Page 82 of Tough Nut to Crack

"How would they feel about you selling the house?"

I shake my head again. "I don't know that they'd even care. They didn't really have a connection to it either."

"I think you need to sit on it for a while or, at minimum, talk with Mac. I don't know that making decisions while you're being pulled in so many directions is the best thing to do."

I know where she's coming from, but I can't let whatever mess I've created with a man in town keep me from trying to move forward with my life and my career.

"Can I make a suggestion?"

I look up at her. "Will our friendship survive it?"

I'm only teasing, but doubt creases on her forehead as she pauses.

"Have you considered shifting gears in the business?"

I tilt my head. "What do you mean? I don't want to change my menu."

"I'm not saying change your menu, but maybe go back to basics."

I narrow my eyes. "Have you been talking to Mac?"

"What?" she snaps a little too quickly, raising my suspicions even higher.

"He suggested the same thing. Said to cook the things from my grandmother's cookbook."

"Might not be a bad idea, but that's not what I mean by basics. This is Lindell, a small town where not much happens. Maybe trying to keep a business alive with catering isn't the right direction. Have youconsidered pickup-and-go meals? Like offering a to-go dinner for families having to come in from the city. They wouldn't have to cook, but it's not some fast food they grabbed out on the highway. You said yourself, you saw less of your parents because they were always traveling. I'm going out on a limb here, but you either had takeout or your mom came in and spent another hour in the kitchen making dinner, right?"

"True," I mutter.

"Then consider it. People still get home-cooked meals and that is in line with the family values people in Lindell are always trying to protect. Hell, I bet the guys on Mac's crew would buy something every damn day. They're all bachelors who spend most of their paychecks down at the diner anyway."

"It's sounds good in theory, but—"

"You’re already rejecting the idea," Sage mutters, disappointment lacing her tone.

"You're forgetting that one, I can't sell food out of my kitchen. The state cottage laws don't allow for that, and two—"

"You could talk to Madison. I bet she'd trade. A meal for use of her kitchen. Her kitchen has been rated commercial because of the house and its use with events."

I pause, my heart starting to race. "And she'd let me use it in exchange for what? Just dinner?"

"So the woman doesn't have to cook," Sage says quickly, and I can tell she noticed the excitement in my tone and is feeding off of it. "The woman is about to have a baby, and she's already got the twins. You making dinner would be a godsend. Honestly, I think she'd let you without dinner if you just asked. She's a really nice lady."

"I know she is, but you're forgetting about the town clause. Selling to-go, home-cooked meals are in direct violation of the town clause. Ruth would fight it, especially if she's going to lose business because of it."

She frowns when I do, and just like that, both of our bubbles are popped.

It wouldn't be my plan to make Ruth go out of business. I'm not egotistical enough to think I could. Going to the diner in town is just as much about socializing and gossiping as it is about eating, and I don't see that changing any time soon, despite what I may have to offer.

"Well, maybe go ask her. I don't think it would hurt, and if she surprises us and agrees, and you're not comfortable asking such a big favor from Madison, any of the church kitchens in town are also rated commercials, so you have options." She stands fromthe table, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before going to the sink. "I'm going to get ready for work, but please just give it some thought. Let them tell you no instead of just making assumptions about what you think they will say to you."

When she walks away, I get the very distinct feeling that she's talking about every situation in my life, not just the issue with Ruth and the no-compete clause that the town has.

Chapter 34

Mac

Maybe I'm not as good at reading between the lines as I thought I was because I sat in my truck down the road from Riley's house for hours, and she never showed up. I don't think Sage would lie to me. Despite her declaration that she was on Riley's side, I still felt like part of her is hoping that her friend and I end up together.

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