Page 3 of Grade A Girl

Kade

Charlotte looks so much like Blair, it borders on pain being in her presence. I put my car in reverse and peel out of the parking lot.Maybe it’s time to look for a new butcher.I’m not sure I’ll be able to continue working with her.

And the mouth on her. I wanted to kiss the sassy remarks out of her.

Vivid memories of Blair run rampant through my mind as I drive home. The nights we spent together rolling around in bed, or the days we spent lying on the beach, enjoying each other’s company. It was short-lived, and I’d kill to have more time with her. Jaxson too.I need to call him. He’s never going to believe this.

Jaxson and I met Blair during our sophomore year in college, and I knew she was the perfect girl the first night. There was something so different about her. She was sassy as fuck and kept me on my toes. We had a ball together, but after only a year, she got sick. At first, we thought it was a bug she couldn’t kick, but things got worse and worse. She was diagnosed with leukemia, and within a year, she was gone.

Right after that, I dropped out of school and enlisted in the Marines because I just didn’t want to live without her. I figured, with all the bullshit going on in the world, I might have a shot of joining her and we could be together. Jaxson begged me not to go. Told me it wasn’t worth it, but I was too far gone to listen to him. I left for basic within a month.

I’m honestly lucky I didn’t do anything too crazy—notthat enlisting wasn’t crazy. I wasn’t in a good place, and I probably should have sought help from a professional, but I couldn’t. That option never even crossed my mind.

After my unit found out I could cook, I spent more time in the kitchen than on the battlefield. I did two tours in Afghanistan before returning and enrolling in theInstitute of Culinary Educationin Los Angeles to get a degree. The path I chose wasn’t traditional, but I wouldn’t change it now. I needed that time to get my head on straight and see the important things in front of me.

“Fuck,” I yell, hitting my palm against the steering wheel as I wait at a red light. I pull up Joe’s number, and he picks up on the second ring.

“Hey, Kade. What can I do for you?”

I swallow hard. “You told me I was meetingCharlie. I didn’t know the butcher was a woman,” I say with a tight jaw.I wouldn’t have acted like a complete ass if I wasn’t caught off guard.She’s a natural beauty. No makeup and her hair was in a ponytail, and to me, she looked like she’d just stepped off a fucking runway.

“Yeah. I thought you knew my daughter was taking over the shop. You’re in good hands with her, Kade. No need to worry. She was top of her class and did very well in her apprenticeship. She was going to go for her master apprenticeship, but when Donna and I decided to retire in Florida, she stepped up.”

“I’m not worried. It was unexpected, that’s all.” I rub my eyes under my thick frames and lean my head against the headrest. A car honks at me when I don’t move from the red light fast enough, and I glare at him in my rearview mirror in time to watch him throw his hands up in annoyance.

“Give her a chance. She’ll surprise you.” He chuckles. “Also, she has a bit of a temper like her mom. Don’t let it get to you. Her bark is worse than her bite.”Duly noted.“Listen, I have to go. Donna is waiting for me. Let me know if you run into any trouble.”

“Will do. Thanks, Joe.”

I hang up just as I pull into my garage. I have a few hours before I need to head in and work on menu options for the week. I toss my keys on the table next to the door and plop down on the couch.

How the hell am I going to survive working with her? I smile at the memory of her undressing me today with her eyes. I was doing the same to her when she wasn’t looking. Brown hair pulled away from her face, a petite frame with a little curve. She’s fucking perfect. There was so much fire behind her large brown eyes.

What secrets are you hiding?

I’ve got to give it to her; she had no problem trying to put me in my place, which is hard to do. Most people look at me and my size, then back down quickly. She must have dealt with a lot of grief in the field she chose. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a female butcher.

I hover my thumb over Jaxson’s name. I haven’t talked to him in a few years, but I’ve sent a few emails in the past and have kept up with what he’s been doing. I know I was an ass for abandoning him when he needed me. We both lost her, and I know he suffered as much as I did. My palms are slick with sweat as I think about what to text him.

Me:Would you believe me if I told you I found Blair’s doppelganger?

* * *

Iget to the restaurant a little before two and start work on the menu for the week. I’m pulling out a few classics. With the marinated chicken I’ll get this week, a side of garlic green beans and roasted potatoes are going to be perfect.

My sous chef, Victor, will be here soon, and he can help unload the truck. I’m a lucky son of a bitch to have found him. He was in my unit, and when the two of us worked together, it was like magic. He was injured during his second tour—lost his right leg—and was sent home. It took him a long time to get back to himself; me offering him a job really helped.

Local Burnis my restaurant and baby. I started it from the ground up. What most people don’t knowis I still do all the hiring, and everyone that works for me is a veteran. A lot of these people struggle to get back into the workforce after returning home, or jobs don’t want them. There’s a decent amount of turnover, but I’m not complaining. I get the chance to help make a difference in someone’s life and get them back to something remotely normal. I wouldn’t change that.

I put the last plating touches on the dish and wipe some stray sauce from the side of the plate. Victor walks through the swinging door into the kitchen, a large smile on his face.

“Seems someone got lost trying to make a delivery,” he says casually as he drops his stuff off in the back room.

“What?” I turn to look at him, but as I do, I hear someone grunting as they come through the swinging kitchen door. Charlie stands in front of me, holding a large box.

She huffs and pops the box up higher on her hip. “Where’s the fridge?”

“Jesus.” I rush over and take the heavy box from her hands. “Why didn’t you come to the back with this stuff? And why didn’t Victor help you?” I call louder so Victor can hear me.