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Violet’s eyes misted. “When did you go and grow up on me? Please give my love to Maddy.”
“Will do.” Her brother kissed her cheek. “Call you soon.”
Chapter Seven
IT WAS TOO MUCH TO HOPE that Violet and her dinner companion would still be at the restaurant when Hayden returned to Bella Roma almost two hours later. Noting the empty table, he scowled as he knocked on the open door of Robb’s office.
“I wanted to let you know I’m back.”
The restaurant manager looked up from where he sat behind the desk. “Thanks. I hear you had a good therapy session with Carl and Barbara.”
Hayden tried not to frown at the sarcasm in the other man’s voice. “Did they call and complain?”
“The opposite,” Robb said. “They raved. Not as much about the food as your . . . psychic services or whatever it is you do when you’re not here. I should have known they wanted free advice.’”
“I unpacked and served the food per my instructions. They loved their entrées, for the record. I’mnota psychic, and I never charge for advice.” Hayden drew in a breath.Lord, keep me calm.“I try to help people using principles based on the Bible.”
“I know. Have a seat.” Robb gestured for him to take the only other chair in the room.
“I’d rather stand if you don’t mind.”
“Suit yourself. The thing is, we pay you to deliver and serve food. Period.”
Hayden expelled a breath. “That’s what I fully intended to do, but what do you expect me to do when I’m in their home, and they ask for my opinion? Ignore them?” He wouldn’t tell Robb the couple invited him to sit at the dinner table and share their meal. His empty stomach had betrayed him. Barbara thought it was the dog growling until Carl went into the kitchen to get him a plate.
“No, of course not.” Robb looked beat. “You’re a great server, but I’d rather you conduct your personal business elsewhere. Tell Carl and Barbara to call your radio show. Then you can talk to your heart’s content.”
“Got it.”
“No hard feelings, Hayden. You want to help, and that’s great. You’re not some hack handing out random advice off the top of your head. It’s ingrained in you to help people, and you’re doing what you’retrainedto do. A lot of people never get to do that. You made some of our best clients happy tonight, so I suppose I can’t complain.”
The other man sat back with a curious expression. “Why are you hanging out here three shifts a week when you could hang out a shingle and charge the big bucks? I hear picking brains pays pretty well.”
“No, thanks. I’d need a doctorate, and it sounds . . . messy. I prefer the unpredictability and rhythm of live radio. To be clear, I’m not fired?”
“You’d have to be a terrible server or tell the Hughes to take a flying leap into a lake for me to fire you.” Robb looked up quickly. “Youdidn’ttell them anything like that, did you?”
“No. You can relax.” Hayden smiled a little. “My shift was over forty minutes ago, and it’s time for me to go home. How’d everything go here with my tables?”
“No problems.” An odd expression flickered over the other man’s face. “Any table in particular you want to know about?”
“The dark-haired woman at Table 11 when I left works at the radio station.”
Robb gave him a tired but knowing look. “I guess that explains a few things. She’s a beauty, that’s for sure. If you’re wondering, there was zero heat between her and the guy she was with. I wasn’t tempted to pry them apart like the teenagers pawing each other in Booth 9. All in a night’s work.” With a yawn, the manager waved him off. “See you next shift.”
“Yep. Thanks, Robb. Get some sleep.”
The walk to his car was the longest of the day. Man, he was beat. The pastor’s message this morning, which seemed likedaysago, was all about renewal—spiritual, mental, emotional, physical. That seemed a popular sermon topic in the spring, especially during the season of Lent. It’d also been a great reminder of the renewal taking place insidehim. Coming to Goldenrod had been what he’d needed, a fresh start, a new beginning.
HAYDEN PEERED OVER THE EDGE of the mattress. The pup was on the floor, looking up at him with his limpid, dark eyes.Trustingeyes. “All right, you big baby.” Leaning over, he gently lifted the dog onto the bed. Although Haystack’s leg was healing well, he still limped slightly and favored his other hind leg.
The pup settled beside him, resting his chin on his left leg. “We both have bum legs, huh? You’ve been good for my mental well-being, Hay. You’re a great sounding board. Even better, you accept me as I am.” He stroked his hand over the pup’s head and down the length of his back. “I’m sure you’ve noticed I talk to God, too, so try not to be territorial or jealous. There’s no doubt in my mind God brought us together, you and me.”
When the dog sighed, Hayden followed suit. “So, there’s this woman I work with. Her name’s Violet. She’s got long dark hair and big brown eyes that see right through a guy. Physically, she’s a knockout. Beautiful smile. Funny and smart. Violet’s a caring, compassionate person when she wants to be, but we started off on the wrong foot. I’m afraid things haven’t improved much since then.” Lost in thought, he rubbed behind the pup’s ears. “We can’t be around each other for long without getting on each other’s nerves, but at least we’re talking more.”
Haystack licked his hand. “Love you, too, buddy. I mean, how could Violet not fall madly in love with me? I’m not bad to look at, am I? I try to be agreeable and not be an irritant to gorgeous women.”
He groaned when the dog gave himthe look. “Not again, mutt! You just went out a half-hour ago.” His fault for giving him an extra dog biscuit and more water. “Come on. Let’s go. Hayden slid off the bed with the dog in his arms. He should be thankful Haystack was better now at letting him knowwhenhe had to go out. It’d been real touch-and-go at first.
