Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Alex
They’re already packed.
Yara
Why did the tomato turn red?
Alex
Is this going to be a bad joke?
Yara
I don’t tell bad jokes.
Alex
You tell awful jokes.
Yara
I do not!
Alex
I could make a list of your bad jokes and it would form a full-length novel.
Yara
Whatever, Alex. Why did the tomato turn red?
Alex
I don’t know, Yara. Why?
Yara
Because it saw the salad dressing.
Alex
Lose my number.
Alex
Yara?
Yara
Yes?
Alex
Don’t lose my number.
Yara
Thanksgiving plans?
Alex
A turkey leg with Feliz.
Yara
Come to my dad’s house to celebrate with my family. Tatiana will be there, too.
Alex
What dish should I bring?
Yara
Take the day off, Chef. We’ll handle the meal. You just show up.
CHAPTER 38
Alex
One afternoon when I had some free time at the restaurant, I cooked a quick lunch for Yara and walked over to The Pup Around the Corner to drop off the food. As I walked into the shop, I saw her speaking with a customer, who gave Yara some sob story.
“You understand, right, Yara? It’s just that bills are so high right now, and I know I’m five months behind, but I’ll make my accounts up to date sooner than later,” the woman explained.
Five months behind?
She couldn’t be serious. “Weren’t you just spending over three hundred dollars at my restaurant last weekend?” I mentioned, making the woman and Yara look up at me.
The woman’s eyes widened. “Well, that was a special situation and—”
“And this is, too. Either pay up now or take your dog home,” I told her.
“How dare you speak to me like that,” the woman said, holding a hand on her hip. “Do you know who I am?”
“No, and I don’t care. You owe money. Pay it.”
“I’ll only pay if Yara says I have to, and sweet Yara would never—”
“You owe four hundred and fifty dollars, Mrs. Levels,” Yara cut in. Her voice trembled, but she was stern. That was good enough for me. She was allowed to be nervous, but she wasn’t allowed to be taken advantage of.
“Are you joking?” Mrs. Levels asked her. “Why, the owner before you would never—”
“Unfortunately, he’s no longer with us. And if we hope to keep his legacy running with this shop, we’ll need to have our clients pay for our services. Now, Mrs. Levels, if that isn’t possible for you at this time, we can even work together to set up an automatic payment schedule. Otherwise, I can have an employee go into the back and bring your dog up front to head home with you.”
Mrs. Levels huffed. “Well, I never…” she complained with a deep scowl. But she took out her wallet and swiped her card, paying in full. “You’re lucky my sweet boy loves it here. Otherwise, I’d switch to another location.”
“Thank you for your assistance, Mrs. Levels. Have a puptastic day,” Yara sang, handing her the receipt.
Mrs. Levels hurried out of the shop, and the moment she was gone, Yara skipped over to me and struck a pose. “Did you see that? Did you see me tell her off?”
“I did. Bravo.” I held out the containers. “I had some leftovers from lunch. I figured you might want something to eat.”
“Careful, Alex. If you keep feeding me, I might want you to be my real boyfriend.”
That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” I asked.
“No plans.”
“Good. I planned a date for us. I need you to pretend with me at seven.”
Her eyes sparkled with the same joy her lips found. “I would love to pretend with you.”
CHAPTER 39
Yara
He planned a date for us, then texted me to wear something I didn’t care about getting messy. When he texted the address, I knew exactly where he was taking me on said date. Pat’s Pottery.
When I arrived, he stood outside with a bouquet of dahlia and peonies. My heart beat faster and faster as I approached him.
“Hi, Goldie.”
“Hi, Mr. Black.”
He took a step closer and held the flowers out to me. “For you.”
“You didn’t have to do that, Alex. Thank you. They are beautiful.”
“What kind of fake boyfriend would I be if I didn’t get you flowers?”
I laughed a little. “I never had a real boyfriend, or husband, get me flowers before. Cole’s mother would always order flowers for me, though, and say they were from him.”
He grimaced a little and brushed his palm against his chin. “No offense, but I don’t think you’ve ever been in a real relationship.”
“I don’t know if that statement should make me laugh or cry,” I joked.
He placed one hand on my back and held the door to Pat’s Pottery studio for me to walk inside. The second I entered, I gasped, seeing the room lit with candles and romantic music playing. The space had a table set up with a huge charcuterie spread—much more than Ritz crackers and cream cheese.
“Oh my goodness, Alex. You did all of this?”
“Yeah. I rented out the studio for the night.”