Page 1 of The Last Goodbye

one

​. . .​

Bass

Fucking paperwork was going to be the death of me.

I sat at my desk in my office, gathering the receipts scattered around it. I slipped them into an envelope and set it on the mound of paperwork I’d just gone through.

It came with owning a business, and I was used to it, but it was my least favorite part of running my restaurant, Bennett’s on the Bay. Creating new recipes, cooking, doing my thing—that was where I was happiest.

I was lucky to be in this situation, where I was head chef and also owned the steakhouse. I’d never cared to work for someone else. I’d learned to depend on myself at a young age, and I preferred it that way.

So, if that meant dealing with a mound of paperwork, so be it.

I glanced at the graduation announcement for my younger sister, Jovi. This overwhelming feeling of pride tore through me every time I looked at it. The fact that I’d made the final tuition payment also felt damn good. It was the one bill that I’d paid twice a year for the last four years with a big fucking smile on my face.

Our childhood wasn’t easy, but Jovi Bennett had beaten the odds.

I glanced up when I heard a knock on my door. “It’s open.”

The door pushed open, and my general manager, Winona, peeked her head inside. “Hey, Bass. There’s someone here to see you.”

“Who is it?” I wasn’t expecting anyone, and I had a shit ton of work to get done before the dinner rush started.

She cleared her throat, avoiding eye contact, which immediately got my attention. Winona had worked for me for three years, and we knew each other well enough that I could tell when something was going on.

“Um, it’s a woman.”

I raised a brow as I reached for the cup of coffee sitting on my desk. “Okay? Do I know her?”

She chuckled. “I hope so.” Her cheeks flushed a dark pink, which was even rarer for this woman, who wasn’t normally affected by much. “She didn’t give me her name. She just said to let you know that you might want to see her, since she’s carrying your child.”

I choked on the sip of coffee I’d just taken and coughed a few times before I was able to speak.

“What the fuck?” I hadn’t been with a woman in a while. Not since my breakup with Celine last year, and Winona knew her well, so it clearly wasn’t my ex. “Do you recognize her?”

“I don’t. But maybe she’s a tourist who came through town,” she said with a shrug. “No judgment.”

“Win, there’s nothing to judge. There’s no way a random woman is carrying my child. I haven’t been with anyone in months.” I paused and added, “It’s a misunderstanding, or maybe the guys are fucking with me. Send her in.”

“She’s really gorgeous, if that’s any consolation.” She chuckled.

“It’s not.”

“Well, you two would make some good-looking babies.”

I rolled my eyes. “Good to know.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in my chair as she walked away. When she returned moments later, a woman I’d never seen in my life was standing behind her. I gave Winona a nod, letting her know she could leave, then took a moment to study the stranger now standing in front of me. I stood up.

She was quite possibly the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, even if her bullshit reason for being here aggravated me.

Long blond waves cascaded over her shoulders. She had freshly sun-kissed golden skin and a few freckles over the bridge of her nose. Her fitted white button-up shirt dipped low enough that I had to force myself to look away when I saw the edge of her lace bra peeking out as she stepped forward. Her dark jeans accentuated her curves. I quickly stood up and met her honey-brown gaze, flanked by thick black lashes.

“I’m Bass Bennett, I don’t believe we’ve ever met before,” I said, giving her a look that said I was more than aware that her claim was bullshit. She closed the distance between us, then stopped on the other side of my desk. I extended my arm to her.

Her bracelets jingled as she placed her perfectly manicured hand in mine. “Briar Sinclair. Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Bennett. You’re a tough man to reach on the phone.”