Page 19 of A Package Deal

“Are you kidding?” Eric grabbed her glass, dumping out the melted ice and filling it with fresh cubes and soda. “This is Minnesota. People will go nutso over the tater tots.” Nelie stood and took her drink. “And forget looking for a used one. Live a little. Let’s buy new.”

Nelie rolled her eyes. Comments like that were the reason Eric wasn’t in charge of ordering. Gus had drummed it into her to never to spend more than she could pay by the end of the month. She didn’t think he’d ever taken out a loan for the Galley. The one time she’d suggested getting one for remodeling, he’d about blown a gasket.

After thirty minutes, she had nothing to show for her work. She’d found a decent fryer at a reasonable price, but it was in Green Bay.And I’ve wasted time I won’t ever get back. She could have ordered a new fryer in the last half hour. A fryer that wouldn’t require immediate maintenance and babysitting. One that was reliable. One that could be delivered and installed, and pumping out fries by the weekend. One that would keep her diners happy. Nelie looked at the checking and savings accounts. The Galley could afford new.I do deserve nice things, she thought as she opened her local restaurant supplier’s website.

She selected two possible fryers and left a message for the sales rep to call her in the morning before switching over to the schedule and figuring out who she’d call first to take over her Saturday shift.

As nervous as she was, Nelie wanted it to work with Chet. Eric’s taunt about not wanting it badly enough had stung. If he’d been wrong, she could have brushed it off, but she couldn’t. He was right. In the past, she hadn’t wanted a relationship badly enough with anyone. She’d always put the Galley first, making it more important than the man.And you make everything and everyone more important than you, her conscience nudged.

Another argument she wouldn’t win. It was a painful truth. She put her wants and needs behind everyone else, because without Gus, her close circle of friends, and the community, she’d have nothing and no one. She’d be homeless. Gus, Stella, and Haven had taken her in and had given her a home. A place to belong and Nelie wouldn’t risk losing that.

The only personal pursuit she had was her baking, but even with that, she justified it was good for the business. She was afraid to be honest and accept it was a passion project that filled her with joy. Chet and his daughters also filled her with joy.

Nelie wasn’t completely on board trusting him, but after spending time with him and the girls at the ice castle listening to theirwhat’s news game, she had a better idea of what Chet considered to be news.

If their budding second chance blew up, would she be the reason? Her stomach clenched. She could be if she didn’t make some changes. She needed to prioritize him and the girls. Nelie needed to make her best effort at this. She pulled out her phone and dialed Chet, eager for him to give her Ava’s message.

Chapter 13

“Aretheydown?”Nelieasked, rolling her head toward him as he walked down the stairs, avoiding the stack of library books. One step was for the unread books and another for the ones ready to go back to the library. It wasn’t the best place to store them, but it worked if Piper remembered which pile was which. A few weeks ago, he’d returned one she hadn’t read, and all hell had broken loose.

“For the count,” he said, sitting next to her on the couch before she curled up and tossed a blanket over their laps.

“Thank you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“For?” he asked, leaning his head against hers. She smelled like flowers, not fries, but he’d survive as long as she didn’t leave his side.

“This was a great day.”

“You say that now. Wait until tomorrow. I haven’t been sledding like that for years. I won’t be able to move in the morning.” He turned his head toward her. Nelie looked comfortable and content, like she belonged.

“Don’t worry, old man, the girls will get you going,” she teased. Chet wished it was Nelie who’d get him going in the morning.Patience. He didn’t want to spook Nelie by moving too fast, and he wanted to make sure the girls were comfortable with her and with adding her to their family.

During their first round of dating, he’d made it clear to her he wanted no more children, and he’d had a vasectomy. But it hadn’t fazed her. Nelie had told him her life kept her plenty busy, and she didn’t know how she could fit kids into it. But she was. She still had the girls two afternoons a week and today she’d made time to have fun with them as a family.

“How’s the new fryer?” he asked, knowing that last night was its maiden voyage.

“Hot and sizzling, but I’d rather talk about you.” His eyebrows rose, and the room felt warmer.

“Me? You think I’m hot and sizzling?” Chet asked, as if he were a coy heroine in a regency romance.

Nelie swatted at him playfully, laughing. “Yes, but I meant the paper.” Chet’s ego deflated at her amused tone. “I finished it this morning. It was a good edition.”

“What made it good?” he asked. They often talked about the Galley, but never about theHaven Times. He wondered if they avoided talking about his work since his work broke them apart back in the fall.

“The Photos section was fun, and I liked the profile of the high school girl who won the regional science contest. I don’t understand chemistry, but I liked the article. And I particularly liked that you didn’t mention my grease fire.” She stretched toward him like she was going to kiss him, but he leaned back, disappointed.Chemistry isn’t the only thing she doesn’t understand. He breathed slowly through his nose—counting to ten—wondering how to make her understand.

“A grease fire in a commercial kitchen isn’t news, Nelie. I’m sure it’s fairly common. Now, if HFD had been called, that would have been news.”

“Because it would have impacted others?” she asked, biting her lip.

“Exactly.”

“I think I’m starting to understand where you draw the line.”

“Good.” He dropped a kiss on her lips, a reward for them both. She was trying to understand, and he hadn’t lost his cool. Nelie brushed her fingers through the short hair at his nape as he pulled her closer.Finally.

“Dad?” Piper called down the stairs. He dropped his head to his chest and groaned. Nelie chuckled. “Ava needs a glass of water.”

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