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“You’re welcome.”
Cole opened the two bags and started taking the food out, missing Marty’s smirk when he saw the protective way she was gripping the sugar.
“Do you need some ketchup?” Cole asked innocently, unaware of the exchange.
“Please.” She took the ketchup from Cole without taking her eyes off Marty until he was out of sight.
“He grows on you.” Cole laughed, dipping a fry into the ketchup.
Megan shuddered. “God, I hope not.”
“I’m going to grab our drinks.” Laughing, Cole rose to his feet. “What can I get you?”
“Surprise me.”
Picking up the small hamburger, which was similar in size to a White Castle, she took a bite. Sure she was mistaken, she took another bite.
“Darn.”
Cole set two colas down on the table. “Better than you anticipated?”
“I refuse to answer on the grounds it may incriminate me.”
“You don’t have to. Marty makes the best burgers in twelve states.”
Megan swallowed the last bite of her burger and reached for another. “On which list?”
“Mine, so I can attest to its accuracy.”
Megan had to cover her mouth, unable to keep from laughing.
As they ate, the bell rang numerous times. In each instance, they would place an order then go outside to wait.
“It’s definitely the food that is keeping him in business.”
“For now.” Cole grew more serious. “Eventually, they’ll get tired of having to stand out in the cold just to get a hamburger, regardless how good it is. Spring is a long time away.”
An idea came to her as Cole talked. She placed her hand over his. “Do you happen to know if there are any delivery drivers in Treepoint?”
Cole shrugged, giving her hand covering his a strange look. “I have no idea. Why?”
“Because …” Megan laughed. “People in town might dislike me, but they may hate him.”
Six
“Why do people dislike you?”
Megan had no one to blame but herself. She had lowered her guard in the excitement at potentially being able to get out of the financial straits which were becoming more dire each day.
“Am I the only one who wants to chow down?”
Her plan to out herself had come and gone. She liked the way he made her feel special.
Cole studied her as he placed the burger he was about to eat down. “Why do you think people dislike you?”
Megan pushed her food away. He wasn’t going to be sidetracked.
Cole pushed it back. “Eat,” he ordered. “You look like a hard wind would blow you away. We can talk when you’re finished.”
Megan ate halfheartedly, all the enjoyment from the food gone.
“Megan,” he said gently.
She lifted a tear-filled gaze. The lump in her throat disappeared at the compassionate look he gave her.
“It’s going to be okay. I’m a pretty chill guy. Nothing you could tell me is going to shock me or make me think of you any differently than when I came into the restaurant.”
“You say that now, but you will,” she replied numbly, forcing herself to take another bite.
“Maybe you’ll feel more comfortable if I told you about myself. I’m originally from Queen City. Currently, I live in Marina del Rey when I’m not visiting my sister, Casey, and her family. I also take motorcycle trips with friends of Casey’s husband, Max. They visit The Last Riders, and I visit a man who I owe everything I am, and everything I will be.”
Becoming enthralled in what Cole was telling her about his life, she forgot about unintentionally revealing the town’s dislike of her. Her appetite returned, and she ate without focusing on the internal recriminations which had been swarming through her mind like an angry beehive.
“Who was that?”
“Greer Porter.”
Megan eyed Cole doubtfully. “Dustin’s brother?”
“Yes.” Cole’s lips turned up at the corners. “You know Greer?”
“Everyone in town knows Greer. He’s kind of hard to miss.” As she said that, a sudden thought came to mind. “Although, now that you’ve mentioned him, I haven’t seen him since I’ve been in town.”
“Greer doesn’t get out much anymore. He had a stroke.”
Megan placed a hand over her mouth, stunned at the news. “Is he okay?” she asked in concern.
“He isn’t back to his old self yet. His wife and brothers say he’s good, but you can tell he’s missing the spark that everyone says drives them crazy.”
Megan set her hand back on the table. “But not you?”
“No, not me. I’ve seen the real Greer.”
They stared at each other, cognizant Greer was more than the good ol’ boy he pretended to be.
“I’ve seen the real Greer, too.”
Cole put his elbows on the table to lean forward. “How?”
Megan shook her head. “You first.”
Cole nodded. “That’s fair.” He straightened, running a hand through his blond hair. “This is hard to start. I really don’t like talking about this …”
“Then we don’t have to—”
“No, I want to. I was going to tell you, anyway. I can’t ask you to share your life with me if I’m not willing to share mine.”
