He watched as she moved to the swing and sat down.
“I know what they call me,” she went on. “The harpy. But I’m not a total shrew. I did offer up some nice reviews, after all. What I learned about those nice reviews?” She sat down on the edge of the swing. “Nobody read them. I think the public just enjoys watching others get cut down. Flip through the television channels, and you’ll see plenty of reality TV shows with people spouting opinions even harsher than mine.”
Connor moved closer and leaned one shoulder against the porch post.
“You’ll forgive me if I can’t offer much sympathy for your predicament.”
She shrugged. “I’m sure this feels like justice for a lot of people.”
He didn’t reply. Justice? She’d lost her job. He’d lost his as well, along with a restaurant and all his savings. He didn’t really think it was the same thing. But he couldn’t afford to argue that point right now.
“Well, then, what do you say? Do you want the job or not?”
She looked up at him. “You really drove over here just to offer me a job? With no ulterior motives?”
“Strange as it may seem... I did.” After all, it wasn’t as if they were becoming friends. She was just coming to work for him. He still held the upper hand—as her boss, he’d be calling the shots.
“All right,” she finally agreed. “When can I start?”
She didn’t say so, but he sensed the same desperation in her that he’d been feeling. She needed this job as much as he needed her to start immediately.
“Can you come in this morning, say around ten?”
He noted a flicker of relief in her eyes before she blinked.
“That should be fine.”
“Great. Then, if you’ll excuse me, I really need to be getting back.”
She stood to show him out and they walked back through the cottage to the front door.
She opened the door, and he stepped through.
“Connor?” she said, her voice soft.
He paused.
“I guess I should say...thanks.”
He inclined his head ever so slightly at this and then walked toward his truck.
* * *
HARPER FELT A ripple of nerves as she stepped up to the Rusty Anchor’s door for her first day on the job. The restaurant wasn’t open yet, and the door was locked, so she rapped soundly on the glass and waited. She scanned the docks fronting the building, impressed with the glossy serenity of the bay in the midmorning sunlight. The Anchor might be a bit out of the way, but the view of the water was worth it.
She was watching a pair of ducks floating near the shore when the sound of the door opening jerked her attention back to the restaurant.
“We’re not open for business yet.”
Harper looked into the assessing hazel eyes of a woman about her own age. “Oh, I know. I’m Harper. Connor hired me as a server.”
The other woman’s frown deepened. Not a reassuring sight.
“You’re younger than I thought you’d be.”
Harper didn’t know what to make of this. “Um...thanks?”
The woman’s mouth twitched, ever so slightly. “I mean, I always thought the Worth It? column was written by some older, soured socialite.”
“Oh.” Harper’s reputation as a critic had clearly preceded her. What had Connor told his other employees?
“Never mind. Come on inside. I’m Erin, Connor’s sous chef, part-time manager and occasional server.”
Though Connor had said his sous chef also worked as a server, she blinked at the multiple roles the other woman juggled. Erin shrugged. “Times are tough around here, so we all take on additional duties to help out. At least it keeps us from getting too bored. Come on into the back, and I’ll introduce you to Leah. She just got here.”
Erin led the way through the main dining area and toward the back of the room. “Tomorrow, you can enter by the back doors off the alley. Connor unlocks those every morning.”
They emerged from the hallway and into the kitchen. A slim, long-legged teen with hair so black it had a blue sheen stood to the far right, pouring herself a cup of coffee. Erin ignored her and showed Harper the rooms behind the kitchen area. There was a stockroom, a walk-in refrigerator and a laundry area to wash the restaurant linens.
“We use those lockers to store our personal belongings while we’re here.” She gestured to a row of much-abused gray lockers with peeling paint.
Harper followed Erin back into the kitchen.
“Leah?”
The dark-haired woman looked up.
“This is Harper, the new server I was telling you about.”
Leah cocked her head. “I thought you said she was older.”
Erin cleared her throat. “I was wrong—that was just my assumption.”
Harper decided to make the best of this awkward introduction and stepped forward to extend a hand.
“I’m thirty years old,” she offered.
Leah’s face melted into a grin. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that like it sounded.” She stuck her hand in Harper’s. “Is it true you used to be a big-city restaurant critic?”
Harper felt a stab of pain at this reminder. Is this how she was forever to be introduced? Harper Worth, once a well-known restaurant critic of the DC area...now a modest server. But Leah’s smile was warm and friendly so Harper offered one in return.
“Yes. I’m known for the Worth It? column.”
Leah’s eyes widened. “Oh, I think I’ve heard of that. You’re always cutting on restaurants, right?” She went on in a single breath, “It must be so great to live in the city and dine at all the exclusive places.”
Harper winced at Leah’s description of her column. It was sadly accurate. Fortunately, Erin cleared her throat before Harper could respond.
“Leah, I’ll get Harper started off today, but you might have to show her some of the ropes later on.”
“Sweet. Maybe you could tell me what it’s like, living in a big city?”
Harper nodded, and Leah beamed at her. Well, at least it looked as if she might have one friend around here. She hoped Rafael would show up soon, and then she might feel reasonably welcome at her new job. Of course, there was still... She looked around.
“Where’s Connor?”
Before Erin could respond, Connor stepped through the kitchen’s doorway. A shiver ran through her at the sight of him, whether from nerves or something else, she couldn’t be certain. He looked rather dashing in his chef’s uniform, the crisp, white fabric hugging his broad shoulders. His eyes fell on Harper.
“Ah, I see my newest employee has arrived.”
He clapped his hands together and gave Harper the once over. She tensed at the sound.
“Let’s get you started, shall we?”
* * *
HARPER STARED AS Connor held out the handle of a mop in her direction.
“What’s that?” she asked with some trepidation.