Just a Kiss: The Single Girls Wine Club (A Wine Country Romance #1) Read Free Page A

Nightingale Ranch out front. She headed back to the kitchen with them, sure she’d find Jamie, but found Manny, the first employee she’d hired.
    “Morning Sarah,” he said, putting on his apron. “So where’s Mr. Movie? Wasn’t he supposed to be here by now?”
    “Guess he’s running late, our hours are pretty gruesome for most normal people,” Sarah said.
    “He’s not normal, I’m sure if we were on a movie shoot he’d be here on time. They do it all the time, shoot early scenes, so they don’t mess up traffic.”
    Elbow deep in flour, Manny already had two large copper bowls in front of him. After counting the cups, he glanced at the radio. “Hey, you mind if I change the station, I’m not feelin’ this.”
    Sarah and Manny found their rhythm and by six, strawberry turnovers, chocolate croissants, and ginger pear tarts were either cooling or coming out of the oven.
    Sarah turned on the house lights, and let her staff in, looking down both sides of the street for Jamie. She didn’t have time to give him another thought.
    She always got a little rush of butterflies waiting for the first customer. Even though she had years of experience owning or working in one form of café or another, she always wondered if this day might be her last. She didn’t need to worry.
    The same locals came in at the same time. Shooting the breeze with a few regulars and giving tourists suggestions and directions, she didn’t see beyond the work in front of her until ten.
    While stretching on tiptoe to change the CD in the main room, someone smelling clean and dangerous, firmly gripped her waist and pulled her hand over her head for a showy twirl. “May I have this dance?” Jamie's dimples flashed, and he bowed to the group in the takeout line.
    Feeling a flush that started on her neck, Sarah looked around the room and saw everyone, including Manny, staring at her. When she shook Jamie’s hand away, the café became quiet, and she didn't know what to do. She plastered a fake smile on her hot, sweaty, and most likely red face and beelined to the safety of her kitchen.
    Sarah peered through the plastic windows before calling out from behind the swinging doors, “Jamie, would you please come into the kitchen?”
    “Beautiful.” Jamie snickered to his small audience. “I’d hoped to get a little private time with the boss but not on my first day. Wonder what I need to do for a raise?” He bowed before disappearing through the doors and crashing into Sarah right behind them.
    “Just what do you think you’re doing?” Sarah asked. “You waltz in here at ten and mock me in front of my customers? Make a joke of me in front of my staff?”
    She cursed her eyes for starting to fill and yanked her apron off. She threw it into the hamper and stamped her feet but wanted to scream.
    “Whoa, whoa. You’re taking this way too seriously. I’m here, just like I promised, ready to work.” Jamie smiled.
    Sarah had a sneaky feeling Jamie used this particular dazzling grin whenever he was in trouble and needed to get out of it. Boy was it good.
    “This isn’t what we discussed yesterday.” Concentrating on breathing to control her anger, Sarah tried slowing down. “You agreed to be here at four and you’re six hours late. I decided to teach you techniques for your role. You said you’d be grateful if I helped. But what do I get? I get humiliated!”
    “Hey, Sarah,” Jamie said, his face softening. “I’m sorry. Honestly. Crap. I just forgot. I stayed up late last night making script changes. And I just thought the dance would be fun, but I’m sorry.”
    “I know this little place is no big deal to you. I get it,” Sarah said, staring him down without flinching. “But, this café is everything to me. It’s not easy for me to make room for one more thing on my plate, I only agreed to this, to help you. But I can’t do this. Won’t do this. You’ll have to find someone else to play with.”
    Jamie’s mouth fell