He gave up and motioned to Reuben’s open door.
Inside, Reuben was putting Jace’s folder down, his brow furrowed. But he looked up, and his face brightened. “Hey, Georgie. Have a seat.”
She left Jace and took the chair across from Reuben at his small desk. She glanced at the certificates of his titles framed on the wall. Jace’s was up there too.
“How do you like working here, Georgie?”
“Is this a trick question?” She swallowed. Had he found out somehow about her and Jace in the cooler? Is that what he and Jace had talked about in here before she’d come in? What had Jace said to her? Something about choices and respect? Oh, please, no. Nothing happened, and it wouldn’t be happening again. “Am I in trouble?”
He smiled. “No. And after this morning, I don’t see how you could ask that. But tell me what you think. How do you like working here?” He watched her expectantly.
She let out a sigh of relief. “I like working here.” Simple as that. “I’m grateful for this job. It’s on the island. The staff is nice. It can be stressful, but it’s . . .” She searched for the words. She remembered how she felt that morning, anticipating the joy the food would bring to the assembled crew. “There’s a buzz that happens, like everybody’s kind of excited to get good food out to people.”
Reuben nodded. “It’s a bit contagious. Is that all?”
She swallowed. “Well, I’m learning a lot.”
His brow raised a tick in interest. “Would you like to learn more?”
She couldn’t guess what he was after. She went with the safe answer. “Sure?”
He reached behind him and turned back with a professional-looking pamphlet about the size of a dinner plate. He set it in front of her. “What would you think about attending Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School down near Seattle?”
Her eyes grew wide. “What?” Her heart began to race, and she wasn’t sure why. Her gaze dropped to the pamphlet, though, and she had to keep her fingers from reaching for it.
“After watching you today, I consulted with Jace, as my sous-chef, about whether or not he thought you had any interest in pursuing the culinary arts. He was careful about his answer.”
She lifted her gaze from the pamphlet, eyes still wide. “What did he say?”
Reuben leaned forward on his elbows and pressed his large fingertips together. “He said he thought you had a lot of potential, that you seemed a natural at putting things together once you were taught.” He grinned. “That you had a knack for finding inspiration.”
She rolled her eyes, but her leg bounced with her body’s excess energy. She didn’t even know she was coming up with ideas when she was coming up with ideas. But she eyed the pamphlet again.
“He said he thought you enjoyed the process of cooking. Of becoming a ‘mad scientist’ in the kitchen.”
A small smile played at the corners of her mouth, but she looked away. “I didn’t even know what saffron was until Thursday.”
“He also said he didn’t want you to feel pressured in any way because he figured you’d be good at anything you wanted to do. It’s just an idea. A good one.”
People should do what makes them feel like it could be a part of them. Passionate. Because they’ve chosen it. Not because somebody else chose for them.
Jace’s words came back a little clearer now.
Reuben pushed the pamphlet toward her. “I enjoy a long history with this particular school. Jace didn’t know your educational background, but he did say you’re recovering from a pretty bad car accident and that you might’ve had to quit school before you were ready. Now, mind you, he was strictly discussing this in answer to my questions about a scholarship, and he informed me that I should ask you myself. Forgive me, but is that true?”
Scholarship? She wasn’t sure whether to be angry at Jace or not. “Yes,” she answered. “It’s true that you should ask me yourself.”
He looked at the desk and laughed. But he sobered and studied her face. “Was it bad?” he asked quietly.
She paused, then nodded, trying not to mist up.
“I’m sorry. I would never have guessed.” He tapped the top of the pamphlet. “Will you think about it? They sent me Jace and Haru and a few others before them. You could move up to assistant cook . . . sous-chef . . .” He raised his eyebrow at her.
She couldn’t help the smile that came. Or the eye roll. Carefully she reached for the pamphlet, placing two fingers on top of it and drawing it toward her. “I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I’m asking.” He grinned and rapped his knuckles on the desk.
Georgie emerged from the office and scanned the kitchen.
“If you’re looking for Jace, he just left,” Caleb said. He pointed at the back door.
She walked that way, opened the door, and stepped out into the sunshine. She squinted and held the culinary-school pamphlet up to shade her eyes, watching the tail-end of Jace’s motorcycle disappear over the rise and down the hill, its roar fading on the air.
She’d have to catch him at work later. To thank him. Or wring his neck.
But he wasn’t at work.
Tyler must have been keeping a lookout for her because as soon as Georgie emerged from her car, he hurried over and joined her as she walked to the back door of the restaurant.
“Hey, I was waiting for you,” he said with a smile. “Did you get my text?”
“Uh—” She checked her phone, and sure enough, there was a text from Tyler.
Want to see that movie tonight? Megan wants to see the late show. Thought it would be fun if we doubled. Escape.
He’d included a link to the movie trailer.
“Well?” he asked.
“I didn’t see this.” She tried to land on an answer for him. Honestly, her first instinct was to say she was busy, but that would be a lie. And then she considered that maybe a movie out with Tyler would be good for her. On the other hand—
“You don’t have to look so pained over it.”
She looked up at him. “I’m not pained.”
He shook his head. “You don’t look excited.”
“I was wondering if I’d be good company, that’s all. I’m beat, and I haven’t even started my shift. I worked all morning helping Jace with the new menu—”
“Ah.” He folded his arms and kicked the ground. “Jace.”
“Yes, Jace. And I don’t even want to be here right now. I want to be home under a quilt. Maybe reading a book. I like books.” Yes. Maybe she’d escape into a book, where other people made decisions and faced consequences and chased dreams.
He cocked his head at her. “Well, maybe we could watch a movie at our house instead of going to one—”
She touched her forehead. “Maybe you should just ask someone else.” The words, impatient and flat, were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
“Oh.” He frowned and looked away but nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
“Tyler, I didn’t mean to say it that way.”
“But you did mean to say it.” He strode ahead of her, climbing the steps and opening the door for her.
Great, now two guys were avoiding eye contact with her, though one was still getting the door for her.
She paused at the top of the steps. “Whether I did or didn’t, I’m obviously not good company. For anybody. I’m sorry.”
He nodded, looking down. She went through the doorway, feeling like a slug.
“If Jace had asked you out tonight, would you have said yes?” he asked quickly.
She stopped, catching a few interested glances from overhearing staff, and looked at him. She lowered her voice. “I’m not playing this game, Tyler. I’m not dating anyone. I don’t want to date anyone. I shouldn’t be dating anyone.” She turned away, taking off her jacket. “I’m broken,” she mumbled. “Remember?”
He didn’t answer.
Later, after she’d observed Tyler’s extra diligence at the sink, she overheard Haru ask Reuben where Jace was.
“Enjoying this great weather.”
“Maybe. He’s painting his rental for his landlady.”
Haru chuckled. “He finally takes a break and paints a house.” He shook his head.
That feeling of foreboding Georgie had experienced earlier returned as she added cups of dressing to the plates in front of her.
“Georgie.”
“Hm?” She looked up to see Mai watching her.
“This is a baked potato. It gets the sour cream. The vinaigrette goes here.” She switched the cups.
“Sorry.”
“No prob.” She flashed a smile and walked away with the plates.
Georgie read off the new order. “Sirloin with crab legs, rare; captain’s plate; salmon plank and . . . no, sorry, salmon grill; and the prime rib, medium.” She looked it over again with a quick glance. “Sorry, that’s two captain’s plates.”
Reuben looked pointedly in her direction.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “Distracted.”
“I can’t imagine why.” He winked. “Try to focus.”
A few seconds later, Georgie stopped herself from slicing a baked potato like a loaf of bread.
It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 20
Jace hadn’t seen or spoken to Georgie since Saturday. Two days. He wished he could say he hadn’t thought of her since then either. He’d done everything he could to keep busy. He’d been perched at the top of the ladder ever since the early sunshine had dried the house siding. He’d rented a paint sprayer for the job and was grateful for that decision. Even with all the taping and covering the windows he’d had to do, each coat was going on fast and smooth. A couple hours after he’d started, he’d also made the decision that his own home would be brick. As it was, though, he was finally on the last coat.
“Hey, dog.”
At the sound of Georgie’s voice, Jace’s stomach made that annoying drop. He twisted on the rung of his ladder and found the source of the greeting.
She crouched, rubbing behind Kit’s ears. Kit’s tongue wagged shamelessly. Georgie stood and folded her arms, squinting up at him. She spoke over the sound of the sprayer pump. “Are you snorkeling?”
He pulled off his protective eye gear and let it hang from his neck.
“My mistake,” she said. “Raccoons don’t snorkel.”
He rested his arms on the top rung. He was painting the house white, and he was pretty sure that with his goggles shielding his eyes from paint and his old dark ball cap sitting backward on his head, she wasn’t far off in her observation. “No, but we’re excellent swimmers. What are you doing here?” he asked. He searched for her car. “Did you walk?”
She nodded. “It’s not far, you know? I, uh, didn’t get to talk to you before you left on Saturday.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d want to,” he said.
“That’s fair.”
“I had to take advantage of the sun and start painting.”
She nodded. “Is that why you’re taking all these days off?”
“Mostly.” He didn’t say any more, and she just blinked up at him, her hand shading her eyes from the sun.
He let out a deep sigh and climbed down the ladder to the ground, switching off the pump for the sprayer. He grabbed a damp towel and mopped himself up.
“I didn’t mean for you to stop painting.”
“Yes, you did.”
She didn’t argue with him. “It looks good,” she surveyed his side of the duplex. She looked at him sideways. “You weren’t at church yesterday.”
“Yeah, I slept in and went to the singles branch.”
She nodded. Kit brushed up against her, his tail zigzagging wildly. She patted his head. “What’s his name again?”
“Kitsap.”
“Nice to meet you, Kitsap. Good dog.”
With the extra attention, Kit’s whole body began to wag with joy as he nudged her playfully.
“Whoa—” Georgie lost her balance, laughing.
“Kit, get over here.” Kit walked over to Jace and plopped down on the ground, panting as if he’d run a mile.
“His eyes are cool,” she said.
Jace nodded, looking at his dog. A silence settled between them as he tried to decide if he should just come out and ask her what she’d thought of Reuben’s idea or if he was allowed to ask her questions anymore or . . .
“Well,” she said, “I don’t mean to keep you. I just wanted to tell you that I think the culinary school idea is . . . interesting. And I’m seriously considering it.”
He tempered the thrill her words gave him by crossing his arms and looking at his feet. “I’m glad.”
“I mean, I might as well learn how to properly use a chef’s knife.”
He peeked up at her.
She half shrugged. “And all the other things.”
He smiled. “Well, whatever the reason, I think it’s great that you’re considering it. And just so you know, it was Reuben’s idea, not mine.”
“What difference does that make?” she asked.
He paused. “Because I wouldn’t want you to think that I was . . . trying to be controlling . . . or whatever.”
“I wouldn’t think that.”
Jace lifted his gaze in question.
She shook her head. “Not with what you’ve told me about your dad.”
His gaze dropped to the ground again. On the one hand, she’d told him she would trust him not to be controlling. On the other hand, she’d struck a nerve.
He took a deep breath and looked around the yard. “I need a drink and something to eat. Do you want to come inside? Or would you rather wait out here?”
She looked toward the house. “I’ll follow you.”
Jace offered to make her a sandwich, but she turned him down. She did take a can of Vernors, and they both sat at the small table. He rubbed the back of his neck, staring at his sandwich while she looked around at his front room and kitchen. Kit had followed them inside and had plopped down at Jace’s feet under the table.
“My landlady’s putting in new carpet and appliances and stuff,” Jace said as if trying to make an excuse for the apartment’s bleak appearance.
“Oh, nice,” she said. She eyed his duffel bags in the corner, and her smile faded. “Are you going somewhere? A hotel while they do the carpet?” She reached up and rubbed the scar over her eye. “You said on Saturday in the kitchen that you’d leave me instructions so I’d know what to do. And you had me do most of the cooking. That’s why Reuben offered me the scholarship. He saw me doing the hard stuff.” Finally she looked at him, and her blue eyes locked on his. “Are you going somewhere?”
Slowly he nodded.
“Where?”
He pushed his plate around a bit on the table. He should have told her sooner. He’d put it off. “Home.”
“To visit?”
“Sort of.” He pushed his plate to the side and leaned forward, folding his hands in front of him. “My sister asked me to come take over the diner while my mom and dad work out some things. My dad won’t leave it for anyone else, and they need to get away for a while.”
She swallowed. “Oh.”
He shrugged. “I’m leaving Wednesday morning. So I’ve got to get this house painted for Mrs. Feddler.”
“But what about your job? What about the new menu?”
“The new menu is a sure thing. I don’t need to be there for it. And Reuben is being pretty understanding.”
“So Reuben knows? Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Why would he?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. She quickly shut it.
“Look,” Jace said. “On Saturday I was still thinking about everything. And when I told him I had to go, he was supportive. He’ll hold my position for a while, so I can figure out what I want to do.”
“What do you mean ‘what you want to do?’ Are you thinking . . .
are you thinking you might not come back?”
She held his gaze, and he couldn’t look away. “I’m not sure.”
She blinked and then suddenly stood, rubbing her forehead. “So you’ve known for, like, two days and haven’t told me? Were you just going to leave?” Her voice rose. “What about the people at work? Were you just going to have Reuben announce it? They love you there, Jace. They love you.” She was breathing heavier now because she was ticked.
“I’m coming into work tomorrow after the house is finished and I’m all packed.”
She threw her hand out toward the dog. “And what about Kit?”
“He’s coming with me. I’ve got a crate for the back of the bike.”
“You’re taking your motorcycle? To Nevada? Are you crazy?”
He folded his arms. “Really?”
She folded her arms too, and they locked eyes. After half a minute, she turned away, her jaw tight, her leg bouncing. “What about the tulip fields?”
“I’m sorry about that. I may be back in time.”
“Or not,” she said.
He didn’t say anything. It was true. She could see the tulips with her family. He’d made his decision.
“I would have to come back for the rest of my things.”
Her shoulders dropped. “But you like it here.” Her voice had softened. She took a couple steps toward the front window. “You like it here. And your recipes are on the menu. And you told me . . . you told me not to let other people choose what you do . . .”
“I’m helping my family when they need me. That’s different.”
She turned back to him. “But you might not come back.” Her chest rose and lowered, and she pressed her lips together. “Not to stay.”
He got up and walked to her as she turned away. He paused just behind her, close enough to draw his arms around her if he could.
“Are you going to stay here forever, Georgie?” he asked.
Her answer was muffled as she stared out the window. “I don’t know.”
“Can I tell you a secret?”
She shrugged.
“I’m as confused as you are.”
She turned, looking down. She sniffled and nodded.
Kisses in the Rain Page 26