Carter must have seen the exasperation in my expression because she hurried on. “But I support you. Whatever you need. I’m team Taylor. Even if that means being a long-distance team member.”
I let out a long breath. I couldn’t stay mad at this girl. She was too sweet. I bumped her shoulder with mine. Well, I bumped her arm, since she had a good six inches on me. “Thank you.”
Carter rolled her shoulders back. “All right. What’s the first order of business in making Sutter Lake your home?”
I grinned at my bestie. “House and job.”
Her eyes widened, but they were focused on something behind me. “I think we’ve got one of those taken care of.”
I turned to see what she was looking at. The store at the end of the block that we had stopped in front of was in its own free-standing building. It was set back from the street just a bit, giving it enough space for a wraparound porch filled with a scattering of rocking chairs and assorted tables. Huge windows boasting flower boxes looked out onto Main Street, making it the perfect place to people watch. A sign hanging from the porch’s awning read The Tea Kettle.
Warmth filled my chest. A tea shop. My mom and I had shared tea from the time I was four years old, and my mom had to fill my cup with half tea and half honey. That familiar pang hit again, but this time, it was mixed with hope. Hope that this was a sign that Sutter Lake was where I was supposed to be.
I glanced at Carter. “Do you think they’re hiring?”
Her smile answered my own as she pointed to the window. A sign in what looked like calligraphy read: Help Wanted – Waitress/Cashier. “Want to go in?” I nodded as Carter motioned to the boys to let them know where we were headed.
Liam grimaced. “I think I’ll pass on the tea shop. Why don’t you meet us back at the brewpub when you’re done.”
I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me. Men…no appreciation for the finer things in life. “All right, we’ll see you in a bit.”
Carter and I headed down the brick pathway and up the porch steps. As we opened the door, the familiar scent of tea leaves drifted over me, along with something that meant there were also baked goods on the premises. I hoped cooking wasn’t a job requirement.
“Welcome to The Tea Kettle. What can I get for you today?” a woman greeted from behind the counter. She was breathtakingly beautiful with a flawless olive complexion and dark brown hair. She looked vaguely familiar somehow, but I knew I’d never met her before.
I shook the random thought from my mind and walked the handful of steps to the counter. “Hi. I’m Taylor. I’m new to town and looking for a job. I saw the sign in your window, and thought I’d come pick up an application.”
The woman’s brows rose slightly. “Well, welcome to Sutter Lake. I’m Jensen, and this is my place. We’re not really the application type, but if you have a few minutes, we can chat and see if you’re a good fit.”
I liked the woman’s comfortable ease. It was as if she were completely secure in who she was. “That would be great.” I gestured behind me. “This is my friend, Carter.”
“Nice to meet you both. Why don’t I grab us some tea, and we can sip and chat.”
“That would be great.”
Within a few minutes, we were settled at a back table with delicious cold-brew teas and a plate of cookies. “These are delicious,” I said after swallowing a mouthful of cookie.
“Family recipe. I’d share it with you, but state secrets…” Jensen said with a wink.
I twisted the straw in my cup. “It wouldn’t do me any good even if you did share it.” Jensen’s forehead wrinkled. “I’m a horrible cook. I’m more likely to burn my kitchen down than successfully make cookies. So, I’m really hoping that’s not part of the job.” Carter attempted to cover her giggle with a cough.
Jensen did nothing to disguise her laugh. “It’s not. I’ve got a gal. Tessa,”—she gestured to someone I could just make out through the open kitchen door—“who’s a gem with all the baked goods and drinks. I’m just looking for someone to man the front of the shop a few days a week. I can only offer you part-time right now.”
“Part-time is perfect. Exactly what I’m looking for.”
Jensen eyed me carefully. “Do you have any waitressing experience? Know how to run a cash register and credit card machine?”
“I do. I waitressed for two years of high school and all through college. It’s been a minute since I’ve run a register, but I’m sure it’ll come back.”
“That’s great.” Her eyes seemed to search deeper, and I wondered what she was looking for. “So, what brought you to Oregon?”
I did my best to keep my face a neutral mask. “I was just ready for a change of scenery. I was sick of all the pollution and traffic in Houston.”
Jensen seemed to take that in, but I wasn’t quite sure she bought it. “Is that where you lived before?”
“Yup. Houston and Los Angeles.”
“This is a big change of pace. Small town. Not a lot going on.”
“That’s exactly what I’m looking for, a little peace and quiet.”
A grin pulled at Jensen’s mouth. “Well, you’ll definitely get that here. Where are you staying?”
I hoped Jensen’s expression meant that this weirdly informal interview was going well. “We’re at one of the rental houses out on Spruce Valley Road, but I’m looking for a place to rent longer-term.”
Jensen rubbed a thumb across her lower lip, seeming to consider something. “My parents have a place they might be willing to rent to you. We have a ranch about ten miles outside of town, and there’s a little guest cabin that barely gets used. It’s not close to the main house, so it’s pretty isolated. You’d obviously need a car.”
I straightened in my chair. Isolated was just what I was looking for. I could practically feel my body relax at the idea of some true alone time for the first time in forever. “That sounds perfect.”
Jensen’s grin widened. “I’ll give my mom a call right now and get you a new employee form to fill out.”
“I’m hired?”
“You’re hired.”
This time, I was the one grinning. “Thank you so much!”