“I think so. A year is going to be a push, but if I make the list a higher priority, I might be able to wrap up everything before Jamie’s birthday.” That would give me until New Year’s Day.
“Well, you know I’ll help with whatever I can.”
“Thank you.”
She moved her finished rolls of silverware into the tub. “You haven’t eaten yet. Why don’t you head back to the kitchen and I’ll finish up out here?”
I glanced at my watch. 7:49. “We survived the first day. I think I’ll head back and make a sandwich. I’m starv—”
The front door swooshed opened. Damn. I spoke too soon.
Turning to the door, I smiled, ready to greet my late-evening customer, but faltered as the door closed behind him.
Cole Goodman was walking my way.
My belly dipped as I took him in. His aviator sunglasses were perched on top of his chocolate-brown hair. A black polo stretched across his broad shoulders and pulled tight across his muscled arms. His pale-blue jeans molded to his Herculean thighs before draping down to his black, square-toed boots. The leather belt on Cole’s trim waist held both a shining badge and a holstered gun.
Cole smiled and locked his light-green eyes on mine as he crossed the room.
His straight, white teeth made my breath hitch—something that had happened last night more times than I wanted to admit.
Molly, who had turned around from her seat to greet our customer, spun around so her back was to Cole. Her cheeks flushed as she whispered, “Wow.”
Wow was right.
Cole Goodman was—simply put—gorgeous.
He could give a woman a speeding ticket and get a thank-you in return. He inspired women to attempt push-ups in a karate class just for the chance to watch him sweat through his gi. Cole made grown women blush like teenagers and giggle in corners, like those girls at the dojo last night.
Besides Jamie, I’d never seen a man so handsome. And if I were being honest with myself, Cole had even Jamie beat.
The blush in my cheeks paled as a knot of guilt settled in my stomach. I loved Jamie. Jamie had been a gorgeous man too. And as his wife, I shouldn’t be attracted to another man.
My smile turned to a frown the moment Cole stepped up to our table.
“Hey, Poppy.”
“Hi, Cole.”
His smile fell. “You don’t look happy to see me again.”
“Again?” Molly asked.
Cole looked down to my friend and held out his hand. “Cole Goodman. I ran into Poppy at the karate school last night.”
“Oh!” She stood and took his hand. “I’m Molly Alcott. Nice to meet you. Poppy was just telling me about your karate class.” She turned to me. “But she didn’t tell me she’d been bragging up the restaurant.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Actually, I heard about this place online,” Cole said. “I saw Poppy’s name and decided to check it out.” He looked my way. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“No. Not at all.” I stood, shaking off my strange feelings. I couldn’t afford to turn away customers, even if they were handsome and made me feel uncomfortable things.
“I tried to get in earlier but I had something come up at work. I don’t suppose you’ve got any dinner left?”
“Just barely. We had more of a rush than I expected and we’re down to just a few things. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. That’s a good problem to have on opening day.”
“You know,” Molly said, standing too, “I was just telling Poppy she should eat. She’s been running around like crazy all day. Why don’t you eat together?”
My eyes snapped to my friend. “It’s late and I’m sure Cole just wants to take something to—”
“I’d like that.” He grinned at Molly.
She smiled back.
I looked from one to the other and back again. I held up a finger to Cole. “Would you excuse us for just a minute?”
He chuckled and pulled out a chair at our table, taking a seat. “Take all the time you need.”
I grabbed Molly’s elbow, then yanked her away from the table and back to the kitchen. When the door swung closed behind us, I let her go and planted my hands on my hips. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“You like him.”
“What?” I squeaked. My voice was so high it’d send dogs into barking hysterics.
“See?” She gave me her smug smile. “You like him.”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t. I don’t like him.”
“Liar.”
I huffed. “It’s complicated. I know him.”
“Yeah. From karate.”
“No.” I shook my head and took a deep breath. “I knew him before karate. He was the cop that came to my house to tell me that Jamie . . .” I twirled my wrist instead of finishing my sentence.
“Oh, shit.”
“Pretty much.”
Molly paced back and forth by my prep table for a few moments, fidgeting with her hands. When she stopped walking, she planted both hands on the table. “Okay. I can see how that would be weird, but the fact still stands. You like him.”
I shrugged. “He’s cute. But I don’t like him.”
“Cute?”
“Smoking hot. Whatever. None of that matters. I am in no place to be liking a man.”
She sighed and left the table, coming to stand right in front of me. Then she placed her hands on my shoulders. “Okay. I’ve been saving this speech for a day like today.”
“I’m scared right now.”
“Shush and listen up.” She took a breath and started reciting something she’d clearly practiced a time or twelve. “You are my best friend and I love you. I want you to be happy and have love in your life. Jamie would have wanted you to be happy and have love in your life. And I think it’s time for you to open your heart again to that possibility.”
“It’s too soon.” I shook my head. Even thinking about being with another man made my heart hurt. I couldn’t do that to Jamie. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
“Poppy,” Molly whispered, “at some point, a man was going to come along and catch your eye. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with you exploring something with
