Chapter 2

After getting a burger at one of the fast food restaurants, and gassing up his car, he headed back to the highway. Jim found himself unexpectedly cheerful, all things considered, and he even sang along to a few familiar Christmas songs.

Even with his late start and stopping for lunch, he still saw the signs for Sutter’s Bay by four that afternoon. Not too bad.

Following the directions Jason had provided, he took the second of three off-ramps for Sutter’s Bay, the one appropriately called “Main Street.” God, he loved small towns. He really did.

His GPS told him to turn right at the end of the ramp, then right again at the stop sign, heading toward the bay. At the end of another street facing the ocean, he went left, then down a narrow residential street.

He soon found the house’s address and pulled into the driveway. Just a little bungalow, typical of houses built in the sixties, but it would totally suit him.

Jason had said he could pretty much do whatever he wanted with the place, which was damn nice of him. It needed painting on the outside, but that seemed way too ambitious for a renter. But maybe, if he purchased the home, he’d get around to that. In the spring.

As Jim got out of his car, he noticed the chill December air. And the wind, which seemed to come off the ocean, cut right through him. He hadn’t bothered donning a coat as it had been warm when he’d left Southern California.

He opened the trunk of the car to survey his few boxes and clothes on hangers. A few trips back and forth and he’d be set.

Jim had noticed a grocery store on his way into Sutter’s Bay, so once he got the stuff inside, he’d go to the market for supplies.

He went up to the front door and tried the key, pleased when it worked like a charm. Success.

This was going to be all right, Jim decided. Being away from his baby daughter for Christmas wasn’t ideal. Not having anyone to spend the holidays with wasn’t either. But Jim had been through worse.

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and started moving in his boxes. 2

Edward Cross shifted awkwardly on his feet as he waited in front of the desk of Chris Mabry while the guy went over Edward’s resume with a fine-tooth comb. Or so it seemed to Edward.

There were no chairs in front of Mabry’s desk, which Edward thought might be on purpose. Anyway, Edward was pretty sure he’d been standing there, shifting back and forth between left and right feet, for an hour. Probably not, though.

Edward knew this job was a long shot, honestly. Getting a job as a waiter at a high class restaurant like Mabry’s without much experience…well, he knew his chances were next to nil. He wouldn’t have even tried except that his friend Jude had told him to give it a shot. And so, here he was.

“Heloise’s burned down,” Edward spoke up. He probably should have kept his mouth shut, but really, how long could Mabry stare at a one-page resume?

Mabry’s gaze rose to his and Edward tried to ignore the man’s intimidating and gorgeous features. The latter was easier—after all, Mabry had a significant other.

“Yes, I know. Bad luck.”

As if on cue, the office door opened and Mabry’s boyfriend, chef Ryan Callahan, strode in. He smiled quite winningly at Edward.

“Sorry I’m late. Got busy ordering.” Callahan was dressed much more casually than Mabry, who wore a business suit. He had on jeans and a heather gray sweater. He plopped down on the edge of Mabry’s desk, completely ignoring the pointed glare his boyfriend directed his way. “Edward, isn’t it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You can call me Ryan. It’s shame about the beauty shop.”

“It’s definitely made it difficult. Looking for work and all.”

“What’s Heloise going to do?” Ryan asked.

Edward shrugged. “Maybe nothing. She’s talking retirement.”

Mabry frowned. “She’s not going to rebuild?”

“Doesn’t sound like it. Oh, she was insured and all, but Heloise said she was thinking of quitting anyhow. Even before the fire.”

Mabry set down the resume. “You’ve done quite a bit of work on hair and in shops like Heloise’s, Edward, but I don’t see very much restaurant experience.”

“I had a time at McDonald’s.” Edward cleared his throat.

“That’s true.”

“I have a part time job at the market, too.”

Ryan smiled at Mabry. “Yes, we’ve seen you there, I think.”

“Yes, and that’s all very nice, Edward. But it doesn’t seem like you have any experience waiting tables at any restaurant, let alone some place like—”

“Please, Mr. Mabry. I know I haven’t got any fancy restaurant experience. But I’m quick on my feet and I learn fast. And as you can see, I got rid of the mohawk and dyed my hair back to brown, because I figured rainbow colors wouldn’t go well with the seafood restaurant crowd.” He felt his face heat. “I can take the diamond stud out of my nose, too, while at work.”

Mabry smiled faintly. “Yes, I’m sure. But at a restaurant like Mabry’s, we pride ourselves on exceptional service, and with no experience—”

“I know,” Edward interrupted. “I get it. But the thing is, how can I get any experience if no one will give it to me?”

“There are other restaurants, with not necessarily the same level of expectation as ours.”

Edward deflated. It was hard not to, really. Apparently the spirit of Christmas didn’t extend to giving a dude like him, down on his luck, a decent job. Working at the market was okay, but he wanted to move on to bigger and better things.