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Ten
Hendrix didn’t go out that night. He was too busy thinking about Ellen. He couldn’t stop seeing her in that dress with her sweater falling casually off one shoulder and work boots on her feet—and somehow liking the unusual combination. Her appearance had been growing on him. But her unique beauty, especially her doe-like eyes, was making more of an impact all the time.
What was he going to do about Ellen? Whatcouldhe do? Between his aunt and what she’d demanded of her husband—which was a full and unequivocal commitment to her, her son and her nephew at the sacrifice of his daughter—and how much Ellen resented all of them for cutting her out of the family, there didn’t seem to be anything he could do to improve the situation.
For his own sake, he should draw a hard line and continue to ignore her presence in town. Because if he let his heart soften and started to care about her, he’d only be handing her a weapon she could use to exact revenge.
But it was already too late. The disappointment he’d felt last night when she wouldn’t even hear him out was proof that he’d already started to care. So...how could he regain his distance, especially if he was also battling Leo’s growing fascination with her? Did he try to put a stop to that, too?
No way. Leo would never allow it.
Lynn would die if she knew her son and her nephew were so taken with Ellen. He was willing to bet she would never forgive him for that...
He’d just taken a seat in front of the TV when he saw a flash of light at the window. A car was turning into his drive. Kurt had mentioned stopping by to watch an NBA game and generally smacked the door once to announce his presence before letting himself in, especially if Hendrix was already expecting him. But there was no knock. It wasn’t until he saw the same lights through the window that he realized whoever had pulled into his yard was already leaving.
He got up and opened the door. There was a bag on his front mat, and inside was his freshly laundered shirt. After the way Forbes had grabbed it and ripped it during their fight, the neck would never be quite the same, but Ellen had found a way to get it clean and had folded it carefully before putting it in the sack.
He held the cotton fabric to his nose. It smelled good—like her house.
She could’ve brought it to the diner and given it to him tomorrow, and yet she’d made a special trip. Could that signify anything? A possible softening?
No, he decided. She probably hadn’t wanted anyone to see her return something like that to him. It might invite speculation.
She could’ve knocked on the door and handed it to him in person, though. His truck was parked in the drive. She had to have known he was home.
Instead, she’d quietly dropped it off and left.
He pulled his phone from his pocket as he went back inside.You could’ve said hello.
No response.
We don’t have to be enemies, you know, he wrote, trying again.
Finally, he saw the three dots that indicated she was typing something.
I appreciate your help last night.
No comment on his offer of friendship.That’s all you have to say?
That and I’m going to fire Ben on Monday. He’s all yours.
“Shit,” he muttered and sank onto the couch as he tossed his phone on the side table.
Talulah had called first thing to say she’d open the diner and would leave when Ellen arrived. Since her parents and sister lived elsewhere, it was rare that Talulah had someone to stand in for her, so Ellen could see why she might want to take advantage of every opportunity.
She hadn’t set a specific time with Hendrix and Leo, but she took over for Talulah at one and didn’t have long to wait. Hendrix showed up with Leo at ten to two—about the same time they’d come before.
“Hi, Ellen!” Leo called, blasting through the door with the power of a gale force wind. “I’m here! I came to help you like I said I would.”
“And I’m all ready for you,” Ellen told him.
Hendrix entered several seconds after Leo, moving far more casually.
“Are we going to wash dishes again?” Leo asked.
“We can do that later if you like. I thought you might want to help me serve customers for a while first.”
Leo’s eyes went wide. “Did you hear that, Hendrix? I get to serve customers!”
