Page 41 of Saved By the Grump

“I can start today," I say to Jonah, eager to get to work, but he shakes his head.

“No. I’m sure the kitchen's going to be a hostile environment today. Why don’t you come tomorrow when everything settles down.”

“Oh, uh, okay." At first, I'm not sure what he's talking about, but then I remember the glare of the cook.

Yeah, that man is probably not happy that I'm here to share his role. I might have to prepare myself for hostility and light work place bullying.

It doesn't matter, though.

I know that this isn’t going to be easy but I’m determined to weather the storm because I'll be damned if I waste this opportunity.

"Thank you so much,” I say to Jonah again, and he nods and smiles.

“Say hey to Oliver for me,” he says.

“Oh, I will.” I throw out another wave and then walk out to find Oliver's car still parked in the lot. I frown. Did Oliver wait for me? I didn’t think he would. He’s a very busy man, I expect that he has a lot of things to do.

But then I see him in front of the coffee shop across the street.

And he’s not alone.

He’s having a conversation with Jane. The woman who is supposedly not his girlfriend.

Except she’s definitely getting into his face like she is.

I see her point at him and I can read the betrayal on her face. That look has been in mine several times. It's the look of a woman who has been disappointed by a man who was supposed to love her.

Guilt weighs heavily on me. What have I done? Did I conspire with him to cheat on his girlfriend?

And then, without warning, she slaps him.

I jump a little, shocked by the move. She says something else before she walks away. I spin around as she walks away, hoping she didn't spot me. I don't want to be involved in whatever messy situation they have going on, especially when I'm this close to getting my life together.

It's time to focus on me and my work.

And that means staying away from Oliver Carter.

**

My first few days at the restaurant go pretty well, despite the obvious animosity of the head chef. He's giving me the silent treatment the entire time I work, but thankfully, April tells me everything I need to know, including the fact that Jonah has put me in charge of the southern cuisine.

The first day, I read all the recipes before work starts, trying to memorize them. They're pretty good for basis, but I suggest some tweaks to improve the taste. Jonah gives me the go-ahead and so I do experiment a little.

The chef—Luis—really doesn't like this, especially when one of the regulars, sends word to the kitchen that he likes the improved recipe.

And they're not the only ones to comment on my food.

At the end of the week, the restaurant is filled with customers to the point that Jonah walks into the kitchen confused.

"Anyone knows why we're packed today?" he asks.

"Is it usually a slow day?" I ask as I whip up the next batch of biscuits.

"Yeah," he says.

"It's Delilah," April says helpfully. "Word got around about her apple pie and people keep coming in to try it. One of the customers even left a note for her." She smiles cheekily. "I think it's a love letter."

"Well, they need to stop because Earl says we're getting close to code," he grumbles, and then nods at me. "Keep up the good work."

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