“Shut the front door!” Ashley shouts. “That’s so fucking romantic!”
She yells it too loud. I’m still slightly hung over and now I need some ibuprofen. And more coffee.
The two of them are looking at me like I’m crazy, and I don’t blame them a bit. “I have a lot of things to do. But first, let’s get some breakfast.”
“Here, here. I’ll second that,” Liam says.
Chapter Sixty-One
Kaylee
I wake up in my crappy apartment. It’s an unhappy event. In my poor apartment’s defense, though, anything is going to be a letdown after Chase’s Royal Suite.
And I miss him. Which sucks, because by now he’s long gone.
Hey, at least I have a decent job. That was really nice of Ralph.
Getting that job was a fortunate turn of events for sure. That being said, going to any job is the last thing I want to do today. What I want to do is curl up in a little ball and feel sorry for myself, but that’s not going to happen.
I force myself to get up and take a shower, hoping to shed the heaviness that I feel inside. The shower doesn’t help, and neither does the coffee. It’s just going to be one of those days.
Instead of driving, I decide to walk. It’ll take a lot longer, but maybe it’ll clear my head.
A few minutes later, I’m outside in the fresh air. It’s hot, but there’s a breeze, and being outside usually helps my mood.
Ten minutes into my mid-morning walk on the beach, holding my shoes and sweating under the sweltering sun, I officially regret my decision to walk to work.
I pass the Royal St. Tropic. So much has happened there the last few days. It’s like I can imagine him still here somewhere, waiting for me to run into him. As much as I fight it, the image of his sea-green eyes and that adorable dimple pop into my mind.
But that’s an image from back when we were getting along, when I thought that maybe we had something. I can’t believe how wrong I was.
About Chase. And about walking to work. I’m seriously regretting my decision now, between the heat of the summer sun and the reminders of Chase Covington everywhere.
Oh well, the only thing I can really do is get to Ralph’s restaurant. There is work to be done, after all.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chase
Room service delivers breakfast and I make coffee. I down some ibuprofen and start feeling better.
Ashley finishes a bite of her pancake and catches my attention by waving her fork at me. “Hey, please tell me you have a good plan to win Kaylee back. I like her. And not just because of the chocolates.”
”I’m working on it,” I answer. A few minutes later, I’m full from breakfast and ready to get started.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Kaylee
Once I get to the restaurant, things get better. Even though I’m early for my shift, the place is already busy with cooks and waitstaff getting ready to open.
There’s even a spot in the back of the kitchen set aside for me and it’s all ready to go.
I wave hi to Ralph and get to work making pastries. At the resort I always had to go for volume. But pastries at a fancy French restaurant will be even more fun to make. I can take my time and craft each one special.
Honestly, it’s different and kind of fun. I lose myself in my work.
So does Ralph. Unlike mornings at the resort, where he always looks stressed during the morning meetings, he now looks relaxed and happy. He goes from station to station overseeing everything before eventually settling in. The change looks good on him.
It’s still the calm before the storm, though. Soon the doors will open with paying customers.
I concentrate on making the fancy eclairs and other pastries needed for the day.
By the time the doors open, I survey the pastry counter. It’s full and enticing. Ralph appears behind me and gives a nod of satisfaction. “Nice work, Kaylee. There’s no way I’d have been able to get another pastry chef on such short notice. I was too busy getting everything ready to open.”
“I’m glad to be here,” I answer, “I think it’s a really great fit. If you’re happy with these pastries, I’ll make a few more trays of each and put them in the cooler. Oh, and Ralph?”
He lifts an eyebrow at me.
“Happy grand opening.”
Chapter Sixty-Four
Chase
I’m getting more and more nervous as the day goes along. My life doesn’t feel complete without Kaylee and I have no idea what I’ll do if this doesn’t work.
My first stop is to an out of the way jewelry store. I had to call half a dozen of them to find what I’m looking for. In the end it’s worth it. More than anything, I want to see her again. To tell her how sorry I am about everything. I wonder if she’ll take me back?
The gnawing at my insides only grows more intense as I get back to the resort. That’s when I head straight for the pastry shop display.
I’m halfway there when I remember that they fired her. Shit. I’m sorry about that, Kaylee. Then I also remember what she said about her Plan B.
Back into the car I go, and now Raymond is speeding toward the Banana Burger. I jump out and run inside.
Only, when I do get inside the restaurant, I don’t see her. So I ask around. The consensus is that Kaylee isn’t here. I slump into a chair, not sure what to do next.
Then a woman I haven’t seen before makes her way out to the dining area after whispering to the drive-through guy, who points at me.
She crosses the dining room to where I’m sitting. “Hey, aren’t you that Chase Covington guy?”
I rise and shake her hand. “Nice to meet you, um…”
“Sally,” she says. Then I notice that her cheeks are flushed, and not in
