Chapter 2
981 Words
Chapter 2
Two days later, when Thursday finally rolled around, Seth found himself distracted by the sound of the bell over the front door. Every time it wasn’t Chris, he grew more disappointed.
“I’m telling you, I think this is my best idea ever,” Karlee insisted.
“Good God, are you still talking about the cooking lessons?” Seth was going to lose his mind. “Where the hell would you hold them?” His eyes took in the small shop and, even though it was organized, he couldn’t visualize the setup for classes.
The store was very cottage-charm-meets-contemporary and Karlee had an impressive knack for visual merchandising that came across as appealing, no matter someone’s kitchen decorating style.
Karlee’s Kitchen Essentials carried all the newest cooking tools and small appliances, as well as dishes, glasses, unique linens, cookbooks, and kitchen storage solutions. A small area also carried specialty items such as fresh herbs and homemade jellies, jams, and breads from local sources.
But these cooking lessons…he just couldn’t see it. Although, to be fair, she’d surprised him before when she wanted to open this store. Seth had assumed that once she’d graduated culinary school, Karlee would follow her dream of becoming a chef.
Of course, he wasn’t one to judge. He’d graduated with a degree in engineering, and instead of working in that industry, he’d dropped everything to become a manager at Karlee’s store. Not that he was sorry—he loved working with his best friend and the shop was doing well. More than well, to be honest. She’d made a good name for herself in Bellflower, Kansas, and had a lot of loyal customers that refused to order online or purchase from a big box.
“Would you teach the classes?” he inquired. That would be adding a lot to her plate. Nobody knew yet—because as tiny as she was, she was barely showing—but Karlee was pregnant and the last thing she needed was more work.
“No,” she answered, arranging a place setting of the new dishes she had found at a local Home and Hearth convention. The pottery was a swirl of blue tones, and when she set them on the pale yellow placemats with blue and yellow mosaic glasses, the display gave off a fresh Springy vibe.
The bell rang and his head swiveled, checking for Chris for the umpteenth time that day. Still not him. Seth was beginning to think he wasn’t going to show. He was usually like clockwork—every Thursday around two in the afternoon. It was almost four and still no Chris. Maybe the extra trip on Tuesday was enough for him.
“For your information,” Karlee said, interrupting his thoughts, “I found out yesterday that the space next door is still available. It’s small and already has part of a kitchen. It wouldn’t cost a lot to renovate and we could build a door from this side wall leading into there.”
Seth’s jaw dropped. “You want to expand? Already?” The bell rang again, but this time he ignored it.
Karlee nodded. “I know it’s fast, but I’ve crunched the numbers and it could really be a great addition.”
“But who would teach the cooking classes?”
She sighed. “I don’t know yet. I’d obviously want it to be someone who had culinary training.”
“You’re looking for a chef?”
Seth and Karlee turned toward the voice and Seth grinned when he realized it was Chris.
The man shrugged and put up his hands. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help overhearing. I’m a chef.”
Karlee eyed him, sizing him up, but her twinkling eyes showed no malice. “I thought you might be. I’m Karlee.” She extended her hand. “We’ve never really had a chance to talk.”
He shook her hand. “No, usually your cute manager helps me.”
Seth nearly choked, and Karlee laughed as she glanced at him. “He is pretty cute, isn’t he? Unfortunately, I’m not his type,” she added with an exaggerated wink.
Oh, my God, this is not happening. They’re not discussing my cuteness in front of me, right in the middle of the store. s**t.
“Where do you work?” Karlee inquired.
“Actually, I started a catering company about ten months ago. Blue Berger Catering. I used to work up the road at Bellflower Bistro for about a year.”
“Are you self-taught? Or did you attend culinary school?” Karlee asked, c*****g her head to the side.
Chris smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. “A little of both, to be honest. I taught myself as a teenager and found my passion in creating new recipes, or adapting old ones. I attended culinary school, but didn’t graduate. I dropped out when my grandfather became ill.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Karlee told him, her voice sympathetic.
Seth wanted to say something, but from his peripheral vision, he noticed a woman standing impatiently at the counter, ready to check out. “Excuse me. I need to help a customer.”
Karlee nodded and Seth turned to Chris, who was staring directly into his eyes. He spun around and felt heat zing through his body. He tried to brush off the feeling that Chris was watching him walk away. Surely he didn’t really find Seth attractive…did he?
Seth spent the rest of his shift helping one customer after another and grew disappointed when Chris and Karlee disappeared into the back room to keep talking about her plans. He wanted to be part of the discussion, but the store was packed. Until Cody showed up to work his shift, Seth was stuck on the floor.
By the time he was able to rejoin them, Chris exited the back room.
“Hey, Eggplant,” he teased.
Seth glanced at Chris’s jeans. “No mustard yellow today, huh?”
Chris laughed. “No, today it’s olive green.”
Seth laughed, too. It was fascinating the way this guy looked at things. “You leaving?”
Chris nodded, but grabbed Seth’s arm, circling his wrist with his large hand. He brushed his thumb back and forth on the sensitive skin and smiled.
Seth wanted to close his eyes and revel in the shivers Chris’s touch sent coursing through his body.
“I’ll be back on Saturday. Karlee and I are going to talk some more. Will you be here?”
Seth could only nod, still reeling from the sensation of having Chris’s hand on him. He swallowed hard and tried not to frown when the man let go.
“See you Saturday, Seth,” he whispered as he walked by and gently grasped his shoulder.
“Saturday,” Seth croaked.
- Writer
