All things she couldn’t worry about at the moment.
As Minh reached her side, she saw a tall, shirtless figure jogging by. Her eyes must have been playing tricks on her. He moved as if in slow motion. The wind blew softly through his hair as sweat dripped down his sculpted abs. A sharp V cradled his waistline as it disappeared into the hem of his running shorts. He was every woman’s fantasy.
Unfortunately, she’d recognized his dark blond hair even at this distance. After the momentary shock—because how could anyone not stare?—irritation flared through her.
You have got to be kidding me.
She was exasperated at herself for finding him attractive.
As if sensing her venomous gaze, Jake’s eyes met hers across the parking lot.
“What’s going on?” Minh asked her before turning to see the source of her attention. “Oh, good morning, Jake! How many miles today?”
Gia’s mouth dropped open in shock.
Is this a routine thing for them?
“Only have time for five miles today.” Jake flashed a cocky smirk as he continued on his path. “Morning, Gia.”
Did he just wink at me?
“Have a great day, Jake!” Minh yelled at Jake’s retreating back, who offered a wave over his shoulder.
“What the hell was that?” Gia turned her baffled gaze toward Minh.
“What was what?” Minh asked and headed into the restaurant.
Gia followed behind like a lost puppy.
“That.” She gestured behind her, even though Minh couldn’t see her.
“Jake runs every morning. Why?” Minh shot Gia a curious glance over her shoulder.
Why am I so hot and bothered about a half-naked Jake running by the restaurant just as I got here?
“Just… wondering.” Her tense shoulders drooped. There was no reason for her to be so hostile about seeing Jake so early in the morning. Except Jake elicited feelings from her that made her uncomfortable.
It’s not like he was stalking her or anything.
Willowbrook was a small town. It was common to run into everyone. She was the stranger here. This was his town more than it was hers. He probably ran all over town for years before she dragged herself back.
Moving to the register, she set her purse behind the counter and grabbed her apron. This time, she wore leggings, a sports bra, and an old The Lotus-branded T-shirt she found in the back of the closet, which was more appropriate for working all day. Bonus: she wasn’t soaked through with rain. Her poor feet were still sore from yesterday, but at least they were dry this time.
Gia took out her phone from the side pocket of her leggings and snapped a selfie at the entrance. With the restaurant’s namevisible on her shirt, she posed for the camera with a pout and a peace sign.
She’d post the photo later. Maybe her followers would bring in more business for her family.
The restaurant was fairly steady with its regulars, but she knew her parents often worried about money. Despite sending checks to her parents monthly since she’d started earning more than enough to live in luxury, to her knowledge, the checks remained uncashed. She’d checked in with her accountant to confirm as much.
For whatever reason, her parents refused to cash her checks. At first, it bothered her, thinking her parents didn’t approve of her career. Age-old insecurities made her feel worthless, but being back home and seeing how her parents seemed pleased to have her back in town made her question their motive. She’d have to remember to ask them about it later.
As she helped to prepare the restaurant to open, her phone buzzed in her pocket. A quick glance at the screen showed an alert from Gemma.
Chewing on her bottom lip, Gia debated reading the message. Gemma was the daughter of a hotel mogul and a socialite, and she had introduced Gia to Alex. With her beautiful blond hair and blue eyes, Gemma was a fan favorite among paparazzi. Though Gia had left the party scene behind her when she left rehab, Gemma kept in touch with her. Only last month, she had met Gemma at the new coffee shop that had opened up in downtown LA.
Swiping her screen, Gia opened the text to find a message buried within a bunch of emojis of smiley faces, sad faces, and fireworks.
Gemma
