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As he followed Tex inside, he felt an odd mix of comfort and disappointment that she was working today. With Daisy, he never knew if they were going to fuck, or fight, or both. Today, though, she didn’t seem interested in any of the above. She gave them all a cursory glance as they chose a table on their own. Her eyes passed over him with the same general regard she had for the others.
The heated gaze she used to pin him with was gone, and he was surprised at how deeply its absence affected him. Daisy, it seemed, could actually get enough. And she reached her limit with him. She didn’t bother to walk over. Instead, she filled her tray with ice water for Shooter, the sweet tea Sarah had taught Maria to make for Tex, and she popped the top on a can of Coke for him. She didn’t spit in it, though, and he supposed that was something, at least.
She dropped the drinks off at their table. “You want the usual?” she asked. “Wings?” she said to Tex, who nodded. “Two cheeseburgers and a basket?” she asked Shooter, combining Easy’s order with his. After Shooter confirmed it, she left to put in the order with Thomas in the kitchen.
“Chilly in here,” said Tex, and he didn’t mean the air conditioning.
Daisy brought their food and set down a bottle of steak sauce in front of Easy without saying a word. He figured she was just doing her job rather than really caring that he preferred it on his burger. Before he could thank her, Milo came through the door and drew her attention away.
The older man flopped dramatically into a chair at the table next to them. “Daisy,” he called out. “I need a beer. And some chili cheese fries.” After thinking better of it, he said, “Two chili cheese fries.”
“Old man, what do you need two orders of cheese fries for?” Daisy asked.
Milo looked up at her plaintively. “Well, who am I looking good for?” he whined.
“Oh, here we go,” Daisy muttered. “What happened now?”
Milo shrugged. “Nothing really. Made up with Cora and Jan, sort of. Though mostly because Jan got lonely and Cora dropped a fork in her garbage disposal. They want me to choose, though.”
“Seems reasonable,” Daisy replied, offering him no sympathy. “Pick one.”
Milo frowned. “I don’t want to,” he groused. “Don’t know how I could, anyway. They’re too different.” Milo considered this for a moment. “Maybe I could flip for them.”
“What?” Daisy asked.
“Flip a coin. Heads Cora, tails Jan.”
“You can’t be serious,” Daisy argued.
Milo fished a quarter out of his pocket and held it in his hand. He shrugged at her. “Makes sense.”
Daisy was quiet a moment then said, “Okay. Fine. Flip a coin.”
Milo flicked his thumb and watched the silver piece spin through the air. That was how he missed Daisy’s open palm streaking toward his face. She connected with a sharp smack.
“Ow!” Milo cried.
From across the bar, Maria laughed hysterically.
“Are you crazy?!” Daisy yelled as the old man rubbed his face. “You can’t flip a coin, Milo. They’re people! You just pick one!”
“How do I do that?!” he shot back.
“You pick the one you like the most!”
“Well, Cora’s not so bad in the sack,” he told Daisy. “But she ain’t much of a looker. Plus, I think she’s a little sweeter on Ben Carver than me.”
Tex grunted appreciatively. “Who knew the elderly got around so much?” he mused out loud.
Shooter lifted his burger and prepared to take a bite. “I can believe it. I’ll still chase Slick around the retirement home.”
“And Jan’s a good cook,” Milo said, “but she’s still in love with her husband. Talks to the urn on her fireplace and everything. It’s a little weird.”
Daisy crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared down at him. “And there’s not a woman in Rapid City who’s the total package?”
Milo shifted in his chair. “Well, Alma,” he replied quietly. “Probably.”
Daisy lifted an eyebrow. “Now, we’re getting somewhere. What’s wrong with Alma?”
“Nothing that I know of. She’s the prettiest woman in town, and I know she’s a great cook ‘cause she fed me once. Best chicken Kiev I ever had,” he said wistfully.
“So, what’s the problem?” Daisy demanded.
“Me and Alma, it just ain’t in the cards,” Milo told her.
“Did you try stacking the deck?”
“I knew she was cheating!” Tex whispered loudly. Daisy rolled her eyes and shook her head but otherwise ignored him.
“She’s too good for me.”
“Did she tell you that?”
Milo frowned at her. “No, but it’s obvious. She’s a classy lady, and I’m just the guy who mows her lawn.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?” Tex asked.
Without looking at him, Daisy snapped her fingers to shut him up. To Easy’s amazement, the most dominant man he’d ever met sat quietly with only a tiny gleam in his eye. If that had been Abby, she’d probably be bent over the table by now getting a spanking. Shooter laughed softly after seeing the tiny blonde put him in his place.
