“I’m not. The only thing that suffered was the old stove. It’s dead, I’m afraid. Ready for burial.”
“Are you still going to cook for Mom?”
“Sure am. That’s if we can get this kitchen up and running again.”
Mari walked in, her son’s school satchel over her shoulder. “Told you she was okay.” She glanced between Jake and Bella. “I’m sorry to throw you both in the deep end here but if the restaurant is going to reopen, I need input from each of you. I have no idea of this side of things and I’m not sure I have the time right now to take charge.”
“I’m sure we can come up with something that would work for everyone. Why don’t we spend the next hour or so working this out? If you’re going to make the effort to change things, we may as well make sure they’re done properly.” He looked over Bella’s head to Mari. “I’m going into the office later on today to do your insurance forms so it would be a good idea to give them something to look at. They may be willing to fund some of the cost of moving the stove as well as replacing it. To be honest, I’m not happy with it where it was before because of ventilation and Bella has some good ideas.”
Mari breathed a sigh of relief. “That would be great. I want to get things done as soon as I can to keep the clientele happy. Too many days without the restaurant running will only encourage them to go elsewhere and, to be honest, the money I have to renovate isn’t going to cover loss of trade for more than a week or so.” She put her hand on her son’s head. “We have to go. I’ll leave you guys to it.”
Bella waved them goodbye and then turned back to Jake. “So, you think the stove should be moved. Where to?” She stood behind the prep counter and watched him.
“I’d like to see it closer to the window for air circulation. It’s not really a requirement but it is a good idea. A direct route to a door for a quick escape would also be advisable. Yesterday could have ended badly and the way the stove is now, tucked in here with appliances hemming it in isn’t desirable.”
She nodded her head. “Right, I get it.” Bella stood straight and pointed. “So what I said before wouldn’t really work for you.” She waggled her finger from one counter to another as if plotting things out in her head. “How about if we did this then? Move the stove to there?” She glanced at him for approval. When Jake agreed she smiled and continued. “Then we can put the refrigerator there, the prep counter there.” She spun around. “I would have the pantry staples there and finally the refrigerated workspace there. How would that work for you?”
She certainly knew what she was talking about. He’d never come across anyone with such a good grip on set-out or design before.
“I like how you work. That set out would be workable as far as I’m concerned. Easy escape in case of fire, plenty of ventilation and the gas fittings would be easy to move. I doubt insurance would have to cough up much money at all.”
Bella smiled, a please glow emanating from her. “Good. I’m pleased. Can’t wait to tell Mari when she gets back.”
“I’d like to get her approval before I put the report into the insurance. Let me sketch it out so I don’t get it wrong. Hopefully by the time we’re sorted here, she’ll have returned from dropping Noah off at school.” Jake pulled his notebook from his pocket and started to draw. When Bella leaned over his shoulder to watch, a sense of peace came over him. The floral perfume she wore was alluring, much like the woman herself and it wasn’t lost on Jake just how pretty Bella Moore was. It almost made him wish he was in the market for a relationship but the timing was all wrong as far as he was concerned.
Chapter Four
“I like it. You two have worked wonders.” Mari put her arm around her sister’s shoulders and grinned. “I have a big favor to ask of you, little sister. Would you mind ordering the stove for me? I’ll give you my credit card and insurance can reimburse me later when they do their paperwork. That way we should have the kitchen up and going again in a week or so. I really can’t afford to be shut for any longer than that without it causing me major problems.”
Bella grinned. “Sure thing. I know just what you need too.”
Jake spoke up. “I’ll go into the office later and do my report and if things go to plan, you should be open again for business before you know it.”
“What can I do to thank you, Jake? I think this is over and above your normal duties.”
“How about joining me for a coffee? We can show Bella some of the town.” Jake gave her a warm smile and she wondered if he was hitting on her.
Bella mentally kicked herself. Not everyone had an agenda. Just because one guy sucked her in didn’t mean everyone was after what they could get. And it wasn’t as though they’d just met. He had saved her yesterday. Surely that would earn him brownie points and he had included both of them in that invitation. What could he do with her sister joining them?
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I mean…” Heat rose in her cheeks and she turned away, noticed her sister watching from the door. There was something she couldn’t read in Mari’s eyes. “I’m not here for long. Just a short break.”
“Understand that. I was only offering coffee, Bella.”
