Page 62 of Get Lost with You
Levi’s jaw dropped. He stood there, staring at two men he’d known most of his life, and had no idea what to say.
Grayson took that as an opportunity to fill his silence. “We want you to cook for the lodge. You’ll have carte blanche to do what you want, but need to keep in mind that we’re a fishing lodge so it needs to suit the vibe.”
“But you have a chef,” Levi said as his brain ran in different directions.
Beckett nodded. “Shane is ready to retire. He had an accident last summer, cut himself pretty bad. He’s got almost full mobility in his hand back but he’s definitely slowing down. He’d been talking about stopping even before that, though, because his husband retired.”
Looking around the kitchen, Levi tried to imagine it. He liked it here. He sure as hell liked the employers, and one specific employee. His gaze found Gray’s.
“What about Jillian?”
“What about her?” Beckett asked.
“Is she okay with this?”
Gray shrugged. “I’m pretty positive she will be. Shane was always going to leave. He planned to stick around this summer for us but now he can kind of phase out, which I think he’ll love. Having you here is a hell of a lot better than having to find someone and bring them in. I tried to talk to her about it this morning but there wasn’t time.”
The idea was quickly turning into something he wanted. Badly.
Grayson nodded, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “We haven’t worked everything out. We’d need to all sit down, but the rest of us have to do that anyway. There’s only a week until we open for the season.”
“What would it look like?” Levi asked.
“The lodge will be open from June to November this year. Next year, we’ll start earlier, probably beginning of May. You’d be able to keep catering—Beckett said you’re doing some of that—plus cooking for the groups that Jilly brings in to use the space.”
He started to pace. He needed to get the grill going for the dogs. With a hand on the back of his neck, he did his thinking out loud. “Zane asked if I’d put together a meal for him and his wife for their tenth anniversary. I said yes, but if I did that on the side as well, sort of like a personal chef here and there, it could all gel together into enough.” Right? Would it be enough? Would Jilly want to work with him every day? God, it’d be amazing to see her all the time. They’d still have enough space not to drive eachother crazy, but at this moment, he didn’t think any amount of time with her would equal enough.
Beckett leaned against the counter, crossed his arms over his chest, his flannel shirt seeming a little snug for the width of his shoulders. “I should get you to make Presley and me a meal. Maybe a picnic.”
Gray huffed out a breath that turned into a laugh. “Focus, Beckett. Levi, we have money to pay you a competitive wage. We’re in a good place right now, and having a great menu will go a long way toward building the lodge’s reputation.”
Levi stopped pacing and looked at his two friends. Food truck, lodge, fancy-ass restaurant? He just wanted to cook, develop food that made people smile and connect and want to linger or go back for more. He could do that here. He could fully immerse himself not only in the community but with the people he loved. It was a kind of security that he hadn’t realized would be appealing. He’d be part of something.
“You know what? I’m in. If you guys are sure and we can get it all down on paper so I can really see what I’m working with, I’m in. I’d love to be part of what you’re building here.” He held back from saying he’d eventually like to be part of their family indefinitely. Because, one step at a time. Or at least, one step after making a huge leap.
Thirty
By the time they got the kids back to Smile before dinner and unloaded their own things, Jilly was ready to fall into bed. But she couldn’t. Not tonight. Tonight, Beckett and Grayson had called an emergency staff meeting. Which was all kinds of odd since they had a staff meeting set up for the end of next week before the season’s official opening.
Andrew hadn’t stopped calling and Jillian knew, realistically, her options there were slim. She’d either have to meet up with him or he’d show up.
Tonight’s meeting was at her parents’ at least. Ollie was officially on summer vacation. She’d wanted to stay overnight at Christopher’s but Jillian thought a night of rest was a better idea.
Levi had been in a strange mood on the way back. With packing up, getting the kids ready, chatting with parents, she hadn’t had any time to talk to him, but he’d sent her numerous glances on the boat, a small smile playing on his lips. She’d wondered, several times, if he was replaying last night like she was. Like she couldn’t stop doing.
Ollie came into Jill’s bedroom as she finished changing into sweats and a hoodie. Staff meeting or not, she was tired and in her own home.
Ollie was fresh out of the shower, dressed in her jammies and eating a peanut butter and jam sandwich.
“Hey.” Jilly sat down at her vanity table to brush her hair. She watched through the mirror as Ollie sat on the edge of her bed.
“I should be at the meeting. I’m seasonal staff.”
She bit back her laugh while running the brush through her hair, wishing she’d had time for a long shower. Ollie was very serious about her “position” at the lodge. “Grown-up staff meeting. You’re getting a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, I want to look at a few of the summer camp options with you so that you’re not stuck at the lodge all the time.”
Ollie stopped eating. “I don’t want to go to summer camp. You guys need me at the lodge.”
Setting the brush down, Jill turned on her stool. “You were the biggest help last year, honey. Truly. And I love having you there, but we’re fully booked and there’s a lot of new stuff happening. I don’t want your whole summer to be there. I want you to have some fun and be with friends.”
