AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It is. But Staci told me today that she wants to take a more backseat role in the day-to-day running of the store. It’s going to be a big change,” Alysse said.
“You can do it. What will be the biggest obstacle?” he asked.
She had been toying with that. “I think finding another baker. Most of the really good ones already have permanent jobs and it’s so personal in the kitchen I need to find someone who suits my style.”
“If it was me, I’d make a list,” he said. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a pen and a small notebook.
“Jot down the qualities you are looking for and then you can draft an ad or ask around to see if someone who matches them is available,” he said.
She smiled at him because for the first time today she didn’t feel alone. She hadn’t anticipated that Jay would be able to give her this. She needed to feel as though she had a partner when she had these kinds of decisions to make. And frankly, given the way their relationship had been going, she hadn’t had a clue that he’d step up to the plate this time.
She couldn’t help staring at him and seeing some changes that made her care just a little bit more for him. Jay was the kind of man she could count on in a crisis and that shouldn’t have surprised her because of his experience in the Corps.
For the first time she thought about Jay as someone who lived life on the edge, as someone who protected those he cared for. Yet she wasn’t entirely sure he was going to be able to watch over her for any longer than his leave.
10
JAY WAS nervous.
He’d agreed to go with Alysse to the volleyball tournament and watch Toby play, which was no big deal, except that he’d also be meeting her mother.
“Ready for today?” Alysse asked as she and Jay headed for her car. The Saab convertible was perfect for the sunny California weather.
“I guess so. Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked.
“My mom is coming today,” she said. “I didn’t mention it before because I didn’t think anything of it until Staci texted me this morning that she was looking forward to the fireworks.”
Great. “I guess your mom will be like your brother then?”
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“That she’ll be angry with me,” he said.
“Well, yes. That’s her in a nutshell. She’s very protective of my brother and me. When we were in school we could never let her know if someone teased us on the playground or gave us a hard time after school...she’d head right into the principal’s office and defend us.”
“Sounds perfect to me,” Jay said.
“I can see how you would think so given how your mom was,” Alysse said. “But it was embarrassing.”
“I get that. I...how should I handle her?” he asked. He wasn’t too happy with the way that Alysse mentioned his past with his mom as if it was normal and okay. But her acceptance of it and of him made things easier on him.
“Just be yourself. Once she sees that you weren’t out to hurt me she’ll ease up,” Alysse said, holding the key ring up and dangling it from one finger. “Do you want to drive?”
“Yes,” he said. “You are a speed demon in this car.”
She chuckled. “It’s not my fault that it has really good pickup.”
“No, but it is your fault that you like going fast,” he teased, giving her a quick buss on the lips before opening her door. She slid into the passenger seat and he went around to the driver’s side.
He was trying to behave normally, as if this was going to be fun, while truthfully, he was dreading it. Over the last week they’d done more things with her friends than he would have thought himself capable of. He’d chipped away at his defenses and, frankly, he believed it was making a difference.
“What exactly is the Cal King Tournament?” he asked once they got on the road.
“It’s a series of semi-pro beach volleyball games. Toby and Paulo are on a team. Each team has two people and they play all day. There is a final at night. The matches can be really competitive and a lot of fun to watch.”
He wasn’t convinced that going to an event that had all of Alysse’s family at it was going to be fun. But he’d agreed mainly because he was test-driving normal life. He’d been working every day for the last week at Company B and spending most of his nights at Alysse’s house.
