“Are you sure?”
“See you in twenty minutes.” Miranda waves me off and busies herself away from me. “Nora, finish up, please.”
My eyes move to Nora’s brown ones, silently making sure it’s okay with her.
Nora smiles at me. “Get out of here.”
“Thank you.” I undo my apron, drop it on the counter, and head to the bathroom to lather my face with SPF.
A few minutes later, I step out the front door, momentarily blinded by the sun. I distance myself from the eatery and sit on a bench to rest my feet.
I swear asphalt could melt down here.
It’s not even midday and it’s scorching hot.
I look down at my clothes.
A black t-shirt and pants don’t help.
I can’t wait for my white chef jacket embroidered with Riley’s logo to arrive.
I close my eyes and let the wind brush over my skin as I inhale deeply.
I could get used to this.
For the past three weeks, Summerville, Texas is the place I now call home.
I can’t say it was love at first sight when I moved out here. I’m a New Yorker at heart. You’ll be hard pressed to find a specialty coffee shop, a pizza shop, or mani-pedi bars on every corner like in the Big Apple.
But, little by little, this small town is winning me over. I can’t get over the majestic beauty of the city. It’s scenic, relaxing, and peaceful.
I check the time on my phone to make sure I’m not late.
Ten more minutes.
The sound of a hiccupping vehicle draws my attention. I don’t know why, but I stand up, take a few steps closer to the curb, lean forward, and stare straight at the vehicle.
I may not know much about trucks, but this one looks like it’s from another era. It’s the kind of older model you only get to see parked on lawns as decorative items in upstate New York when you go apple picking. I guess around here, it might not be so uncommon.
The music blasting from its radio cuts off. I squint, but the glare from the bright sun makes it hard to see who the driver is. I can only see the mirrored reflection of the buildings and trees, but for some reason, I don’t look away. It’s like a magnetic force is pulling me to this truck. I watch fascinated as the driver’s door opens.
The driver gets out, and from my position I can only see a scuffed boot emerge. I blink when I take in its eye-popping size.
Whoa.
The second boot follows.
Dear Lord.
A buff guy gets out and turns around to lock up his truck. When he flashes me his taut ass, I nearly stumble backwards.
Sweet Jesus.
The guy then turns around and looks right at me. When he strides in my direction, I take a few steps back.
He’s big all over.
And strong.
