“What can I get for you?” She comes over, pen and pad in hand. “Wait, are you the girl Tommy helped in the ditch during the storm last night?” Good Lord, small towns. Can I have no anonymity here?
“Yep, that’s me. Can I get a turkey sandwich and a coke, please?”
She scribbles on her pad. “You’re staying with the Coxes, right? Up at the B&B?”
“Sure am.” I keep my answers curt, dissuading further conversation. She wanders away and I drop my head in my hand.
“No, you can’t disappear into the floor but I’m willing tosacrifice my stunning reputation to sit with you, if you’d like?” Lifting my head, I see Cash has occupied the stool next to me, offering me a friendly smile.
I hesitantly smile back. “Hey. No sacrificing necessary, I’m okay alone. They’ll stop staring—eventually.”
“Not likely. Less likely with me sitting here. At least you’ll have a friend, though.”
My waitress comes back, setting a Coke in front of me. She looks at Cash and flashes him a truly blinding smile. “Hey, Cash. What can I get ‘ya?” She leans slightly over the bar, as though food isn’t the only thing on offer.
I side-eye him, trying to sort this out. “Hey Dani, can I get the tuna salad sandwich please and a Coke?”
“Sure, honey.”
I snort out a laugh as she walks away. I can hardly contain my giggles. The flirting. The sandwich. It’s too much. I’m coming undone at the seams. Clutching my abdomen, I choke a little on my laughter. Cash lands a warm hand on my back, patting slightly.
“You good, darlin’?” He looks equally amused and concerned, like perhaps I’m having some sort of mental episode. I laugh harder. “Callie, you’ve gotta tell me what’s so funny, I’m dying here.” Leaning in to stage whisper, he says, “People are staring.”
Sucking in a few lungfuls of air, I take a huge gulp of my drink, and it’s so cold I can’t breathe momentarily, which spurs on more laughter, and the whole while Cash casually rubs circles between my shoulder blades, his hand large and warm.
Finally getting myself under control, I manage to squeak out, “The last thing your aunt said, as I walked out, wasMable’s has really good tuna salad sandwiches.” I start laughing again, holding up a hand. “I’m sorry, I know it’s not that funny. It’s been a really long week.”
Cash joins in my laughter, and I enjoy the deep, throaty quality of it.
I may look slightly like a lunatic, but it feels so good to laugh with someone. No pressure, just laughter over sandwiches.
I have to say, though, the look on Dani’s face makes me a little uneasy.
Chapter 5
Rock You Like a Hurricane
Cash
Walking through the doors of Aunt Lizzie’s bed & breakfast on Thursday, I get a little thrill in my stomach at the thought of seeing Callie again. Seeing her seated at the counter of Mable’s was a welcome surprise and watching her absolutely fall apart in giggles was easily the highlight of my week. She looked as though she needed that laugh too. Parting ways made me a little sad. It’s time to admit, I’m lonely.
If I see her today, I’m going to ask for her number.
Don’t be a coward, Cash, she’s just a pretty girl.Except I can’t even lie to myself that she isjustanything.
Walking through the house, I find her in the same place as yesterday. Her beautiful, round ass seated in a dining chair, her back to me. Her blonde locks are piled on top of her head in some elaborate twist, little wild curls falling around her.
She must feel me standing behind her as she slowly turns her spring green eyes to me leaning against the doorframe witha smile on my face. Again, she blushes as she gives me a once-over, taking in the details of me from hat-covered head to beat-up boots. I can’t stay today, I have to move some calves around on the ranch, but I needed to see her face again.
“Good morning, darlin’.” I give her my flirtiest country greeting, tipping my hat to her for good measure.
She huffs out a laugh. “Good morning, Cowboy Cash. What are you doing here?”
I hear the southern drawl in her words and find it absolutely adorable. Her grabbable hips, the ass I kind of want to sink my teeth into, and her cute chipmunk cheeks with dimples all serve to distract me from the matter at hand.
“Where ya from, Callie?”
“North Carolina, near the beach.”
