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She headed into the kitchen to pick up a couple of orders. Her plates were up, and Patrick was humming along to the music that permeated the roadhouse as he worked.
Their newest hire, Nancy, stepped out of the locker room, tying her apron on as she headed for the order terminal.
“Hey, welcome aboard! I know you’ve been on staff a few days already…”
Nancy grinned. “But it’s our first shift together.”
“It is. How’s it going so far?”
“I really like this place. Thanks for putting in a good word for me.”
Jenny didn’t think she’d done anything deserving of thanks. But she said, “You’re welcome.”
She picked up her order and used her back to open the “out” door. The young couple sitting at the back of the dining room, a couple of tables away from her guys, were engrossed in their conversation. A folded area map lay on the man’s right.
“One loaded nachos, one burger and fries.” She set the meals down. “Do you need anything else?”
The man gave her a slight smile. “Is there any chance I could have some vinegar for my fries and sweet green relish for my burger?”
The roadhouse had enough tourists from all over the world pass through that there were a few condiments Angela routinely ordered in, especially with those tourists in mind.
“Yes, sir. I’ll fetch them for you now.” There were two opened boxes in the beverage service area—one of each of what this guest requested—in individual little cello packets.
Jenny grabbed three of each and took them to her guest.
“Thank you!” The man appeared happily surprised to receive those condiments. Angela knows what she’s about.
A young woman sitting at the next table, eating a sandwich and reading a book, looked over at the couple and smiled in response to the man’s enthusiastic pleasure as he put the green stuff on his burger. He made a happy-tummy sound when he bit into it.
Note to self. One of these days I’ll have to give that green stuff a try.
Jenny turned and saw that two men had entered the roadhouse. One of them she’d met just the day before. Jeremy Bishop, Ari Benedict’s half-brother, had surprised his sister when he arrived and said he was staying in town. Jeremy’s partner, Marcus Jessop, brother to the docs, the firemen, and Rebecca was with him. The two men stood for a moment, looking around the dining room, and then took a seat along the windows not far from the door.
They’d settled themselves in Nancy’s section. Jenny gave a discreet wave to Jeremy, who had his back to the door. He smiled in response. She went to the serving station in the corner and started a fresh pot of coffee. Then she scooped up the sweet tea pitcher and made the rounds to refill glasses, starting with Peter Alvarez-Kendall and Joe Grant.
“Hey, guys. Can I get you anything else?” She knew their main purpose for being there at the moment was to act as her bodyguards. She did her best not to let them see how guilty she felt about that. She’d already been told by numerous Benedicts, Kendalls, Jessops, and Parkers—the last being the family Joe was a proud member of through marriage—that this was what Lusty was all about.
“No, we’re good, Jenny. How are you holding up?”
Peter’s question didn’t surprise her. She knew him to be a sensitive man. “I’m doing fine. You know, the usual. Just working. Making cow eyes at my guys whenever they look in my direction.”
Peter and Joe both chuckled. “Not nearly as often as they’re making cow eyes at you,” Joe said.
“Jenny, we know you’re having difficulty believing that trouble might find its way to you.” Peter met and held her gaze. “Just follow the protocols we discussed, and hopefully this won’t last much longer.”
Jenny nodded. She had no intention of interfering in this “operation,” even if she suspected she didn’t know all of the behind-the-scenes details. Maybe these men deserve more than a nod from you since they’re giving up their family time to protect you. Jenny sighed. “You’re right, I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it all. But I’ll do everything you tell me to do. Trust me, if trouble comes bursting through that front door, I’m not going to step up and go all G.I. Jane in his face. Whoever the hell ‘he’ turns out to be.”
