Chapter One
Bea
Daysliketoday,Ineeded an assistant. Not that I could afford one, but a girl could dream.
Heck, I’d settle for eight arms. Octopus me would be unstoppable. Instead, I was stuck with a measly two. So utterly pedestrian.
Kicking the door shut behind me, I juggled my load as I navigated my porch steps, avoiding the loose board that needed fixing. At the gate separating my postage-stamp yard from the sidewalk, I hesitated. Put everything down to open it or take a running leap? Neither option thrilled me, but sometimes improvising was a necessity.
Before I could make what would likely be a very poor decision—the gate was low, and I was relatively bouncy—Ben Wells, my new neighbor and future brother-in-law of my best girl, Shira, bounded out of his house, which was conveniently attached to mine. Well, sometimes it was convenient, like when I needed help carrying heavy objects. Other times, listening to him sing through our shared walls made me want to gouge my ears out.
Being that cheerful was unnatural, yet Ben was still immensely likable.
Not my type at all. Tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome guys did nothing for me, which was a shame. Then again, getting involvedwith a neighbor was too messy for my taste, so it was for the best I didn’t feel a twinge of attraction toward this man.
He slowed when he spotted me stuck behind my three-foot-tall iron gate.
“What’s happening over there, Buzz?” he asked as he strolled over.
“I’m thinking,” I replied, letting his ridiculous nickname slide. If I fought him on it, he would only be encouraged.
He tipped his chin toward the boxes in my arms. “Thinking looks heavy. Need some help?”
“I could do with some of that.” I might’ve been fiercely independent, sometimes to a fault, but I wasn’t stupid. If Ben was offering his big, rugby-player arms, I’d make good use of them. “Would you mind carrying these boxes to my trunk?”
Without hesitation, he lifted the load like it weighed nothing.Show-off. “What’s the job today?”
“Nox Cyber. It’s a last-minute gig, but if all goes well, it might turn into a regular thing.”
Ineededthat to happen. My bills were paid, no problem, but Denver was an expensive city, so getting ahead was nearly impossible unless I worked two jobs, which I did. But working two jobs was for the birds, and last I checked, I was featherless.
“I’m confident you’ll charm them into it.”
I gave him a dry stare as I popped my trunk. “You and I both know being charming is more your thing than mine.”
He secured the boxes and turned back to me, his gaze sweeping over my black-on-black outfit—a fitted top with my bee-and-daisy catering logo on the chest, tailored pants, and flats. My blue curls were pinned neatly at my nape, and the only sparkle I wore was thetiny silver stud in my nose. I didn’t exactly scream corporate, but it was as conservative as I got.
“I’d hire you,” he stated with confidence, as he did most things. “You’re the only person I know who could make catering a business meeting look cool.”
I arched a brow. “Do you know many caterers?”
“I’ve met a few.” He booped my nose. Had it been anyone but him, it would have infuriated me. “You are by far the most competent. In fact, when I talk about you to other people—”
“You talk about me?”
He nodded merrily. “Obviously.” Waving me off like it wasn’t weird, he continued, “Like I was saying, when I talk about you, I say, ‘That Beatrice Novak is the most competent caterer I’ve ever known.’”
I squinted at him. “What kind of absurdly boring conversations are you having, Wells?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” His grin was all mischief.
“Actually, no.” I backed toward my SUV, my hands raised. “Whatever you get up to when you’re not in my presence is none of my business.”
“I get up to lots of things, Bea.” He waggled his eyebrows. “You truly have no idea.”
“Good. Let’s keep some mystery between us. It’s better that way.”
Ben pressed the button to close my trunk and stepped back with a satisfied nod.
