Take Three (The Jilted Bride #2)(24)

“Oh yeah, Sweet Seasons! They make great pies!”

“You knew they existed?” I tried to sit up.

“Duh! Look, don’t worry about that. They’re not a factor. Trust me. They’re a novelty but they’re not changing with the times. I doubt they’ll remain open much longer, especially with us in town.”

“I don’t know…Everyone loves the way they make their food, even our own employees.”

“They are pretty good, so good that they’re not even willing to sell us their recipes,” he paused. “Wait. Why don’t you order each of their pies and express ship them to Boston? We could have our chef team recreate them and incorporate the best ones into all of our Southern menus. We did the same thing with another shop’s stuff all over the East Coast.”

“Excellent idea. I’ll ship some tomorrow,” I hung up.

Once my limbs were completely numb, I dragged my body out of the tub and wrapped myself in a robe. I walked into my bedroom and spotted the pink to go box from Sweet Seasons.

I hadn’t had the chance to taste the cherry bourbon pie yet, but I refused to believe that one pie could be that amazing.

I cut a slice and examined it. It looked just like the one we served at Autumn Wonder: sugar coated oats atop the surface, lightly toasted crust, and layers of cherries and red flavored filling peeping from both sides.

I broke off a piece and tossed it into my mouth. I broke off another piece. Then another piece. Then I devoured the rest of the pie whole.

Twenty out of ten…

I went to Sweet Seasons for breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the next few days—ordering double of every pie: one for me and one for the chef team in Boston.

Of course, I also wanted the chance to talk to that waitress again, but she was always pre-occupied. By the time she was free, it was time for me to head back to work or go on another pointless date.

I tried getting her attention with my eyes, but she would blush and turn away, or rush into the kitchen each time. I even tried blatantly motioning for her to come over to my table, but she would just stare at me for a few seconds before running off.

I didn’t know why, but I felt drawn to her even though our only conversation had been about my lunch order.

I’d never been intrigued by a woman at first sight before—at first credit score check maybe, but never at first sight.

After getting off late on Wednesday, I rushed over to Sweet Seasons to get another box of cherry bourbon pie before they closed. It really was addictive.

I took a seat in the back and smiled as the sexy waitress approached my table. Her glossy black hair was hanging free today—in large loose curls that framed her face. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she was tucking in her lips for some reason.

Does she normally blush this much?

“Welcome to Sweet Seasons,” she didn’t make eye contact. “What do you want to order tonight?”

I didn’t say anything. I wanted her to look at me.

After several seconds of silence, she slowly turned to face me and blushed again.

I smiled. “Two boxes of cherry bourbon pie and two boxes of mile high chocolate pie.”

“Okay. Give me a few minutes.”

She came back out and set four boxes on the table. Before she could ask me if I wanted extra plates and plastic knives, I blurted out, “Have we met before? I feel like I know you from somewhere.”

“You’re very funny,” she looked hurt all of a sudden. “Too bad I’ve already heard that joke a million times this week.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know you know exactly who I am. I’m on every cover of every magazine this week so don’t play stupid and don’t give me a hard time. Don’t you think I’m getting enough of that?” her voice cracked. “I’ll be back with your ticket.”

What just happened? Am I missing something?

I took out my phone and clicked on the internet app. No service.

I made a mental note to have an intern look up all the current magazine covers.

She walked back over to my table and wrote on a notepad. “Anything else for Mr. Smart-Ass before I tear this receipt out?”

So she’s clearly not easy-going…

“No. And for what it’s worth, I wasn’t trying to be smart. When you do what I do for a living, you don’t keep up with celebrities unless they play a sport.”

“And I guess you don’t go to the movies either?” she pursed her lips.

Jesus, she’s beautiful…

“Not unless you’re implying that you want to go to a movie with me. What time should I pick you up Saturday?”

“Ha! Never. Here’s your ticket. Pay at the front.”

“You sure you don’t want to go out with me?”

“Absolutely,” she blushed.

We’ll see about that…

Chapter 11

Selena

“Selena Anne Beauregard!” my mother called me from her office. “Get back here! Now!”

I rushed into the room and shut the door behind me. “If this is about that coffee pot I broke last night—”

“You broke another coffee pot?”

“No…”

“Sit down Selena,” she shook her head. “Since you were late again and missed our staff meeting this morning, I wanted to bring you up to speed. We’re about to have a rally sale…”