“Well, yeah.”
“Call it what you want.” Natalie licked a dab of frosting off one of her fingers. “Whatever it is, it sounds like the perfect arrangement to me.”
Chloe glanced at the balcony above where she’d been with Gage the night before. A tremble from the memory crept up her back. She shook it off. The upstairs was being remodeled in time for the twentieth anniversary of the restaurant, an event Chloe hoped would kick-start a busier year.
She should be focused on the remodel and anniversary. Instead, she’d spent all night wrapped in thoughts about Gage and what he wanted from her.
Natalie eyed her. “I hear he’s sticking around for a while this time.”
Chloe groaned—how was she going to last with him staying in town for longer than a weekend? “Depends on how unlucky I am.”
Natalie shook her head. “Why do you look like that’s bad news?” She placed a few chocolate shavings on the cupcake. “I can think of worse things than having him hang around.”
“I can’t be with him more than a night or two,” Chloe mumbled. “I like our arrangement. But he wants to…take me out. You know.” She glanced around, like she was worried someone would overhear them. “On a date.”
Natalie slapped the piping bag down on the counter. “That dick! What man would have the nerve to ask a beautiful woman out on a date?”
Chloe sighed. Okay, so Natalie was giving her shit, and yeah, Chloe probably sounded crazy. But this was bad. “You know I don’t do commitment, Nat.”
She raised a brow. “You’re committed to this place. Committed to the town and your mama’s memory. I’d say you do it fine.”
“I mean commitment with a man. I just…don’t.” The thought alone gave her hives, and even though Gage was banging in the sack—literally—three weeks was treading into dangerous waters. Because she didn’t need to like him beyond their arrangement. Didn’t need him, period.
At least, she didn’t want to need him. She was already sold on his brand of passion. No reason to complicate things more with feelings, long term, or dating.
“Besides, you said it, I’m committed to Beaufort. Gage comes and goes. Even if I wanted more, which I don’t”—unless it involved him naked—“he’s not the guy.”
In fact, he was the exact wrong guy. She’d seen what getting hung up waiting for her dad had done to her mother.
Working at the restaurant, honoring her mother’s business and dream, those were what she took seriously. The restaurant was her home. Her career. Her life. But it had taken a dip a few years ago when her mother had gotten cancer. The famous menu she’d handcrafted had been condensed to the things Chloe knew she could provide at the same high quality, but it wasn’t enough. Without her mother’s passion and charm, business was slipping.
Chloe’s mission was to turn Honey’s around and bring back the staple foods her mother had been famous for. She wasn’t going anywhere, and she also wasn’t signing up for three weeks of blurred lines with Gage. She wouldn’t run the risk of developing expectations when attraction was more than enough with him.
Natalie put a flour-caked hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “I feel for you. And I understand. Doesn’t mean I agree with your decision to stay away from the hottie. Did you see his butt?”
Chloe laughed. Yeah, she’d seen it. Gage McGraw was as fine and strong as they came.
“There’s too much going on to even think about more than sex.”
Natalie raised an eyebrow. “Too much going on?”
Chloe nodded. “The twentieth anniversary for the restaurant is in a couple of weeks, and I’m still adjusting to running this place.”
Even though her mother had passed two years ago, Chloe still struggled to take over everything left to her. Her life was full and busy—and she was failing. She’d never be Mary “Honey” Franklin. Her mother had been strong, kind and good at everything she tried. So sweet that everyone called her “Honey.” Which was how the restaurant got its name.
Natalie leaned in. “If you know what you want, and you’re set, then stick with it. Sometimes you have to cheat at his rules or play by your own.”
That got Chloe’s attention real quick. It made sense. She wanted Gage; Gage wanted her. Should be simple. But he was throwing this “get to know you” bit into the mix. If she wanted him, she’d have to play dirty and be prepared to run after him before he caught her and tied her to a table for dinner talk.
“I don’t want to stay away from him, I just don’t want to hang out with him,” Chloe said.
“Well don’t hold back, sweetheart,” a gruff voice said behind her. Chloe turned and found Gage standing at the end of the bar. His dark eyes stared holes right through her, and she fought the urge to blush.