How could she have been such a fool to put all her confidence in him? How would she hold her head up if the world found out that she, a competent and respected business owner, had fallen for that trick? It was bad enough that her family knew but did her business colleagues have to find out, too?
But she’d hidden away long enough. It was time to take the bitter medicine and make full disclosure. Time to go to the police.
Her mind finally made up, Blake felt infinitely better and there was a spring in her step as she descended and made her way toward the kitchen. She was stopped in her tracks when there was a knock at the front door. Immediately, she changed direction and went to open it. When she saw Chris standing there she smiled. “You’re out early today.” She stepped aside so he could enter. “What gives?”
He shrugged. “I’m only like fifteen minutes early. I was up, chillin' with some music, and then couldn’t get back to sleep so I just decided to head on over.”
"And I don’t mind at all,” Blake said as she led the way to the kitchen. “With all the mouths we have to feed we can do with an early start.”
“Don’t I know it.” Chris was already shrugging off his denim jacket as he followed her.
Within another twenty minutes Todd had arrived and soon they’d fallen into their daily rhythm, moving quickly and efficiently as they got things ready before the restaurant opened. Then, just before opening time, the kitchen door opened and Ryder walked in, looking newly shaved and smelling fresh as morning.
“Hey, what are you doing up? I thought you’d sleep in this morning.” Her hands full of pancake batter, Blake greeted him with a broad smile.
“And let these kids show me up? Not on your life. I’m up and reporting for duty.” He straightened his back and clicked his heels together, making them all laugh at his attempt at a military posture. “So what do you need done? The eggs, the grits, what?”
“We’re good,” Blake told him, “but we could do with some help getting the food out there. How about being our server today?”
He gave a curt nod and a crooked smile. “It would be my pleasure, ma’am. Ryder Kent, at your service.”
Blake laughed again. “Will you stop? You’re cracking us up. Now go get your hands washed and come right back.”
And so began one of the busiest mornings Blake had ever seen at Beaumont’s. It was a good thing Ryder showed up when he did because, in addition to the telephone crew, a government team of eleven turned up unexpectedly. They’d been sent from the communications commission to ensure that this new project underway in Pequoia was executed according to state guidelines.
That morning they had little time to do anything but shout orders to the kitchen crew, pile up the plates with breakfast food and deliver them to the hungry hordes waiting to be served. At one point Blake felt sorry for Ryder but all she could do was throw him an apologetic grin. They had him running back and forth between kitchen and restaurant till she saw a faint film of perspiration begin to bead his upper lip.
And then, as soon as the breakfast rush was over, they had to hurry to get ready for the lunch hour. That ended up being another couple of hours of non-stop rush and by the time three o’clock came around and it was all over they were so exhausted that they each grabbed the nearest chair and collapsed onto it.
Todd was the first to speak. “I hope those communications department guys were only here for the day. If they show up again tomorrow we’ll be in big trouble. I don’t think I can make eggs that fast again.”
Blake grimaced. “Sorry to disappoint you but one of them told me they’ll be here at least three days. One down, two to go.
Chris groaned. “My feet hurt.”
Blake turned to him. “Your sister’s off for the summer, right? What about asking her if she can help us out for the next couple of days?”
He looked doubtful. “She’s more the babysitter type but I’ll ask her.”
“Thanks.” She sighed then slipped her feet out of her loafers and wriggled her toes under the table. Then she glanced over at Ryder who was lounging in a chair by the window. As she watched he was gazing out back at his now flourishing garden.
“Hey, you,” she called out, drawing his attention over to where she and the teenagers sat. “You’re pretty quiet over there. Still alive?”
He gave her a lazy smile. “Yeah, but I’m glad it’s over.”
“Hear, hear.” Todd was only too quick to agree and then he pushed his chair back and got up. “Well, it’s time for me to get going. I promised my dad I’d help out at the store this evening.”
Blake shook her head. “You’re a busy guy. No rest for the weary, right?”
He chuckled. “Right.”
“Wait for me,” Chris said as he got up. “Mom asked me to pick up some stuff from the supermarket. She said she gave your dad her list yesterday.”
“Yeah, sure. Come on.” The two boys bid their goodbyes and then they were off, leaving Ryder and Blake still relaxing. Neither one of them moved an inch.
They sat there, enjoying the silence, such a contrast to the frenzy of the earlier part of the day. It was a moment before either one of them spoke.
“Remember that business you have to take care of,” Ryder said, his look pointed.
Blake sighed. “I know, but it’s better for me to do this in Dallas. I’ll get ready and head out right now.”
“Not without me,” Ryder said. “I’ll drive.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Within forty minutes of their conversation Blake was sitting in the passenger seat of Ryder’s SUV. They had a long drive ahead of them and Ryder planned to make it to Dallas and back before midnight. The restaurant would be expected to open as usual at seven o’clock next morning so they didn’t have a minute to waste.
He’d stuck the key in the ignition and was just about to start the car when he stopped and frowned. Something was not right. There was something he was forgetting…
He dug into the right back pocket of his trousers and then the left. “My wallet. Where the heck is it?”
Blake’s lips curled in a smile. “You’d better run back inside and get it. I don’t plan on washing anybody’s dirty dishes if we run out of gas along the way.”
He chuckled. “Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if that happened.” He shook a finger at her. “Payback for what you did to me.”