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Surprised and grateful, Avery smiled before she remembered the hardest thing about finding work since being on the run. “Uh… I have one request, though. Can… you pay me in cash?”
That shrewd look entered her new boss’ eyes again and her stare was as unnerving as her next question. “You got trouble, girl?”
Avery debated for one second on whether to decline the job offer and walk away or go with a leap of faith. Her finances encouraged her to chance the latter. “You could say that.”
Gertie nodded. “Then cash it is.”
“Order up!”
Grabbing the large plate, Gertie placed it in front of her, the steam and tantalizing aroma teasing Avery’s senses as much as Gertie’s blind support. “Eat up and then I’ll show you around. Study the menu while you’re at it. You’re on the clock.”
Willow Springs might be a small town nestled amid sparsely populated ranch country, but by the time Avery reported for her evening shift on Thursday, three days later, her aching feet and the boost in cash from tips alone proved small didn’t mean desolate. Monday’s crowd hadn’t been a fluke. The diner, named, she’d learned, after Gertie’s deceased husband was not only the go-to place for the best home-cooked meal around, but a gathering hole for residents of all professions and ages. Gertie, with her gruff, no-nonsense way about her, ran a tight ship resulting in the best meals Avery had ever enjoyed, exhaustion by the end of each shift that enabled her to sleep soundly and a good start on getting to know people in the area.
The name Grayson Monroe hadn’t come up, at least not when she could hear it, and she hadn’t thought of a viable reason for asking about him yet. She hadn’t thought that part through before turning her car in his direction and had spent the past few days pondering what her next move should be.
“Thanks, Clyde,” Avery said, picking up the two plates of hamburgers and fries. Thank goodness everyone wore jeans instead of a uniform and that Gertie had given her three long-sleeved shirts with the diner’s logo on the breast pocket. With her plain brown hair pulled back in a braid, her face shone with a light sheen from nonstop movement.
A smile wreathed the cook’s weathered, lined face. “Quit thanking me, missy. It’s my job.”
“Got it. I’ll try to remember.” Turning, she bumped into Gertie, almost dumping one of the burgers. “Sorry… sorry,” she stuttered, embarrassed by her clumsiness.
Shaking her head, her boss grumbled, “For such a klutzy girl, you sure have quick reflexes. Go on. I seated table six with my favorite customers. See to them next.”
Nervousness increased her ineptness and Avery sported the bruises proving how on edge she’d been lately. “Yes, ma’am.” Watching her step, she dashed away before Gertie could reprimand her for the slip. She couldn’t help it. Marci had drilled the politeness her mother lacked into her and old habits were hard to break.
“Here you go. Enjoy your meal,” she told the young couple seated in a corner booth as she delivered their order.
Pulling a note pad from her back pocket, she pivoted toward table six, faltering in her steps when she saw the three men seated with an attractive redhead. Damn, were all the men in this state so big and rugged? The golden oldies pouring out of jukeboxes and loud conversations from the other customers drowned out their voices until she came within two feet of their table. Avery’s hands started to shake and her legs turned to jelly as the midnight-haired, broad-shouldered man’s familiar voice halted her steps with jarring abruptness the second that deep tenor reached her ears.
“Excellent idea, Caden. Do you have an estimate yet?”
Avery closed her eyes as that unforgettable tone washed over her with the same impact as when she’d heard it through the phone over two weeks ago. It was that same voice that compelled her to come to Willow Springs. Somehow, the warm flow running through her body that hearing it produced didn’t surprise her. Struggling to get a hold of herself, she cast a swift look around to see if anyone noticed her frozen hesitancy. When it appeared no one had, she breathed a sigh of relief and forced herself to approach their table.
“Hi, I’m Avery. Are you ready to order?” she asked, not too worried about him recognizing her voice since she’d disguised it with a thin scarf over the phone. She tried not to stare, but found her eyes drawn to the man across the table, the one looking at her out of the most startling gray/green eyes. The black Stetson hooked on the corner of his chair matched his hair and the light blue, worn denim shirt stretching over wide shoulders emphasized the swarthiness of his weather-whipped complexion. A lump lodged in her throat as she realized just how far out of her league he appeared to be.
“Sydney, you go first. I’m still deciding,” the equally big man seated next to the young woman said.
“I’ll have the Rueben.” She smirked and handed her menu across to Avery. “It’s almost as good as the one I make.” Leaving her hand extended, she introduced herself. “I’m Sydney Greenbriar. You’re new.”
Avery shook her hand, noticing the winking diamond adorning her ring finger. “I’ve been hearing that a lot this week.” Pointing to her nametag, she only offered her first name. “I’m Avery.” Conscious of that steady, penetrating gray/green gaze, she shifted on her feet and tightened her fingers on the notepad.
“This is my fiancé, Caden and his brother, Connor.” Sydney nodded to the man on Avery’s left.
Reaching across the table, the man she now knew was Grayson Monroe demanded her attention and delivered another jolt of shock with his introduction. “Sheriff Grayson Monroe.” Cocking his head, he asked, “How did you slip into town without me knowing it?”
Avery released his hand, took a hasty step back and bumped into the patron walking behind her, causing her to fumble and drop her notepad. “I… excuse me, sir,” she mumbled, bending to pick it up. Red-faced, she looked back at
the man she’d come here to meet only to learn he was in law enforcement. She knew not all cops were bad, in fact few were. But now that she’d committed the crime of hacking, could she risk confiding in him? The surprise and uncertainty over hearing his title hadn’t abated enough for her to compose a feasible reply. “I… sheesh,” she muttered, “I don’t know.”
Grayson frowned, his brows lowering and his gaze turning even more assessing. To avoid another question, she asked, “Do you know what you want?”
“Double cheeseburger, fries and a shake. Thank you.”
She jotted it down as fast as her shaking fingers would allow and then asked the silent man, Connor for his preference. His slow drawl and the twinkle in his blue eyes helped her relax.
“I’ll have the same, sweetie. It’s nice to meet you. I hope you like our little community.”
“It’s quite the change from where I’m from,” she blurted before thinking it through.
