Page 12 of Rescue
Chapter 6
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Penelope
I finally make my last sale of the day, a blueberry muffin and lemonade to go for Ms. Patti who has been a regular since I was a little girl. I heave out a deep breath and stop to sit for a minute before I finish the rest of the daily clean up. I like to clean as I go, so there’s not much to do, just sweep and mop the floors and make sure the dough for some of the pastries is prepped in the back.
My first day alone in the cafe didn’t go so bad. I only had to call Nana once to ask her something I didn’t know. Other than the menu issue, not a whole lot has changed around here. About that menu issue though. I can’t believe she and her silly friends came up with so many dirty menu names. I really thought I had felt embarrassed before, but when Miles Carter came in and ordered a Bold and Busty Bean Flicker, I almost lost it. Well, I guess I did actually lose it since I sprayed him all over with whipped cream.
When I saw him come through the door, I nearly dropped the pastry I was pulling out of the case for the lady ahead of him. I didn’t realize they made men so attractive. Honestly, at one point I considered fanning myself and I know for a fact it was chilly this morning. Hell, you could probably see my nipples through my apron. I do not remember the twins having a brother that hot. I remember them having two older brothers, but I think they both had serious girlfriends. Either way, they were way too old for me to even consider them back then. Now, however, it is a different story.
It might not have been so bad if he hadn’t been blatantly staring at me the entire time I was helping the other customer. It would have been uncomfortable if it was anyone else, but for some reason with him, I really enjoyed the attention. I mean, I know I just got out of a relationship yesterday, but it’s not like I’m hopping into bed with this guy. Though I’m not so sure I would say no, either.
What's strange is I never felt anything close to that kind of attraction with Spencer. With him, it was like I just wanted to be in his orbit. To be one of the cool kids. Once I got to know him, I realized all that glitters is not gold. What made Spencer cool turned out to be his drive for money, and I learned the hard way that’s just not really my thing. Money doesn’t really make everything better. If anything, it only seemed to amplify our issues.
Once Spencer got the junior partner position at the fancy new law firm, it was like all that mattered was his appearance. Not just of his clothes, but his whole life. If everything wasn’t perfect, if I wasn’t perfect, then the whole night would be ruined and Spencer would have a huge fit when we got home. It got to the point where I just let him make all the decisions, down to what we ate for dinner, so I didn’t have to be the target of his inevitable condescension and childish behavior. But as much as I tried, I’m simply not a perfect person. And neither was he.
The energy I could feel coming from Miles is totally different though. It completely threw me for a loop and I acted like a total dork. When he shook his hair out, I got lost in all his tall, dark, and handsomeness and forgot all sense of reality. And then, to top things off, I got so flustered that I tried to wipe his crotch. I’m so embarrassed and the only excuse I can claim is temporary insanity due to being struck dumb by his insanely hot body. I really need to get my crap together. I have to say, he did seem rather impressive while I was wiping . . . if you’re into that. I find myself blushing all over again.
Quickly, I finish up the few things that need to be done. Just as I’m about to head upstairs to my temporary apartment for a long hot bath, there’s a knock on the front door of the cafe. We’re closed, but I decide to check and see who it is anyways. As I walk to the door, I recognize my childhood best friend, Amy, peering into the window on the door. I smile and rush to unlock and open the door. “Hey, girl! It’s so good to see you!”
I usher the gorgeous blonde-haired blue-eyed girl into the cafe. I can feel the chill in the air, and I shiver as I close the door and turn to give her a big hug.
“Hey there, city girl! When did you get back to town? You should have called. I would have come and helped you out here,” she says. She's always been an excellent best friend and it’s so nice to know I’ll always have her when things get tough.
“Oh, that’s ok, I know you’re busy at the Mayor’s office. Hot shot secretary that you are doesn’t need to come get covered in whipped cream with me all day!” I say laughing.
“Sounds like there's a story there,” she laughs with her signature trill. She’s got the best laugh and it instantly makes me happier. Just what I needed after a long day.
“I ran the cafe for the first time today, though maybe I should have just stayed closed.” I proceed to tell her all about the incident with Miles. At this point she’s laughing so hard she’s got tears running down her face.
“So, he announces he’s leaving to take a shower and you say ‘Tell your brothers I said hi’?” I don’t know how she managed to get all that out through her uncontrollable laughter. “Could you be more awkward?” she asks in a teasing voice as she starts to catch her breath. I know she’s joking and she’s honestly right. I’ve never known what to say when guys flirt with me.
“So what about Mr. Hotshot Lawyer?” she asks, sobering a bit. “Where is he right now?” I remember that I haven't had a chance to tell her about our breakup, so I fill her in on what's been going on with us, the breakup, and what Brenda told me. The more people I tell, the better I feel about my decision. I know now that he wasn’t right for me and it’s getting easier to accept the more I think about it. I’m not even really that upset, honestly, and that tells me how I really feel more than anything else. I’m more upset that I spent so long thinking I needed to be what he wanted than at the fact that we’re over. I say as much to Amy. She nods along and seems to really understand what I’m going through. She’s been through a couple rough breakups herself, so she can definitely empathize with my situation.
We talk and laugh for what feels like hours. I make us a simple pasta dinner with the stuff in the kitchen that I can manage to throw together without going to the store again and we chat like we were never separated. It feels so good to spend time with someone who fully accepts me for me. It seemed like I was always being judged in the city, and it’s a terrible way to live your life.
Later that evening, after Amy has gone home and I’m alone again, I clean up the kitchen from our meal and then head upstairs for that bath I never got around to. The upstairs part of the cafe has everything except a kitchen. A little tv area at the top of the stairs, and on the other side of the room are two bedrooms connected by a bathroom. The bathroom is a little old fashioned with a clawfoot tub on one side of the room and a marble his and hers sink and vanity that runs along one wall. It is decorated in the same style as downstairs, mixed jewel tones and prints along with several family photos framed along the walls. This is really like a second home to Nana and her touch is everywhere.
It’s getting late and I have to be up early to open the cafe, but I can’t resist the relaxing hot water on my aching body. I’m not used to working alone all day anymore and the lunch rush was something else. If I was worried whether Mabel’s Manor was profitable, I’m not anymore. It felt like I waited on half the town today, and if I know Piney Grove, the other half will be here tomorrow.
Sinking down into the tub, my body instantly starts to relax. After all the drama this week, this is just what I needed. I wash up as I think over the events of the last few days. When my mind gets to my interaction with Miles, my body responds. I’m shocked that I’ve had such a reaction to him, though I can’t help but embrace it. I begin to run my hands down my wet body, lightly caressing my nipples as I imagine Miles slowly peeling off his messy clothes and diving between my legs. My right hand trails down the rest of the way, but just as I begin touching myself I’m struck by a wave of confusion over my sudden feelings for this guy. It’s way too soon to be dating, and even if it weren’t, I’m not ready to settle down and be stuck here in Piney Grove for the rest of my life. My mood is lost, so I finish bathing and get ready for bed. I resolve to leave my feelings, and thoughts for that matter, for Miles behind and do my best to move forward.
The next morning runs a lot smoother now that I know Nana’s new menu. Several customers comment on her accident and send well wishes to her. It seems the whole town knows about her fall, and about how I’m back to help with the cafe. I let them know that she should be discharged today and that she’ll be going home to my mom’s house for a while. Mama needs to be able to keep an eye on her during the day and since she runs her accounting business out of her home office that shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Mama does the books for most of the businesses here in Piney Grove. It’s not a huge town, by any means, but she makes a comfortable living and is able to hire a helper during tax season so that she’s able to manage a little better. Fortunately, tax season is over for the year, so her business is a little slower. That should work to her benefit since I’m sure she’ll stay busy trying to help Nana get back on her feet.
I half expect Miles to come walking in the door most of the morning, Amy told me he’s one of Nana’s regulars, but he never shows. I try to decide if I’m relieved or disappointed, but the cafe stays so busy I don’t have time to dwell on it.
As it nears the end of the day, the brisk breeze reminds me that I’m not used to the cold like I used to be. The weather stays so warm in LA that apart from coming home for a few holidays, I’ve grown less accustomed to the cold that starts seeping in during the final few days of summer and lingers through the last days of spring. It’s a week from Labor Day and I find myself wanting to start a fire in the fireplace. The heater in this old house works fine, but I feel like I need the fire to take the edge off. Besides, it’ll be relaxing to sit and watch the flames with a glass of wine. It’s been a long day and I deserve to treat myself.
After I finish up for the day, I run to the grocery store to pick up a few things for Mama, Nana, and myself. If I’m going to be here for a while, I might as well settle in. I run to Mama’s to drop off their groceries and have dinner. Once I’m satisfied that Nana is comfortable and resting, I head home. It’s almost 7 and the sun is just starting to set. I can’t wait to get that fire going and relax.
I run inside and hurry through a shower. Nana has a shower head that attaches to the faucet of the tub. It’s not the easiest way to shower, but it will do in a hurry. I’ve got my eye on that fire and glass of wine and I don't want to wait. Once I’m out, I put on a pair of soft leggings and an oversized sweater, then brush my messy hair. My curls are worse when it’s wet, but I don’t have the patience to blow dry it this evening, so I leave this unruly mop to air dry for now. I look a hot mess, but it’s just me for the night, so who cares?
The fireplace is in the main dining room of the cafe, so I head down there. Fortunately, Nana has everything for a fire ready right there in a gorgeous wooden box on the mantle. The wood is neatly stacked on the grate, ready to be lit. I pull out one of the long matches and strike it on one of the bricks. I’ve done this before a million times so it’s not long before I see the wood catch fire. I’ll just have to give it a minute to build up.
While I’m waiting, I run into the kitchen and grab the bottle of Pinot Noir I picked up at the grocery store earlier. I rummage around for a corkscrew, and it takes me a few minutes before I finally locate one in the back of a drawer. I pour my glass of wine and head back into the dining room.
