Worth the Risk: (A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance)

by Weston Parker

  She pulled it out. It was addressed to Gourmet on the Go, care of Lila Johnstone. The sender was something called The Mountain Home Foundation. She didn't recognize the name.

  Lila threw the envelope on the table and stared at it. She didn't open it. Gourmet on the Go was over, that part of her life in the past. It would be easier to toss the envelope into the garbage and forget she'd even seen it.

  But a part of her wouldn't allow it. So it sat there, unopened. And she left it there when, at precisely 7 pm, Dave Cooper arrived to take her out to dinner.

  * * *

  The restaurant was Italian, the atmosphere typical of local Italian eateries. Dusty wax fruit, faux exposed brick, and frescos of the Italian countryside. Despite the decorating, the smells coming from the kitchen were delightful. Lila felt her stomach rumble and hoped it wasn't loud enough to be heard. It seemed her appetite had decided to return.

  Dave pulled out her chair for her and Lila almost blushed at his politeness. He took the seat across from her and smiled. They stared at each other for a few moments, and Lila's nervousness bubbled up. This was the first time she'd ever been on a date. The thought was jarring, considering that she'd done just about everything else with a man, but never once been bought dinner first.

  "I'm glad you agreed to come," Dave said after they'd ordered. He dug through the bread basket, pulling out a warm slice and spreading butter on it. "I know it's been a tough time for you lately and I wasn't sure you'd agree."

  "Neither was I." Lila decided the truth was the best option for the evening. "I haven't been getting out much since I moved back to town."

  "So you're back for good? That's too bad."

  Lila frowned. "I'm not completely sure, but I don't think I'll be moving back to Portland anytime soon."

  Dave nodded. "I understand. But I don't think you should give up on a whole city because of a bit of bad press."

  "Really?"

  "A bit of bad press" made it sound like her business had been given a negative review in the local paper. Or that her kitchen had been rated poorly by public health. Oh your kitchen got rated, her contentious inner voice reminded her. It got X-rated.

  Still, Lila was interested in an outsider's perspective. "You don't think my chances of building a business are entirely shot?"

  Dave's brow furrowed. "Well, I think Gourmet on the Go is gone, excuse the pun."

  Lila frowned and Dave hastened to continue. "But that doesn't mean you couldn't start over again. Rebrand."

  "Maybe." And maybe I could change my name too. Dye my hair. Wear heels. Become a different person all together.

  Dave clearly saw she was skeptical. "It would definitely be a challenge. But I've got an idea, and I think you're going to like it."

  "Oh yeah?" Lila didn't share his certainty.

  "Yes. I know it's kind of sudden, but I have a proposition for you."

  The arrival of dinner interrupted his speech. Lila took a breath, staring down at her plate. His words were unsettling, and it seemed her appetite had once again fled.

  Dave took a bite of his pasta then set down his fork. "I told you I've been thinking about expanding, about setting up a new cart." At her nod, he continued. "Well, I've thought about it, and I've decided that maybe a new cart isn't what's needed. Instead, I've thought of diversifying. Of getting into catering."

  Lila's eyebrows rose. This was unexpected.

  "And since you've got catering experience, I thought maybe you'd like to team up."

  Lila was speechless for a moment before she responded. "I wouldn't say I'm that experienced. I only catered two events before I...screwed up."

  Dave pushed his glasses up his nose and stared at her. "You don't seem like the type to make the same mistake twice."

  Lila frowned. If only you knew...

  "Besides, two successful events are better than none. And you're familiar with the business end, with the licensing and promotion. We'd start small, focus on office events and personal parties."

  "I don't know if I'd be much help with that. Burritos aren't fine dining, remember, and that's where my training lies."

  "You're a smart lady. I'm sure you'd catch on quick."

  Lila peered at him, considering his proposal. "I'm not sure if I'd be a good choice as a partner. I haven't decided what I want to do with my future, and I'm in no rush to return to the city."

  Dave's grin faded. "I understand. But if you give it a chance, I'm sure we could make it work. Who knows? You're a nice woman, and I'm not a bad looking guy. We might become something more than partners."

  Was he saying what she thought he was saying? She'd figured he might like her as more than a business buddy, but he'd never been so forward before. Was he suggesting a business partnership and a relationship?

  Like that's worked so well for you.

  Lila frowned, wondering if her mistake with Drake had allowed Dave to assume she regularly mixed business and pleasure. Besides, they barely knew each other. Before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out. "But your mother hates me."

  Dave frowned. "That doesn't matter. It's time I stopped caring so much about what Mother thinks. I'm not getting any younger." He met her gaze. "Neither of us are."

  Lila's face froze at his words and she tried not to take offense.

  He continued. "Look, we've got a lot in common. We're both from the same town, the same roots. We both like to cook, and we want to build a successful business. I've been steadily increasing my profits, and I think I've got a lot to offer. I might not be rich," he said, tossing her a knowing look that made Lila inwardly cringe, "but I'm comfortable."

  She caught his gist. "You're saying I could do worse."

  "You could."

  "But what about better?" The words were unstoppable. She'd said she was going to be honest and apparently she'd meant it.

  Dave shrugged, but she thought she saw a burst of anger in his eyes. "Life isn't a fairy tale. Sometimes compromise is the best choice you can make."

  Compromise. He meant that she should settle, should give up her dream of a gourmet business and concentrate on something less, something she could handle. But the subtext of his words said something else.

  She should compromise with her heart. She wasn't the type to end up with a millionaire. She was just a caterer, one from a small town who should learn her place. And Dave was right, she could do worse than him, even if he was a little too involved with his mother.

  But the word 'compromise' threw a chill into her chest. Compromise seemed too much like giving up.

  Still, as she stared across the table at Dave, who was keeping an eye on her as he dug into his pasta, she suddenly realized what her mother's words had meant.

  Lila had been too focused on what her mother's dream had been, a happy family. But Lila's own dream was different. Hers was a successful career, recognition for her talents. And she wasn't ready to quit. She wasn't ready to compromise. Not with her heart, and not with her ambition.

  She took a deep breath. "Dave, I appreciate the offer, but I can't accept."

  Her date grimaced. "You haven't even given the idea a chance."

  "You're right. But I don't think I'm ready to give up yet. I still think I can make it on my own."

  "Are you sure?" His eyes bored into hers, and Lila became uncomfortable under their gaze. "You haven't had much luck so far."

  Ouch. "I didn't have much time, before..."

  "Before you made a mistake."

  "Right." Lila could feel the coldness coming from the opposite side of the table. Obviously Dave hadn't expected a refusal. "I made a mistake. It happens. But that doesn't mean I should throw away everything I've worked for." Even as she said the words, she recognized how true they were.

  "You haven't got a chance in hell of getting Gourmet on the Go going again."

  "You could be right. But like you said, I could rebrand."

  Dave laughed. He fucking laughed. "Good luck." He gave her a smile. "It would be much easier to team
up with me. No need to rebrand." His hands slid across the table to grasp her own. "We could be good together."

  Lila gave him a polite smile. "Look, you barely know me. And I'm not at a stage in my life right now where I'm looking for a relationship."

  He dropped her hands. "No?" he said, his tone snarky. "Just looking for a good time on a kitchen table, huh?"

  "That's enough," she said, standing up and dropping her napkin on her plate. "I appreciate your offer, and thank you for dinner. But I'm going home now."

  "Lila, wait," he said, but didn't bother to stand. "I drove you here."

  "I know the way home."

  She turned from the table and stalked out of the restaurant.

  It was only a mile and a half to her house, and the rain was a light mist that didn't penetrate her jacket. Lila was glad she'd worn flats, though. On her walk home she tried not to think of another time, a decade ago, when she'd plodded home, soaked and embarrassed.

  She shook her head. Dinner had not gone as expected, even if she hadn't known what to expect. Her first date, and she'd walked out. It seemed doing things the traditional route hadn't worked any better for her than her other interactions with men. Maybe she was cursed.

  Things had deteriorated quickly. Maybe she'd spoken too quickly to Dave, refused his offer without proper consideration. But even as she thought this, she knew it was wrong. Although they were from the same town, Dave and she might as well have been from different planets. Or maybe she was still over the moon for a certain Tall, Dark, and Dangerous.

  Her heart wasn't open for compromise. Not when it'd already been stolen.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It took a minute for her to open the envelope. Lila sat at the kitchen table, eyes closed, breathing deeply, trying to find the courage. Her hands shook lightly, and she clenched them together. She hadn't been expecting this overwhelming nervousness after last night's decision to continue pursuing her dream. But this morning, faced with the reminder of her own failure and the proposition she'd turned down, things didn't seem so clear.

  Maybe Dave was right. Maybe she didn't have a chance in hell of recovering from her mistake. She certainly didn't have the money to try again. There was about ten grand left of the money Drake had had deposited in her bank account. She'd already spent half on deposits to other vendors. And she didn't feel right using the other half, since the job was incomplete.

  Must remember to send a check to Alex. She shook her head. Just the thought of writing his name made her shaky.

  If she intended to try again, she would have to change addresses, pay for movers, change her licensing, rebrand and re-promote. In the harsh light of day, it all seemed less and less likely. She could mortgage her mother's house, but the risk of losing it if she failed was too great. Lila sighed.

  As for Dave Cooper's offer, she knew she'd made the right decision about starting a relationship with him, either business or personal. Lila was in no shape to start dating another man, not so soon after Drake had thrown her life into chaos. The memory of his lips, of his body pressed against her, still sent shivers down her spine.

  Besides her lingering heartache over Tall, Dark, and Dangerous, she'd known very quickly that Dave Cooper wasn't right for her. He'd seemed to have a nice sense of humor and a friendly demeanor, until she'd refused him. Then he'd become like a spoiled child. Lila idly wondered if he'd gone home and cried to his mommy after their date. She almost laughed at the image, until she realized she was sitting here alone, too afraid to open a stupid envelope. Who was she to judge?

  Comparing herself to Cooper galvanized her to action, and she ripped open the envelope and almost shredded the documents inside it. Lila carefully pulled them out of their manila sheath and looked them over.

  Dear Ms. Johnstone,

  We've heard exceptional things about your talent with and passion for food. That is why we'd like to engage your services in catering a large event. Our annual "Small Town Celebration" will be taking place soon, an event that honors the spirit of small-town America. We'd like you to cater the awards dinner.

  Although the town is small, we expect nearly every resident to turn out for the dinner, and therefore the event itself could draw a couple hundred people. As we're aware of your expertise at handling large events, we believe you to be the perfect person to cater our dinner.

  The ceremony will be taking place on December 21st, so you can understand our urgency in the matter. To ensure our good faith, we have included a check as a deposit for your services. Please inform us of your decision by no later than December 14th to make certain there is enough time to confirm the travel arrangements and for your own preparations.

  We look forward to working with you.

  Sincerely,

  Tony Beckham

  Project Manager

  Mountain Home Foundation

  The letterhead was emblazed with the Mountain Home Foundation moniker and a logo that resembled smoke or clouds swirling around a mountain peak. The letter was accompanied by a suggested travel itinerary, and a check made out for $2500.

  Lila sat back, stunned. They'd heard exceptional things about her? From whom? The thought that Alex might have given them her name made her blush. Hell, 'talented' and 'passionate' would definitely describe him.

  Then again, maybe not. The foundation appeared to be some kind of non-profit. Lila wasn't sure if not making a profit held any interest for Alex. It seemed like something more up philanthropist Brice Masterson's alley.

  This is crazy.

  It was already December 10th. That left very little time for menu planning and research. And what kind of foundation waits until the last minute to confirm the caterer? If she refused, she didn't know how they'd get another one in time.

  No, this stank to high heaven. Something was up.

  She leaned her head back, resting it on the top of the chair back and staring at the ceiling. Something might be up, but at least it was something. What other opportunities did she have on the horizon?

  There hadn't been a peep from Drake. He'd fooled her once before. Could this be another attempt to score casual caterer sex? She shook her head. It seemed like too much effort. And the date. It was the same date as his wedding.

  Lila had purposefully avoided gossip sites. In the grocery store checkout lane, she kept her eyes firmly on the conveyer belt and ignored the glossy rags. Maybe the scandal had split Alana and Alex apart. But then again, Alana had known Alex was cheating when she'd come to Lila's house and warned her off. She didn't seem like a woman who wanted to give up her man.

  Maybe it really was Brice. She could call his office and ask. But...she didn't want to. If it was Brice, she didn't want it confirmed, not really. He'd already helped launch her career by hiring and overpaying her to cater the wedding. If he'd passed her name on to this foundation, his actions were probably motivated by pity.

  Pity and her friend's attempts to help. If she called, she'd have to talk to Janna about what had happened. She had let every call from her friend go to voicemail, had returned every text with an "I'm doing okay. Not ready to talk about it yet." That response would only work for so long, but she wanted to string the silence out for as long as she could. Talking about it would make it more real, and right now she preferred to think of her relationship with Alex Drake as a beautiful dream that never was. At least she wanted to think of it that way.

  Lila had never had a girlfriend to talk to about her relationships to before. Probably because she'd never had any boyfriends in school. Besides Damien, and she was too frightened to talk to any of her classmates about that one.

  And while she'd had friends at school, she hadn't gotten close to many. Several had jumped ship after middle school when they realized that being associated with the fat chick wasn't cool. So Lila had contented herself with a genuine friendship with her mother. And with keeping quiet about her interactions with Damien George.

  She lifted her head, closing her eyes and opening them, trying to blink aw
ay her doubts.

  It seemed Lila was seriously considering the offer. It would give her something to do other than dwell, and if Brice and Janna were behind the invite, then it would make them feel good to help as well.

  The check was also not to be ignored. Her savings were almost depleted and she was still paying rent on the lease in Portland, even though she wasn't staying there. Doing this job would help give her some breathing room. She could figure out her next step, decide whether to rebrand or attempt to carry on.

  Everyone had said that Gourmet on the Go was gone, but was it really? Lila considered all the sex scandals she'd heard about in the past and realized that opinion about them was changing. Having a sex tape no longer meant public denigration. Shit, some celebrities had practically built or revived their careers on them. Maybe having the tarnish of notoriety could actually help her business.

  Lila couldn't believe her own thoughts. She certainly wasn't the type to seek out that kind of infamy, but now that she had it, why not make lemonade out of her lemons? Or better yet, wine out of her sour grapes. If she wanted her business back, bigger and better than ever, then she would have to take some risks.

  Picking up the phone, she dialed the number.

  "Tony Beckham."

  His voice was pleasant, and it gave Lila an unexpected good feeling to hear it. "Hello. This is Lila Johnstone, the caterer. I'd like to accept your offer."

  "Fantastic!" As Mr. Beckham rattled off a few details that Lila jotted down, a smile crossed her face for the first time in a week. She was taking the initiative to get back what she wanted.

  * * *

  Lila entered the large revolving door that led into the Portland airport with trepidation. She walked into the open area and glanced around, fighting back her nerves. She had never been in an airport before, had never flown. It wasn't until now that she realized how simple and sheltered her life had been.