“We all want the same thing here, Chloe. We’re on the same team.”
She weighed his words. Somehow they’d found themselves on the same page. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of what she wasabout to agree to. There were risks but there were also rewards. Rewards that just might equate to the success of her movie—not to mention a social media following that would excite her publishing team.
Still, she wasn’t sure exactly what she was signing up for. “I have no idea how this sort of thing works.”
“I’ll guide you through it step-by-step. We can talk about it in detail and make a plan you’re comfortable with.”
She checked her watch. “It’s getting late. I have to get ready for work.”
“Breakfast tomorrow?”
“Sure, where at?”
“Come over to my place. We shouldn’t discuss this in public. I’ll send you my address.”
“All right.”
He gave her a long, searching look. “All right, you’ll do it?”
Chloe took a deep breath. Found strength in the confidence on Liam’s face. “All right, I’ll do it.”
Chapter6
To say Chloe had a lot on her mind was an understatement. And the work of a bustling restaurant offered a welcome reprieve from her worries.
She skirted the full tables on the deck, smiling at regulars as she went. A sea breeze ruffled the canopy overhead, and water lapped against the pilings in a sound so constant she heard it in her sleep. Nearby in the marina, white masts poked skyward and metal hardware pinged against a flagpole.
She went back inside. It was busy, as it was most summer nights. The restaurant was a far cry from the shack their mother had purchased. The walls had been reinforced and the roof re-shingled. Décor was simple and casual, with lots of corrugated metal, wooden planks, and boat parts utilized whenever possible. White twinkle lights and country music gave the place a party vibe. But people really came for Sean’s food. He could turn a burger into a culinary sensation.
They were short a server tonight. She caught up with Lindy, who’d been with them seven years. “Can you get drinks from the bar for table nine, please? Sara’s in the weeds with a party of twelve.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
Chloe headed toward the window to retrieve a dish. The salmon looked great to her, but then the first had seemed fine too. Second time was the charm.
“Eighty-six the surf and turf for the rest of dinner service,” Sean called from the grill.
“Got it!” Chloe said.
She took the plated salmon to the customer and passed the word to the other servers. Since everything was running smoothly in the front and beginning to wind down, she returned to the kitchen. “Need help back here?”
“It’s under control,” Sean said, then called, “Four fish tacos all day!”
“Got it, Chef!” Their sous chef, Raymond, got to work.
Chloe grabbed her water bottle and took a sip. It was after eight and they closed at nine tonight. The evening would slow down from here since it was a weeknight and there was no live music.
The back door opened, ushering in a briny breeze and their mom, arms stacked with white pie boxes. She was a brunette and petite like Chloe with a slender frame, but her teased-up crown gave her an extra two inches.
“Somebody need cheesecakes?” Mom said over the kitchen noise.
“Hey, Mom,” Sean called from the grill.
Chloe went to relieve her mom of the load. “You’re just in time. I thought the lady at table six was gonna cry when I told her we were out.”
“Can’t have that now.”
Chloe opened a box and grabbed a spatula. “Oooh, chocolate raspberry—my favorite. Kaitlyn, can you take this to six, please?”
