Page 11 of Buttercup and the Beard

One of her shoulders hikes up a little too high to be considered a shrug when she responds. “I mean, I make do, but I also caught Ally’s bakery on fire a couple of years back trying to make the bacon for the breakfast sandwiches she has on the menu.”

“I forgot about that.”

It had been the news of the town at the time. Jem, who had been taking on more responsibility at the store, ended up getting it shut down for a week, before they were able to shift stuff around so they could continue to work while the damage got fixed. The entirety of Felt was in sugar withdrawal for the week.

“I haven’t. So I can technically cook. I just prefer not to when I have the choice.”

“Why do you work in a bakery if you can’t cook?”

“Baking and cooking are two completely different things for one—at least for me they are. For two, I’m mainly a barista for the shop, which is how I like it. Ally’s brought in more help since I’ve taken on more manager duties, so I almost never have to cook or bake anymore.”

“How do you feed yourself?” I ask. I can’t imagine not cooking meals, and while I don’t cook in the big kitchen with the family back home in Everette anymore, I know that I can if I want to.

“Usually? I live off cold cuts, cans of soup, or adult Lunchables.”

“Adult Lunchables? What the hell are those?”

Jem laughs again. “Charcuterie boards, Boone. Meat, cheese, fruit, and some crackers. I call them adult Lunchables because that’s pretty much what they are.”

“What about your family? Do they cook? You go over there for dinners?”

Jem’s smile dims, her eyes losing a little bit of the sparkle they had in them before. “It’s just me. No family.” The loaded way she says it makes me think that there’s a story there.

6

JEM

I hate that question. The family question. Boone’s expression closed down right after I told him that I don’t have any family, and I hate that I made him uncomfortable.

The conversation over breakfast was mostly nice. Especially after clearing the air about my inadvertent peep show. My mornings consist of an alarm clock that goes off way too early, and then coffee alone before helping to open the bakery, so all the excitement this morning is different. Tit show aside, of course.

To be fair, I could have locked the bathroom door, but it slipped my mind.

I rinse the last dish and put it in the dish drainer before I turn back to Boone, who has both of his hands wrapped around a giant coffee mug.

“No family?” he asks softly.

“My mom wasn’t much of a mom. She kept a roof over our heads—barely—until I turned eighteen, and then I was on my own. Never knew my dad. I have an aunt that I’ve spoken with a few times who lives in Florida. But that’s it.”

“I’m sorry.”

I wave away his words. “It is what it is. What about you? Where’s your family?”

He scratches the sexy stubble on his chin before answering. “My dad and brothers are still in Everette. It’s about two hours from here. Dad is the senior park ranger for that station, and I have five brothers who do various things.”

I hold up a hand. “Wait. Did you just say five brothers? So there are six of you? Your mother must be super woman.”

The shutters come down farther over his eyes and I know I just stepped into a can of worms. “She passed away. But yeah, she was super woman.”

“I’m sorry.” Now I’m the one offering condolences.

He shakes his head. “It’s fine. It sucks and I miss her, but it’s been a while now.”

Seeing the grief in his eyes and knowing that I’m overstepping, I still ask, “Tell me about her. What was she like?”

He takes a sip of coffee. “Her name’s Katherine. She was involved in everything. She knew everyone. And if someone was going through something, she was the first person to show up with food and offer a shoulder. She didn’t judge or gossip, she listened—she was just there. Growing up, we all knew that while Dad made the money, she ran the house…the family. She had her fingers in all of our lives, and we could go to her for anything, anytime and she would be there.”

“That sounds amazing. I’m sorry that you lost that.”

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