Bliss: I’ll marry you.
Zane: It was the bathtub that tipped the scale, wasn’t it?
Bliss: Order the bubble bath.
CHAPTER 7
Zane
Five o’clockin the morning and I’m already rolling into town. I have to move a group of calves from some leased pasture. But first, I want a cup of coffee and some breakfast. I park my pickup and stock trailer on the street and walk through the parking lot to the Shaky Pine Café.
The bell chimes above the door as I walk in. Max is sitting at his favorite table with Charlie. She looks past Max’s shoulder and greets me with a wave. Max looks over his shoulder at me and scowls. He does that anytime Charlie smiles in my direction.
“Come eat breakfast with us,” Charlie says, pointing to an empty chair next to Max. “Unless you’re in a hurry.”
Max’s scowl deepens.
“Oh, I’m definitely not in a hurry,” I say as I pull out the chair next to Charlie and sit down slowly. “What are you two up to today?”
Sharon walks through the kitchen door with the coffeepot and a mug for me. “Here you go, sweetie. Do you want your usual?”
“Thank you, Sharon. Yeah, the usual sounds great. This coffee smells extra good today,” I say as I throw a wink her way. “Did you add a secret ingredient?”
Sharon blushes and smacks my shoulder. “You rascal. I’ll go get your breakfast going.”
She turns and hurries back to the kitchen, the door squeaking shut behind her.
“Maybe I should fix that door for her,” Charlie comments.
“No, don’t do that,” I reply instantly.
“Why not?”
“It wouldn’t be the Shaky Pine Café if there wasn’t a creaking door,” I answer.
Charlie shakes her head but smiles. “I guess I’ll leave my tools in the truck.”
“Nash is coming to town this weekend,” Max says without preamble.
“With his fiancée?” I ask.
“It’s his wife now.”
“What a shame.”
“You’re incorrigible,” Charlie says with a laugh.
Only because it keeps people at arm’s length,I think but don’t dare say out loud. It would blow my cover.
“How long are they staying?” I ask.
“They’re moving out here for good.”
“Oh, thank goodness. It’s about time he came back. Now he can listen to your nagging instead of me,” I say as I reach for the little dish of creamer in the center of the table and add four packets to my cup.
“I’m not the one who was asking for life advice the other day,” Max says slyly.
I glance sharply at Charlie. She has a gleeful look in her eye.
