Cooking Up Love

by Gemma Brocato

  Resa’s knowing stare made Jem shut her mouth over the protest she’d started to make. “Okay, you’re right. I can see us being more than ‘just friends.’ But every time I entertain thoughts about a relationship with him, something happens to stop me cold.”

  Resa scoffed as she snagged the last pastry off the plate in front of her. “Like what?”

  “I met his ex-wife last night.”

  “So, it is his ex, right? Unless there’s something still there.”

  Jem drummed her fingers on the table in front of her. “He says there isn’t. But jeez, she’s gorgeous. And curvy. Exactly the kind of woman…”

  Understanding dawn on Resa’s face when Jem didn’t finish the sentence. Resa scowled. “Exactly the kind of woman Phil likes.”

  “I can’t help it. I keep hearing Phil spouting all that shitty stuff he said. Plus, it looked to me like Tessa still wants Jack. She strikes me as a woman who gets what she wants. If I get involved with Jack, I’ll be hurt. I feel like it’s a given.”

  Resa grabbed Jem’s hand, stilling the incessant drumming and said, “Stop it. You’re a woman who gets what she wants. It’s like a lottery ticket, sweetie—you can’t win if you don’t play. Same rules apply to relationships. You’ll never find love if you don’t look it in the eye when it’s right in front of you.”

  “I know, Rees. But it’s…it’s so damn hard. His kisses, though…it’s like he kisses just for the pleasure of kissing.”

  Resa’s face lit up with a smile as she squeezed Jem’s hand. “Jump, girlfriend. Just jump. Now, lead me to the kitchen and put me to work.”

  * * * *

  “That’s it! I’m done.”

  It was three thirty before Resa, Jem and Avery finished moving everything that wasn’t nailed down, and some things that were, from the kitchen to the dining area. It had been hard, backbreaking labor, lifting stacks of dishes and pots and pans, boxing up staples, taking down racks and shelving.

  Resa sprawled on the floor near the pantry, looking exhausted. Jem stood close by, rubbing the ache in the small of her back as she watched Avery aggressively push a broom across the floor, raising a small cloud of dust.

  Avery’s promptness had impressed Jem. Jack told him to be there at noon, and the teen showed up fifteen minutes early. He hadn’t stopped moving the entire time. When Jem and Resa stopped for a coffee break, Avery gulped a large glass of water and got right back to work. Jack was right. He was polite, courteous and a hard worker. Several times, when one of the women attempted to carry too much, he’d set down his own load to take theirs.

  At one point, when Avery excused himself to use the bathroom, Resa had privately razzed her about the speculative glances the young man had sent Jem’s way. Jem reminded her friend the teen was about to become a dad and was doing the right thing by staying with the baby’s mother, also a teen. She also pointed out that she was turning aside Avery’s looks by acting like a professional boss lady. It would be wrong and completely out of character to encourage him.

  “I’m glad to see someone is still working, and doubly glad it’s my employee.” Jack startled them from the swinging door between the dining room and kitchen.

  Jem’s heartbeat kicked into overdrive as the timbre of his voice wound around her senses. She wasn’t going to try to convince herself her racing heart was because Jack managed to surprise them. Oh no, the accelerated speed of her pulse had more to do with the way his smooth baritone slid up under her rib cage and lassoed her heart.

  “Resa, remind me to replace the bell at the front door with a much louder one. That way, no one can sneak in and catch me slacking.” She laughed, sending a grin Jack’s direction as she helped her friend to her feet.

  As Jem introduced Resa to Jack, Avery dropped his broom and walked over toward them, wiping his hands on his jeans. He extended one hand toward Jack in greeting, the way any other grownup male would have done. Jack looked around the kitchen as they shook hands.

  “It doesn’t look like anyone has been slacking here today. I fully expected to come in here this afternoon and help. Looks like everything’s done. Good job, Avery.”

  “Well, the girls helped a bit, too.” Avery grinned at Jem, who fake-glowered, then smiled at the teen. “The only thing we haven’t finished is removing the shelves in the pantry. I tried to figure it out, but the only way I could see to remove them was to destroy them. I didn’t want to do it without talking to you first.”

  Jack nodded. “Smart man. There’s some equipment in the toolbox in the back of my truck. Grab the tan canvas bag and haul it in here. We’ll remove the door first and go from there.”

  Jack tossed Avery keys, which the teen snagged out of the air and then walked out to get what they needed. Jack turned his attention back to Jem and Resa. “I’m guessing here, but you didn’t go in the pantry with Avery to see if there was any way the job could be easier than it looked, did you?”

  Jem laughed, then lowered her voice. “As, um…delightful as my last experience in the pantry was, I didn’t want to take the chance. Although, it’s not as much of a problem since I removed the doorknob. But I made Resa go with him.”

  Judging by the look on Jack’s face, he was also reliving the kiss they had shared while locked in the small space together. His wolfish grin stole the breath from her lungs. He must feel the same heat she did, thinking of last night’s kiss. If Resa hadn’t been present, she might have moved into his arms for a repeat performance. Instead, she gave herself a mental shake and turned her attention back to Jack and Resa’s conversation.

  “It’s a great space,” Resa said. “Once the renovations are done, I know Jem’s going to put her personal stamp on the menu and make it a roaring success. Has she told you she intends to make your crew guinea pigs for her lunch menu?”

  “Yeah, she mentioned it. I’ll have to make sure I can be here each day around noon.”

  “Have you tasted her cooking yet? The meals she used to fix for Margo’s dinner parties are absolutely legend in New York. Your crew is in for a treat. If you’re lucky, she’ll fix you breakfast, too.”

  Jem eyes went wide and she stifled an impulse to laugh at Resa’s accidental, or maybe on purpose, double entendre. Judging by the impudent look on her friend’s face, it was encouragement, not merely a slip of the tongue. Her best friend was telling her to make the jump they’d talked about earlier.

  “Wait,” Jem said, seizing on something Jack had said before Resa’s comment. “You won’t be here every day?”

  “We’re awfully busy right now, in spite of the economy. We have six other jobs currently underway between here and Salem,” Jack informed her, his tone apologetic. “I’ll be here as often as I can manage. Dave Saunders is the superintendent on this job, and he’s our best. Sam’s coming by daily to check on progress and fix anything that needs it. You’ll be in good hands.”

  Disappointment stabbed sharply, but Jem hid it. She’d been looking forward to Jack being in the café daily. She’d just have to make sure the food was enticing enough to bring him by in time for a hot meal.

  “I plan to serve lunch at eleven each day, if you want to arrange your schedule to get here,” Jem offered as Avery returned with the tools Jack needed.

  “Sweet! Lunch every day and a paycheck.” Avery walked back in with a smile, transforming his face from sullen to sunny. “I think I’m going to like this job.”

  “As long as you work hard, you’ll be fine. Here.” Jack grabbed some forms from his back pocket and handed them to Avery, taking the tool bag in exchange. “Fill out this paperwork and give it to Dave first thing Monday morning. That is, if you want a paycheck. Now, let’s get the door off and get to work.”

  Resa picked up the broom Avery had set aside and handed it to Jem, distracting her from the enticing view of Jack’s backside as he disappeared into the pantry. She turned toward Jem and discreetly mouthed her approval, offering a hearty thumbs-up. Choking back laughter, they returned to work.

  *
* * *

  Jack and Avery worked side by side in the narrow pantry, deconstructing the wooden shelving built into the space. Each time they carried planks to toss out the back door into the Dumpster in the alley, Avery’s speculative glance moved from him to Jem, and back. After the fourth trip out, Jack stopped the teen before they went back inside.

  “You got something to say, kid?” he questioned brusquely.

  “What? No!”

  “Avery, there’s a question all over your face, each time you look at Jem and then you look at me.”

  “She has a tattoo. On her hip.”

  “So?”

  “Okay, I was wondering if you were getting any of that?”

  Jack scowled at the boy. “Definitely not something you want to say to your new boss, Avery. I’m attracted to her, but not because of her tattoo. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  “I wouldn’t mind having those long legs wrapped around my waist,” Avery admitted.

  Jack jabbed his finger at Avery’s chest, backing the startled kid up against the wall. “Avery, you never talk about a lady that way. Imagine how you’d feel if someone said that about Marissa. Would you want some young punk saying that about your daughter? You’d lose it if some jerk made dumb-ass comments about someone you cared for. I guessing it would make you want to beat the crap out of him.”

  Avery just nodded and avoided looking Jack in the eye.

  “I never want to hear you talk like that about Jem, or any other woman. Period. I hear you talking like that again, I’ll be cleaning up the floor with your backside. Understood?”

  “I didn’t mean to disrespect her—”

  “But you did.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

  “Avery,” Jack said as he backed away from the teen, shaking his head. “You’re a man now with a family of your own. You might be only seventeen, but you have responsibilities and obligations. It’s time to start acting like a man, not a high school boy in a locker room, willing to kiss and tell. It’s time to grow up.”

  Avery looked at his feet and nodded in agreement. The boy drew a deep breath and looked hesitantly up at Jack. “You’re not going to fire me, are you?”

  “Not because you made some stupid comment. I know you’ll learn from this, because you’re a smart kid. And you are a great worker. I didn’t expect to come over here this afternoon and have only this one thing left to do. But—and consider this a stern warning—if you try anything, make any kind of wrong move on Jem, or make her uncomfortable in any way, you’re off the job. Got it?”

  Again, Avery just nodded.

  Jack bent to retrieve the work gloves Avery had dropped when he’d backed him up against the wall. “Let’s finish up this job then, so we can go home.”

  Before Jack could leave, Jem stopped him. “I forgot to mention. You know the key you found taped to the back of the stove? It unlocks the box I found. The one I asked if you had a key for. Caro sent me a letter before she died, telling me she left me something to find. It seemed important.”

  “Mystery solved, then.” Jack grinned as he pushed his hand into his pocket.

  “Yeah, but bigger mystery revealed. Did you know Caro and Grant were an item?”

  “No shit?” Jack’s tone was incredulous.

  “It’s crazy, right? But there are pictures,” Jem said, as she gave a little shudder, “and some very naughty letters from him. There was more stuff, including an accounting ledger for SPACES.”

  “SPACES?”

  “Yeah, it’s the environmental group Caro used to be involved with. Saving the Planet and Committed to Environmental Safety. I did a little research and it looks like the group bordered on eco-terrorism. You know, tree huggers with a vengeance.”

  “I remember hearing there was trouble at the electronics plant at the northern end of town because of an environmental group. Someone died in a botched break-in, I think.” Spying Jem’s stricken look, understanding sank deep and hard in his gut. “Shit, it was your brother. I’m so sorry. It’s why your parents quit sending you to visit Caroline.”

  Jem nodded and smiled sadly as she picked up cleaning rags. “It was a long time ago. Do you think this group is still active? I’m not an accountant, but I can read books. After glancing through the ledger Caro hid, it seems like there was some creative accounting going on. Lots of money coming in from undocumented sources. I’m wondering what to do with the books. I thought I’d try to read Grant’s letters to see if there are any clues. But tackling that will require fortification in the form of a good stiff drink.”

  “I took plenty of accounting classes at Boston College. I’d be happy to look them over for you.” Jack paused a moment. “My mom was the bookkeeper for Dad’s business for a long time before us kids starting getting lives she had to supervise. Maybe she could help.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks.” Jem turned as Resa brought over a bucket and took the rags from her.

  “Speaking of us kids, my sister Pippa is singing at Big Red’s tonight. It’s just a local pub, but she has a great voice and the beer is always cold. Why don’t you two stop by? If you don’t already have other plans.”

  “Can we get a burger there, too?” Jem asked.

  “And tequila? A pub would have tequila, wouldn’t they?” Resa chimed in with her question.

  Jack laughed. “Yes and yes. Although I’m sure there isn’t any top-shelf tequila.”

  “Hey, tequila is tequila, right? I’m game if Jem is.”

  Jem smiled her agreement.

  Resa’s fist shot into the air. She said goodbye to Jack before walking over to help Avery pack up the rest of the tools, giving them some privacy to say their farewells.

  Jack appreciated her discretion. “Pippa starts about eight tonight. It will get crowded early, but Red reserves a table for us. We’ll save you a couple of chairs. Just get there when you can, okay?”

  Jem looked up at Jack as she nodded. The look on her face could only be described as hungry. For him. It was…arousing. The response from his body was immediate.

  Avery and Resa watched them surreptitiously across the kitchen and he shifted to ease the sudden tightness of his jeans, carefully hiding the strength of his response. Jack smiled one last time at Jem and turned to leave. Jem stood still as he headed to the front. Her sigh was audible as he reached the glass door and looked over his shoulder for one last look.

  She’d turned toward the other two people in the room, who were conspicuously busy picking up their work tools and putting away brooms and buckets. He could have laughed as they tried to pretend they hadn’t just been caught waiting for him to kiss Jem. Making up his mind, he walked back toward her.

  “I forgot something,” he muttered as her grasped her wrist and pulled her with him through the swinging planks separating the kitchen from the dining room and around the corner, away from prying eyes. He pulled her against him and dipped his head toward hers.

  He meant it to be a repeat of last night’s sweet, tender kiss. That thought flew out of his head, his tongue urgently licking her lips like it had a mind of its own, seeking entry to her mouth. With a gasp at his demanding lips, Jem opened her own mouth and welcomed him in. Her tongue played sensuously across his and he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pulling her closer into a passionate embrace. He brought his hands up to tangle in her hair, then dropped them to her waist, bringing her hard up against him, molding her soft body to the his. There was no hiding his arousal from her, and she moaned softly. Electricity from where their bodies connected flowed like a current through him, turning everything to steel.

  She raised her arms around his neck, the fingers of her right hand spearing through the hair on the back of his head, and her left hand caressed his cheek before settling on his shoulder.

  Jack finally broke the kiss between them, pressing his forehead against hers and struggling to get his breathing under control. The intensity of the kiss stunned him.

  “Oh, my.”
Jem’s warm breath caressed his cheek, raising his temperature. “That was…oh, my!”

  He dropped his hands to her waist, brushing over the place he knew was inked, wishing it was his tongue caressing the spot, not just his thumb. Unable to resist, he thrust against her as he pulled her hips forward, the contact spearing through him like a heat-seeking missile. Her quick gasp made him believe she understood the direction of his thoughts.

  He laughed softly and leaned in for one more quick, hard kiss. “Yeah, it certainly was.”

  Chapter 13

  Heads swiveled and conversation died when Jem and Resa walked into Big Red’s. Jem was conscious of the stares as she glanced around the pub. The noise returned to the original bar level hum within seconds. Jem located Sam at a table on the far side of the room, pointed the way for Resa, and together they made their way over.

  Sam saw their approach, turned to say something to the dark-haired woman seated next to him and stood to hug Jem and greet Resa.

  “Hey,” he said, his voice rising slightly over the noise around them. “Glad you guys could make it. Jack said he thought you’d be by. This is our sister, Phillipa, Pippa.” He turned, gesturing to the ebony-haired, very feminine version of the Kerrigan men.

  Tall and slender, like her brothers, she had the same startlingly intense blue eyes, although hers were closer to cobalt than cornflower. Her hair was very short and standing up in spikes. It gave her the just-tumbled-out-of-bed-where-she’d-gotten-very-little-sleep appearance Jem knew drove some men crazy. But her warm and genuine smile, bracketed by the same deep dimples Jem loved on Jack, made her look more like an enchanting pixie than seductive temptress.

  “Pleased to meet you both,” Pippa said, her low, melodious voice carrying over the conversations flowing around them. She addressed Jem directly. “I hear you’re quite the chef.”

  “I hear you’re quite the singer,” Jem responded. “I can’t wait to listen to you perform.”