The only downside to sleeping away a migraine, Elise thought blearily, is that you screw up your sleep schedule and find yourself wide awake at midnight without a hope in hell of falling back asleep, thus perpetuating the cycle of headaches.
With a long, languid stretch, she got up and brushed her teeth and drank a bottle of water before going to the window and looking outside at the darkness. The sky was finally clear and full of stars, though the moon was fairly hidden, keeping the beach in front of the Inn cloaked in darkness.
As she stared out, glad that her headache had ceased entirely, her stomach let out an unholy growl and she realized she hadn’t really eaten anything since the evening before, her appetite taking a hit as much as her emotional state from her departure from Timberline.
But now, she was hungry.
Grabbing her wallet, she slipped out of her room in her stocking feet and noted that no one was stirring either way down the hall. She walked the length of the hall, hoping to find a vending machine, but striking out at both ends.
Finally, she took a turn and headed towards the lobby, hoping there might have been something there she overlooked. Turning into the lobby, she smiled as she saw Dan, drowsily reading a book at the front desk, his head nodding off to one side.
She glanced at her watch – no wonder. It was nearly 12:30 in the morning. Normal people should be asleep, instead of ready to run a marathon, like she felt like.
She tiptoed past him, hoping to find a vending machine on the other side of the desk and screeched when she heard a voice behind her.
“She’s alive!”
She whirled around and gave Dan a guilty smile. “I am. Thanks again for rescuing me today.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Honestly?” Elise asked. “I’m absolutely starving.”
Dan laughed out loud, and then thumped his feet down to the floor from where they had been propped up on his desk. “So you’re creeping around, what? Looking for crumbs?”
“You know, any respectable motel would have a vending machine or two,” she teased and he grinned.
“I never claimed this place was respectable. After all, you’re staying here,” he shot back and it was her turn to grin.
“True, true,” she agreed. “Is there anywhere I can get something to eat? I really am ready to gnaw my own arm off.”
Dan came out from behind the desk and gestured down the hall. “Follow me…”
They tiptoed down the hall, past the doors of several sleeping customers and then swung through a door marked ‘Employees Only’ into an enormous, industrial sized kitchen. Elise’s eyes lit up as she took in the huge restaurant grade range, refrigerator and sinks. “Awesome! Is there actually any food in here?”
“Now, I should warn you,” Dan said. “I can barely boil water.”
“I can cook,” Elise said happily, striding to the fridge and pulling open the door.
“Well?” Dan asked dubiously.
“Yes, well,” Elise shot back over her shoulder, teasingly indignant. “As long as you actually have something to cook with… aha! Eggs! Can I make you an omelet?”
Ten minutes later, Dan was sitting on the counter beside her as Elise expertly flipped a couple of omelets onto plates and gave Dan one before boosting herself up to sit beside him, legs swinging happily.
“So why do you have this fabulous kitchen if you don’t cook? As I recall, the continental breakfast menu that’s listed in my room is very… continental, so I know you’re not in here whipping up eggs and bacon every morning,” Elise asked teasingly.
Dan swallowed a mouthful of eggs before answering. “This is really good,” he said, pointing to the omelet with his fork. “We have a restaurant just through that door that we open for dinners – have had it for years. We actually have a reputation for being a really nice place to eat dinner.”
“But…” Elise prompted.
“But my chef walked out a few days ago because his wife said it was either the job or a divorce. We’ve been closed since then, because I can’t find anyone to jump in and take over.”
Elise raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“But, you know, if I could find someone who could cook and was in need of a job…” Dan trailed off, looking at her, considering. “I get the sense you have a story, and I’m not being nosy, but… well, you don’t strike me as a tourist just passing through. Are you looking for work, maybe? Even if you just served this omelet, that would be worth it…”
“I do need a job,” Elise said softly. “At least for a little while. I can’t promise how long I’ll stay, but…”
“Hey, if you can cook a steak as well as these eggs, it’s a deal,” Dan said. “Would you prefer a paycheck, or a trade on room and board?”
Ten minutes later, they sealed her employment with a handshake and a toast of orange juice.44102/50000
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