”

  Jack lowered his
lips to hers. She smiled and allowed her lips to linger against his, even after the kiss was over. The sweet taste of his lips continued to surprise her. She smiled, glad that she had listened to Katy. Things really did work out in the end.

  “Of course, how could I say no to a face like that? You’re almost as bad as Dixie when it comes to giving me the face.” He chuckled, running his fingers through her long, fiery locks.

  Tammy had allowed her hair to grow out the past few months, and now, it was nearly down to her waist. Jack said he loved it and joked that it would be handy if she ever got locked in a tower by a witch. Dixie thought that was hilarious. Tammy just shook her head at them both.

  Tammy pulled free from Jack and went to go get an apron. “Stop stalling and let’s get cooking.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Jack saluted.

  ***

  Jack and Tammy spent nearly the whole day preparing Christmas dinner. The kitchen was filled with a light, and airy atmosphere as both of them joked and played with each other like a couple of teenagers, cooking their first meal together. For years, Tammy had spent Christmas Day alone due to her lack of family, but now, she got to spend it with Jack and Dixie, and she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

  “Well, we’re finally done…” Jack breathed in, wiping the sweat from his brow.

  The table was set to perfection, with the beautifully garnished chicken as its centerpiece.

  “We did a pretty good job if I may say so myself.” Jack grinned, a proud look on his face.

  “We did, but we’re all filthy.” Tammy looked down at her oil splattered and flour-caked apron and clothes. The apron had caught most of the damage during one of the flour-wars, but her clothes still looked like she was wearing her dinner.

  “We should probably change,” Jack suggested.

  Tammy agreed and went to put on the Christmas outfit she’d brought.

  Meanwhile, Dixie grew bored of playing outside. She’d been in and out throughout the day, but she was pretty sure she was done for good. Her cheeks were cold, and her fingertips were frozen. Alfred was also shivering from the cold.