Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37778 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37778 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Savvy smirks at me and Cole curses under his breath.
“Stop telling everyone that,” he mutters. “Seriously, no one cares.”
“I care,” me, Savvy, and the redhead all say at once.
“Sheriff McMahon is a frequent patron and friend,” the redhead says. “I’m Vale Young. Do you work with him?”
Cole nods and then darts his eyes around as if looking for a menu. Vale chuckles and hands him a square card. “You use your phone to access the menu. I’m still trying to get used to it, but my husband says all the trendy places are doing it these days.”
Savvy’s humor fades because she doesn’t have a phone. Cole curses, this time much louder, in frustration.
“Maybe bring some water. And give us an order of your best appetizer to start?” I say to Vale. “Cole here doesn’t get out much. I’ll have his manners in check by the time you get back.”
Vale smiles gratefully to me and then waddles her pregnant self out of view. Before Cole has a meltdown, I use my phone to access the QR code to bring up the menu. Now I’m the one feeling nervous.
Did I say I’d pay?
What the hell does “market” mean beside the steak and seafood? It must be expensive if they don’t even list a price.
“Is there something wrong?” Savvy asks, stiffening.
If she knows how pricy this place is, she might freak out. But dinner for three of us is going to set me back. Thank God for credit cards.
“No, I was trying to figure out what ‘charred bone marrow’ was. Sounds disgusting.” I zoom in to read the description. “It doesn’t say what it is, just that it comes with sourdough bread and chimichurri. Anyone know what the hell chimichurri is?”
Cole and Savvy both shake their heads. I hope Vale brings us the ‘smoke & sugar’ wings and not the ‘charred bone marrow.’
“Do they have burgers?” Savvy asks, wide, innocent eyes boring into me.
No, little S, they have filet mignon and salmon and other bougie-ass foods we have no business eating.
“Sorry to disappoint,” I say instead, “but their house favorite is the truffle and herb chicken. Looks like it’s a slow-roasted chicken breast with truffle honey drizzle and crispy garlic.”
“I’ll take that,” she rushes out, clearly happy to be done with that. “And fries if they have them.”
“I’ll have steak,” Cole says. “A big one. I need it after today. Mashed potatoes too.”
Luckily for them, they have those items. Unluckily for me, the steak prices are a mystery but based on Savvy’s twenty-nine-dollar entree choice, I’m about to put a shiny dent on my credit card with this meal.
A man comes up to our table. He wears a friendly grin and seems much less frazzled than the woman.
“Hello,” the man says. “My wife told me you guys are first timers. I’m Aiden Blakely-Young, owner of Smoke & Sugar.”
He must be loaded with what the prices are here.
“Owner?” Cole asks, an eagerness in his tone. “This girl right here is looking for a job.”
“Is that so?” Aiden says, grinning at her. “Can you serve alcohol?”
“I’m eighteen,” Savvy answers. “Do you have to be twenty-one?”
“Nope. Eighteen is good. Free to work nights and weekends?”
“Yes. Anything. I really need money.” Her cheeks burn bright red, and she fidgets in her seat. “I just moved to this side of town. I’m starting at Brown tomorrow.”
“Good school,” Aiden says. “Why don’t we get your order going and after you enjoy your meal, meet me afterwards? We can discuss it more.”
This guy seems cool, and the place is fancy. It could be a good job for Savvy. Then, maybe she’ll relax a little.
Putting a few hundred bucks on my credit card will be worth it.
Right now, I’d do anything to make that girl happy after all the hell she’s been through. Even if that means eating an overpriced steak and some charred bone marrow.
Savvy
I wake up feeling hopeful for the first time since my parents’ death.
Things will be okay for me. Though my initial arrival yesterday was awkward to say the least, it did get better. And now I’m officially employed by Smoke & Sugar.
My bedroom door has been closed, and I’m not the one who did it. If I had to guess, Cole wanted to stick to his rules. After climbing out of bed, I slip out of the room and brush my teeth in the bathroom before heading downstairs.
The microwave beeps, alerting me to someone else already being up. Travis, standing shirtless, and in a pair of sweatpants, watches as the microwave cooks what smells like leftovers from last night.
He’d been oddly insistent we take every bit home to eat later. Cole thought it was because, and I quote, “He’s a human garbage disposal,” but I felt like there was more to it.
“Morning,” I say as I enter the kitchen, making my way over to the coffee machine that’s already been started. “Did you make this for me?”