Page 7 of Grade A Girl

Charlie

Quitting time, and I couldn’t be happier. It was the strangest day. First with my interactions with Kade. He was so hot and cold; I was getting whiplash trying to keep up. Then meeting Jaxson. God, something must be in the water at these restaurants because he was just as fine. A little taller than Kade, with more of an athletic build versus the muscles Kade has, but there was nothing small about him. Especially the dick print. It was hard to think of anything else for the rest of the day.

It’s been a long time since I’ve worked full days in the store, and since I’m the only butcher, it was busy. When Dad started the transition of me taking over the shop, I worked half-days with him and half-days with Tony, the accountant. I got my undergrad in business management because I wanted to be able to run the store by myself. I also spent time reaching out to the different contacts Dad had at the slaughterhouses to introduce myself.

Getting to this point—running the shop feels like a long time coming. It’s not like Mom and Dad are gone forever. If I need them, they are only a phone call away. Dad is too type A to give up full control, and I know he will be checking in on the books, and probably with Kade, too.

I push open the front door to my apartment and pull my shirt over my head. The bad part of working with meat all day is I always smell like it when I get home. I shimmy out of the rest of my clothes and toss them in the overflowing hamper.Looks like my night consists of some laundry.

After a quick shower, I get into pajamas. Feeling like myself again, I open the fridge and peer inside. Nothing. Well, not true. I have food, I just have to cook it, and I hate cooking. My food always comes out bland and overcooked. I can cut meat, no problem, but I can’t cook it for shit.

I wish Kade or Jaxson were here with food.No, I wish both of them were here doing something else.Kade, I can’t get a read on. Jaxson, though, he knows what he wants, and if his flirting is any indication—it’s me.

I think about Kade today in the kitchen, in his element. He looked different, calm even. His face comes to mind and I smile. It was more than a mental change; it was a physical one, too. He wasn’t wearing his glasses. He looks good with or without them. Not that there was any doubt in my mind, but still.

Then Jaxson. Oh. My. God. The outline of his dick in those jeans. He was packing some serious heat below the belt. If he’s the head chef atEntice,I’m sure his cooking is superb. I’d love a chance to try his cooking, too. Is it actually possible both of them are single? Jaxson maybe, with the way he was flirting, but not Kade. There’s no way.

I look at the clock,Local Burnis closing soon. I pull my phone out and hesitate, my finger hovering over Kade’s name. I want to text him, but I don’t want to be a bother. I tap his name, pull up a blank text, and stare at it. My stomach grumbles and, reluctantly, I send the text.

Me:Any chance there is more of that meal from today lying around looking for a stomach to settle in?

I wait for his response as I pull some ice cream from the freezer and dig a spoon out of the drawer. I start feeling like a fool for even sending it the longer it goes without a reply from him.Is there a way to unsend messages?I start typing an apology text when a reply comes in.

Kade:No, but I could whip you up something. I’m still at the restaurant. I was finishing with clean up, then going to head out. Can you be here in twenty minutes?

Me:No, you don’t have to do that. I was just joking. I hate cooking but need to make dinner.

Kade:I’ll be here for the next twenty minutes or so. If you change your mind, ring the bell.

I pull the spoon with the chocolaty goodness from my mouth and ponder his message. I have the chance to get delicious food, or I can eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s an internal war, and for the sake of not making myself look like more of an ass, I decide to stay in.

Peanut butter and jelly it is. I make a sour face when my brain is yelling at me to accept his offer.

I can’t bring myself to get my ass down there. He already seemed annoyed with me today. There is no need to add more fuel to the fire. I take my boring sandwich to my bedroom and pull my computer into my lap, pulling up a search for Kade Benson. A few articles pop up, but the one at the top is about the opening ofLocal Burn,dated eight months ago.

I click on the article, and a picture of Kade standing in front of the restaurant loads on the screen. He’s standing out front, his arms folded across his broad chest—a typical chef’s pose—with a huge grin on his face. He’s even more handsome this way. I have yet to see him smile in person, but I can’t help how my lips quirk up. Not to say the brooding look isn’t sexy, but this makes him seem more human.

His other look, the one I’ve seen in person screams “kneel and take it like a good girl.” Now, don’t get me wrong. I would gladly take the second one, especially if he was willing to cook for me after. But his smile warms my heart. He seems so guarded, and I want to know what secrets he’s hiding.

I skim the article until I get to a section about Kade’s past.

Benson, twenty-nine, is a retired Marine, having served two tours in Afghanistan. He fell in love with cooking while serving and came back to study at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles where he graduated top of his class. Local Burn is a farm to table restaurant, and the entire staff is comprised of veterans.

“We, as a culture, are used to getting fruits and vegetables when we want, but when you taste them at peak freshness, it’s a game-changer. I want people to experience the freshest food they will ever have. We work with local farms and vendors for all our options, and the menu changes weekly depending on what’s available.”

When asked about hiring veterans, he had this to say. “So many of our men and women return home and have a difficult time getting back to normal life. I help give them the opportunity to do that and support their family. Most don’t stay long, having found something else, but I want to be there to assist any way I can.”

It makes sense that he was in the military. He has that vibe about him. And I love how he only hires veterans; there’s something so heartwarming about that. I go back and read the article from the beginning, taking in every word. It’s nights like this I wish I was a detective instead of a butcher. I want to know everything there is about Kade Benson.

Jaxson:Hey beautiful, hope your night is going well. I’ve been thinking about you, and I can’t wait for our date on Friday night.

I pick my phone up and read the words.He sure is persistent.

Me:I’m not sure if you forgot, but I haven’t agreed to a date with you on Friday.

Jaxson:You never said no, either. Come on, it will be fun. We can go out, or I can cook for you.

I choose to ignore his message for now, deciding to do a little online research on him, too. Most of the information I find on him is from social media. I click on one of the accounts, and my mouth pops open as I stare at the screen. Jaxson is standing next to Kade, their arms slung around each other with big smiles plastered on their faces.

They know one another. Mystery is solved as to which friend told Jaxon about me. I scroll through a few more pictures and stop on one with a girl squished between them. Her head is bowed toward her chest so I can’t see her face, but I catch a glimpse of a smile on her face. She looks happy to be there.Squished between those two hunks, who wouldn’t be excited?There’s a caption next to the picture that reads,Blair’s man sandwich.

Well, Blair, aren’t you a lucky bitch?