Page 13 of Forbidden Desires

“That’s me. Hi,” I say awkwardly, taking her hand, too afraid of her not to. “Guys can be real jerks, right? My last boyfriend was a cheating asshole as well. I walked right in on another girl sucking him off. I’m still haunted.” I have no idea why I feel the need to tell her what happened to me, but she looks a mess, and it sounds like she’s had an awful morning. And we might just be able to bond over our terrible exes when she’s not so upset. Mae looks as dumbfounded as me.

The little cat meows for Paisley to pick it up, and she does, cuddling it to her. “You would never do something so awful, would you, Karma?” she says, scratching her cat under the chin. Her eyes rise to meet mine, and she looks me over, assessing me, her lips forming a half-smile like she has just decided I’m okay. “Bless your heart. I like you already. You two are both my witnesses, I’m done with men for good. If one even so much as looks my way, you need to remind me of this moment.” Shelooks between us, her anger more palpable than life-threatening now.

“Sure,” I agree at the same time as Mae. This girl is kind of scary, but in a good way. She’s fierce, like you know she would have your back no matter what. I need a bit of that energy around me. I have always been a pushover; maybe she can teach me a thing or two.

“Who’s hungry? I’m buying breakfast at Bay Roaster’s Café to apologize for my hissy fit,” she offers, flashing a beautiful smile. She’s impeccably dressed for the current hour in a white fitted sheath dress that hugs her body. She has heels on her feet, red ones, and her makeup is still perfectly in place. How early did she get up to make that all happen, I wonder.

“Maybe dinner. We need to get going or we’ll be late for Gisele’s first day.” Mae grabs my arm and tugs me toward the stairs.

“Okay, dinner at McAllister’s it is. Good luck on your first day, sugar.” She waves us off, sounding over her drama already.

Mae drives us to the hotel in her beat-up Ford Focus that she assures me she will be replacing as soon as she finishes her apprenticeship as a chef later in the year and finally starts getting paid properly. While she drives, she talks constantly, telling me everything and anything she can about the town she grew up in. She has been here her whole life and seems to know every person that lives in the town by name. The drive to The Alexander is short, and we park out back in staff parking. Then she takes me through the side entrance.

“We have time, so I’ll show you around before you have your meeting in the conference room for your orientation,” she offers.

“Thank you, that would be amazing,” I say, grateful.

“This is my domain, the kitchen.” She smiles, pushing open the door so I can see the space, a flutter of activity. I catch sight of bustling chefs and kitchen staff in their black-and-white-check uniforms. The rhythmic clattering of pans and the savory aroma of breakfast linger in the air. “The restaurant serves three meals a day, so they’re packing up from breakfast now,” she tells me.

“Morning, y’all,” says a nice-looking man in a chef’s uniform, his eyes meeting mine with a friendly curiosity. His gaze, though playful, feels welcoming.

“Gisele, this is Elliot McAllister, the one I was telling you about last night. Gisele Kelley is my new roomie,” she introduces us. “She thinks your family’s takeout is better than anything you can get in New York.” She bumps him with her shoulder.

Elliot extends his hand with a warm smile. “Hi,” I say, absorbing the genuine warmth in his bright blue eyes.

“I like this girl already.” He smirks toward Mae.

“So do I,” says Mae with a teasing smile. They seem close.

“So you’re the girl from New York. Mae and Paisley have been in a tizzy all week, excited to meet you.” Elliot’s smile broadens, and I appreciate the welcoming atmosphere within the kitchen.

“Sure am.”

“I can tell you’re not from around here,” he remarks playfully.

“Okay, Elliot, hands off her. Don’t you have work to do?” Mae interjects with a laugh. “I’m going to show Gisele around, then I’ll be back to start my shift.” She takes my hand, leading me away from him.

As we move through the kitchen, I absorb the organized chaos around us—the sizzle of food on grills, the vibrant colors of fresh produce, and the laughter of the kitchen staff. It’s like being backstage at a show.

“Are all your male friends so attractive?” I whisper to Mae, observing the dynamic between her and Elliot. She never mentioned a guy last night, and I wonder if she’s dating her boss. That could be juicy.

Her eyes go wide. “Don’t go there, Gisele. I’m warning you now. He’s handsome, yes, and one of the best guys I know, but his life is complicated. He’s a single dad with two girls and a whole lot of baggage you don’t want to unpack.”

“I didn’t mean for me. I just thought you seemed close.” We walk past the restaurant, and it’s busier than I would have expected for a Monday morning, full of holidaymakers.

She gives me a horrified look, and I realize I’m barking up the wrong tree. “Elliot is like the brother I didn’t want. I adore him, and I’m lucky to work for him, but he’s so not my type at all.” She shakes her head. “At all,” she says again to make sure I heard her.

“What’s your type then?” I ask, playing along.

A shy smile plays on her face. “Quiet, outdoorsy, I like a deep thinker. Someone I can have a good conversation with, but they don’t need to make it all about them.”

“It sounds like you know this guy already?”

She gives a shrug. “I know what I like. A shame it’s never going to happen with him.” A heavy sigh escapes from her, making me want to know more.

“Why the hell not? If you like him and he’s single, you should go for it,” I encourage her. I’m all for love and finding your perfect person. And from the sparkle in her eyes when she talks about him, I can see she thinks she has.

“It’s complicated.” The look she gives me tells me she doesn’t want to talk about it anymore, so I drop it.

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