Page 2 of Jacked-up Mate (Alphas of Whisper Grove #1)
Foster
A new job in a new town…I should be excited about a fresh start like this, and I was until emerging from a dead zone to find my GPS voice lady nearly hysterical with recalculations and then disappearing again into silence.
I’d lived in an urban area for so long, I’d forgotten that there even were dead zones.
The fall leaves blazed on both sides of the highway, and in the distance lay what appeared to be—from this angle—a charming little town.
I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and with the light fading, my stomach growled loud enough I almost confused it with my wolf.
Surely there would be somewhere I could get dinner and directions.
So, I took the exit and breezed toward town.
Hopefully the break would refresh me, and then I could get back on the road to my new home town.
The job offer couldn’t have come at a better time, with layoffs at my own firm extending to every department.
I hadn’t gotten a notice yet, but hopefully my good fortune would save someone else’s position.
And something about autumn always felt like a good time for a new adventure.
Probably a remnant of my love of new school years when I was a pup.
As I drew closer to the town, I could see the lights twinkling in the windows of homes and businesses, offering a welcoming image to lost travelers like me.
Every place seemed to have a wreath or lights or other decorations of the season, and the diner I pulled up to was more festive than any other building.
The owner clearly planned ahead, with a mix of autumnal items suited to all the holidays of the season.
Ghosts suspended from the porch overhead fluttered their sheets in greeting to customers while scarecrows lounged on straw bales beside the front door.
Pots of marigolds in yellow, gold, rust, and brown lined the porch railing, alternating with pumpkins of every variety I’d ever seen and some I had not.
Blues, greens, and cream colored in addition to the traditional orange.
Before I opened the door, my wolf pronounced us home.
Don’t be silly. We are just going to eat and get directions before continuing on our way.
He was probably just reacting to the smell of food. And I couldn’t blame him because the scent of grilling cheeseburgers had my mouth watering. My wolf’s preference for raw meat aside, we were hungry, hungry creatures.
Pushing open the door, I stepped inside to be surrounded by music spilling from tabletop jukeboxes and lively chatter from people enjoying juicy cheeseburgers and golden French fries.
“Sit anywhere, sugar,” called out a server wearing tight jeans and a T-shirt fitted to show off an upper body that surely never filled up on the greasy food he was setting down on a corner table. “Someone will bring you over a menu in a minute.”
Sure enough, I was no sooner settled in my chair than another man appeared with the promised menu. “Here you go. I recommend the cheeseburger plate, but everything is good.”
“I’ll have that, then, and an iced tea.”
He tilted his head and studied me for a second. “I never thought, but, you aren’t here to apply for the line cook job, are you? I’ve never seen you around here before.”
“Line cook?” It was on the tip of my tongue to say no because nothing about my degree would qualify me to fry beef or potatoes or anything else they cooked here. “I don’t know anything about that.”
“I suspect you don’t, but we really need someone and maybe that someone is you.”
I didn’t know what to say, but the man went on, “I tell you what, why don’t I put your order in and come back and give you a tour of the place. I’m very proud of it.”
He disappeared through a swinging door and returned less than a minute later. “Want the tour?”
“Sure. I gather you’re the owner?” I stood up and looked around at the brightly lit space.
“I am. It’s been a labor of love rehabbing this old place, but I think the effort was worth it.
” He guided me around the dining room, pointing out everything from the satin paint finish and wainscoting to the black-and-white tiled floor.
“I laid that myself. I’d hoped to be able to save the existing flooring, but it wasn’t hardwood at all, so I went a different way. ”
“It’s nice, especially with the dark-red leather booths. You didn’t do the upholstery, too, did you?”
“Actually it’s original, but I watched several YouTube videos on how to bring the leather back to life. Nice, right?”
“Amazing. You’re very talented.” I continued to follow the owner whose name was Chris, around, listening to the stories of the multiple vintage items hung on the wall around the room.
Every bit of this place was done with thought and care.
And creativity. It wasn’t a chain place or something based on consumer research designed to sell.
The job I was headed to was good, would pay well, and allow me to pay my bills, but it was with a big national firm with whom I would be a cog.
Just a social security number in HR. And as we wandered into the bathrooms, also lovingly restored, and the beautiful kitchen, I suddenly realized that I didn’t have to be a cog anymore. But that didn’t mean I was a cook.
“Your meal is currently being prepared by Jeb who is leaving us next week to join his mate on a cruise ship.” Chris moved to stand beside the tall, skinny cook. “Say hello to your replacement, Jeb. This wolf…what did you say your name was?”
I hadn’t, although he had told me his. He’d never asked mine. But why point it out? “I’m Foster.”
“Foster will be shadowing you until you leave.”
“Wait, I didn’t say I’d take it…”
They both pivoted to look at me, and I cringed a little.
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t, though.”
Chris arched a brow. “Well?”
“I want to, but my training is more office related, and I don’t want you to be sorry you hired me.” Was I really considering this?
“You’ll be able to learn from Jeb. He’s one of the best line cooks I’ve ever worked with, and he’ll help you.”
It was a crazy move, giving up a good job suited to my skill set to fry hamburgers, but my wolf was determined to stay in this town and maybe I could give it a shot.
I walked back to my table with Chris who held my food and set it down in front of me. “I’m almost as tired as I am hungry.” Picking up the cheeseburger, I took a big bite and sighed. “And I can’t imagine I can make a burger taste this good.”
“Oh, you will.” He was awfully confident. “Now, where are you staying?”
“I hadn’t planned to stay at all, so I don’t know. Is there a motel?”
“Yes, but Orly went to visit her grandbabies, so it’s closed. I have a cabin you can rent, though…”
And just like that, all my plans changed, and I had a new home.