Page 90 of Turn Up The Heat

“And you’re sure this is what you want?” her mother finally said, eyes firm on Bellamy’s.

Bellamy didn’t even think twice. “Yes.”

Her father scrubbed a hand down his clean-shaven jaw. “It’s a hell of a risk, sweetheart. But if I’m being honest, you’ve loved to cook since you were a kid. I always thought it was a hobby, but if you want to make a go of it, then I think you should.”

“Wethink you should,” her mother corrected, nodding.

“Wait. You do?” Bellamy sputtered.

“Of course we do. Did you think we wouldn’t support you?” her father asked, starting to smile.

She gave a tiny nod. “Well, kind of. Yeah. It’s a little crazy.”

“About as crazy as the day the two of us stood in your grandmother and grandfather’s house and told them we were going to start our own business on nothing more than a shoestring and our own determination. But it was what we wanted, and it’s obvious that this is what you want,” he answered.

Tears pricked Bellamy’s eyes, quickly spilling onto her cheeks. “I really do,” she nodded, letting her mother gather her up for a tight hug.

“You have to be true to your heart, honey. If you get that part down, everything else has a way of falling into place.”

As she stood in the embrace of both her parents with tears streaming down her face, it was all Bellamy could do to convince herself that the only thing following her heart would get her was that job.

29

Bellamy slid her key into the lock of her condo, shutting the door safely behind her and locking it again once she was inside. It was still relatively early on a Friday night, so she surveyed the contents of her refrigerator, settling for a bottle of water. What she really wanted was to crack open the bottle of pinot grigio she had chilling in her mini wine fridge, but she was pretty sure it was high-key pathetic to drink a bottle of wine all by your lonesome not even a whole day after being jilted by a guy you thought you knew. A guy you thought you might even love.

On second thought, where was that corkscrew?

Bellamy poured herself a glass of wine and trudged down the hall to her bathroom to draw a bubble bath. As soon as she started the water, the sound of the phone interrupted her again, only this time she was prepared. She lifted the phone from her bedside table, glancing at the caller ID.

“Hello?”

“Hey, how did it go with your parents?” Jenna asked.

Bellamy let out a little smile and ran a hand through her hair. “Pretty well, all things considered. Aside from the normal parental concern over the whole taking-a-big-step thing, they were kind of excited, actually. Thanks for letting me borrow your car to go see them.”

“No problem. Is it cool with you if I come grab the keys in about half an hour? My roommate’s going to be out your way, and she said she could drop me off so you don’t have to make a trip tomorrow.”

Bellamy eyed the bathroom door, thinking. “I was going to get in the tub. Why don’t you use your spare key to get in, and I’ll leave them on the kitchen counter for you.” God, did that bone-weary voice really belong to her?

“That sounds good. You sure you’re okay? I can stay, if you want company. We can do the chick-flick, ugly slippers, drink-too-much-wine thing. Talking about it totally optional.”

Bellamy paused for a fraction too long before answering. “No, thanks. I’ll be fine. I’m just tired, that’s all. I think I’ll feel better once I get some sleep.”

Jenna paused equally long, but finally conceded. “Okay. Have a good soak. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, but if you need me before then, just call.”

“Thanks.” Bellamy ended the call and returned to the bathroom. Peeling her clothes off and tossing them into a heap, she slipped into the steaming tub. Her skin tingled in the hot water, and she let herself sink in against the slope of the porcelain. The tangled ends of her hair fanned around her neck and chest, and Bellamy spiraled her fingers through them.

Your hair looks perfect when it’s lying over your pillow in the early sunlight…

Hot tears filled her eyes, and she squeezed them shut in an effort to forbid them to fall.

Your skin tastes like honey, right here…

“I just want to forget him,” Bellamy whispered, her voice wavering to give away the lie.

But the sweetest thing about you is your honesty…because it makes you beautiful…

Bellamy dropped her chin into the bubbles and let herself have a good, long cry.

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