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Oh, no, she thought. Impending doom gathered over her head like a dark purple thunderhead.
Still grinning, Brock strode away, leaving her to shake her head before she tapped on the door to her grandmother’s room.
“Sweetheart! You’re just the person I wanted to see!” Grandma Abigail said brightly when Summer poked her head in. “Did you see Brock just now?”
“I did,” Summer replied. She entered the room and bent to kiss Grandma’s cheek. “You’re looking a lot better than yesterday.”
Grandma Abigail chuckled. “Well, I feel like a mule kicked me in the leg, and I’m still a bit shaky, but I’ve already walked up and down the corridor twice today. Please, sit.” She indicated the plastic chair at her bedside.
“Those are beautiful roses,” Summer said as she took a seat.
Grandma Abigail grinned at her. “They’re from Brock’s garden.”
Summer suppressed a groan.Why is he being so darned sweet? What does he want?
Then Grandma Abigail’s grin vanished, replaced by a serious expression. “He really is very thoughtful, sweetheart. And a hard worker, too. I really wish you’d reconsider working with him to fix up the diner.”
Summer drew a deep breath. “About that—” she began.
“So, I’m going to make you the same offer I made Brock just now,” Grandma Abigail interrupted.
I knew it! I knew there had to be some reason he was acting so smug!
Summer listened without comment as her grandmother outlined the conditions for the proposed partnership. But her heart began beating fast at the extremely generous terms.
She didn’t want another business partner. Not after the way Greg had betrayed her trust. And she sure as heck didn’t want to partner withBrock, of all people.
But he was right. This was an offer she couldn’t refuse. Not with SummerTime’s fate in the balance. She was certain she could make the diner even more profitable than Grandma’s stipulation.
If I can make The Yummy Cowboy Diner a success, I’ll get Brock or Grandma Abigail to buy me out in September. Then I’ll go back to the city and reopenSummerTime.
Grandma didn’t know it, but she had just thrown Summer a lifeline. Her offer couldn’t have come at a better time. Even if it meant swallowing her pride and working with Brock for three months.
All Summer had to do was keep the wolves at bay until she could cash out her half of the diner.
“All right,” she said when Grandma had finished speaking. “I’ll do it. I’ll turn The Yummy Cowboy Diner into a cash cow for all of us. And I think I know how.”
Grandma Abigail reached out and clasped Summer’s hand. “Oh, sweetheart, you’ve made me so happy. You know how much the diner means to this town… and how much it meant to your grandfather.”
“I won’t let you down,” Summer promised.
Silently, she added,And I’m going to show Brock the difference between a cook and a real chef.
Chapter Nine – Summer
The Yummy Cowboy Diner
Wednesday, June 15
“No way,” Brock said firmly.
The only light in the diner’s tiny parking lot came from an old barn lamp mounted over the diner’s back door. But it was enough to illuminate the muscle twitching in his jaw as he glared down at her. “The last thing I need during breakfast rush isyoubreathing down my neck, Ms. Fancy Pants Chef.”
Dawn was a promise of bright pink over the mountains to the east, but it was still dark in town. Summer fought back a yawn as a cool breeze swept out of the darkness. She hadn’t gotten up this early in a long time, but she was determined to show Brock that she was serious about her half of their new partnership.
Upon her return from the hospital yesterday, she’d spent the rest of the afternoon and evening contacting various friends and acquaintances to spread the word that she wanted to sublet her apartment and parking space for three months.
No sense in paying all that money if she wasn’t going to be there, and both housing and parking were always in demand. She’d driven the sixteen hours to Snowberry Springs rather than flown, so that she could bring her knives, pans, and other equipment to cater Grandpa Frank’s Celebration of Life.
