Page 91 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Seven

“Yeah, it’s a good place. Come on.”

Jameson led him to the spot and realized saying goodbye really sucked.

Hours later, he met with Mac. He’d already packed up his things and loaded the car. He faced his cousin in the living room, surrounded by the cheap tacky knickknacks and worn furniture and beach happiness and began to see more of his cousin’s heart and soul than he had before.

“You still pissed?” he asked.

Mac shot him a look. “A little. But it won’t last. Listen, dude, you screwed up. You should’ve called me and told me your plan. I would’ve told you Vintage is perfect the way it is. I like the BYOB and the pancakes and the staff giving me shit. The customers like the vibe. I don’t need fancy or a profit. I need to be exactly what I am--happy.”

Jameson winced. “Yeah, I wasn’t thinking like that. I’m sorry, Mac. I have all this knowledge from years in the business and I saw something really big for you. I just wanted to help.”

“That’s why I forgive you. Devon said the same thing when we spoke.”

“She didn’t tell me.” The thought of Devon defending him threw him off. Pleasure and longing crashed within, dragging him over the sand like the waves. “She was the one warning me not to do it. Said you’d hate it.”

“Devon’s smart. I’m glad you both got together. She’s good for you. And vice versa.”

He tilted his head with curiosity. “Why?”

Mac grinned. “She sees past that stick up your ass surface. Knows your heart. And you obviously treasure her in a way she’s been missing.”

He liked his cousin’s words but it also hurt since he was leaving her behind.

Mac reached out and patted his arm. “Look, Jameson, I gotta tell you something. What you do with it is up to you. I think you’d be perfect to open up your own place. You have all the vision and knowledge and expertise to be a success. And I think you should do it right here, in Cape May, where you can be near Devon, and some family.”

The words jolted him. “I’ve been here a month. You really think I should give up my job, my place, my friends, and my life to chase a woman I’ve known for a few weeks and settle in a small beach town?”

Mac laughed. “Hell, yes, I do. And that’s all I’m going to say. Just…think about it. Your life can be anything you want, dude. You get to make the choices.”

They said goodbye and Jameson left with his cousin’s words echoing in his head.

Chapter Fifteen

Jameson smiled at the screen and wished he could touch her. “How bad was the wedding?”

She groaned and pushed her hair back. His fingers tingled at the thought of how those strands felt slipping through his fingers, like raw silk. “Bad. Poor Gabe got hit on by the bridesmaids—they were so trashed, and I thought Bella was going to tackle them to the floor in a cat fight.”

“Did she?”

“God, no, she’s got class. She just made out with him in front of a crowd and lifted his finger to show off his wedding band. Then walked away with her head high. They didn’t bother him after that.”

“That’s kick ass. Would you do that for me?”

Her voice lowered in a sexy whisper. “I don’t need any excuse to make out with you, restaurant boy.”

He laughed, but the time on the clock was like a ticking bomb. “Sweetheart, I gotta go. I’ll check in later.”

“Okay, have a good shift.”

He opened his mouth, then quickly shut it. It seemed so natural to tell her he loved her but he knew it was too much. “Talk later. Miss you.”

“Miss you.”

He clicked off and headed to his closet to change. His head whirred with images of Devon wrapped up in his arms, with Bear at their side, running a restaurant that he had an emotional stake in.

God, he was tired. The long shifts weren’t invigorating anymore to him. Instead, his energy was always sapped. They’d made a change in management so now he was working with aguy in the field that was arrogant and a know-it-all. Tension was consistently simmering between them. Jameson figured a confrontation was coming soon because he couldn’t have his authority questioned.

But the bottom line? The Bordeaux Café wasn’t his place. He did what the bosses told him. He was a very highly paid manager. Not an owner.

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