Page 25 of Challenged by the Single Dad

“I’m feeling like something Mediterranean,” she said. “Not necessarily Greek or Italian. Moroccan is always good too. But something from that area.”

He pursed his full lips for a moment then nodded with enthusiasm. “I think I can work with that. Give me fifteen?”

She beamed at him, her stomach already grumbling. “Absolutely.”

It didn’t feel like fifteen minutes before Burke was handing her a bowl of what he called Moroccan Chickpea Stew over couscous. It smelled incredible and had bits of dried apricot, sultanas, and dates mixed in with the stewed tomatoes and chickpeas.

“And you just pulled this out of your brain again?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I improvised with what we had. Then I added different spices, the chopped dried fruit, and the chickpeas. What do you think?” He handed her a spoon.

Another stomach rumble had her taking probably too big of a spoonful, but she didn’t care. She shoveled that sucker into her mouth and moaned the moment the flavors skittered across her tongue. “So. Freaking. Good.”

She’d closed her eyes again and when she opened them, she found Burke once again, elated and smiling wide.

“Thank you,” she said. “This is perfect.”

“You’re welcome. I’m looking forward to my after-shift Caesar.”

She gave him another thank you and smile, then headed out to the bar where she found an empty seat at the end and dug into her dinner with vigor.

“What did Burke make you?” Renée asked. “That looks amazing.”

“Moroccan Chickpea Stew. And it is. You should ask him to make it for you too.”

“I might have to.” The door behind them swung open and Renée’s face lit up. “I was wondering if we might see you three.”

Chloe spun around only to see three of the four women from yoga earlier that day. The one missing was the redhead. They approached the bar, and that’s when Chloe realized she’d seen the blonde woman before.

She was freaking Brooke Barker, the super famous Hollywood actor.

“We wanted to come check out the new bartender that has the whole island in a tizzy,” Brooke said. “Where is she?” Her head swiveled around the bar searching for Chloe.

Renée tipped her head toward Chloe. “She’s right beside you. Ladies, meet Chloe Voss. Bartender Extraordinaire.”

Chloe’s face was officially on fire.

“You were at yoga today,” the olive-skinned one with the long-ishbrown bobsaid in a very thick Italian accent.

“I … I was, yes.” Chloe nodded.

“I’m Vica,” she said, holding out her hand. “I am with Wyatt. It’s very nice to meet you.”

Chloe took her hand. It was cool to the touch, but her handshake was firm. “You too.”

“I’m Justine,” said the woman who looked an awful lot like Lucy Liu. “I’m with Bennett, and I’m a doctor here on the island as well.” She and Chloe shook hands.

“And I’m Brooke. I’m with Clint and I’m—”

“Oh, I know who you are,” Chloe said. “I love your movies.”

Brooke smiled and they shook hands. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you. We’ve heard so much about you already.”

“Y-you have?”

They all nodded.

“News travels fast in a small town,” Justine said.

---