by BJ Wane
Bemused by her brusque manner, Avery glanced through the offerings with no intention of ordering. Even at the reasonable prices, she couldn’t afford to spend more than a few dollars a day on food, which limited her to the cheaper items at fast food places. As luck would have it, her stomach rumbled just as the woman returned, reminding her she hadn’t eaten all day.
“You’re new around here. Monday’s special is chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and green beans.”
“Oh, thank you, but I just came in to ask about the job,” Avery replied as she tried not to drool over the steaming plate holding the special one cook set on the ledge for delivery.
Tapping a bell, the short, balding man called out, “Order up, Gertie!”
“Stay put,” the plump, gray-haired woman instructed before snatching the plate and setting it in front of the man seated several stools down from Avery. She returned to glare at Avery, hands fisted on wide hips, blue eyes way too shrewd for her comfort. “I’m Gertie. Eat something and we’ll talk.”
With heat spreading over her face, Avery stuttered in response, “I… can wait… so I don’t keep you. You look busy.”
“Nonsense.” Turning her head, she called out, “Get me another special, Clyde.” Avery swallowed, resigning herself to parting with twice the cash she usually spent on a meal as Gertie faced her again and snapped out, “Food’s on me. How much experience you got?”
Fidgeting on the seat, she saw no way around the truth. “Not much, just a short stint at another diner, but I catch on quick.”
Narrowing her eyes, Gertie questioned, “How short?”
Regret sliced through Avery and she started to slide off the stool. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time…”
Pointing to the seat, Gertie ordered, “Sit. How short?”
“Ten days,” she returned with a defiant edge to her tone as she nudged her glasses up with a jab of one finger.
“Can you write down orders correctly and bus tables in a timely fashion?”
Her pulse picked up a beat of hope. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Then you’re hired and don’t ma’am me. It’s irritating.”
Surprised and grateful, Avery smiled before she remembered the hardest thing about finding work since being on the run. “Uh… I have one request, though. Can… you pay me in cash?”
That shrewd look entered her new boss’ eyes again and her stare was as unnerving as her next question. “You got trouble, girl?”
Avery debated for one second on whether to decline the job offer and walk away or go with a leap of faith. Her finances encouraged her to chance the latter. “You could say that.”
Gertie nodded. “Then cash it is.”
“Order up!”
Grabbing the large plate, Gertie placed it in front of her, the steam and tantalizing aroma teasing Avery’s senses as much as Gertie’s blind support. “Eat up and then I’ll show you around. Study the menu while you’re at it. You’re on the clock.”
Willow Springs might be a small town nestled amid sparsely populated ranch country, but by the time Avery reported for her evening shift on Thursday, three days later, her aching feet and the boost in cash from tips alone proved small didn’t mean desolate. Monday’s crowd hadn’t been a fluke. The diner, named, she’d learned, after Gertie’s deceased husband was not only the go-to place for the best home-cooked meal around, but a gathering hole for residents of all professions and ages. Gertie, with her gruff, no-nonsense way about her, ran a tight ship resulting in the best meals Avery had ever enjoyed, exhaustion by the end of each shift that enabled her to sleep soundly and a good start on getting to know people in the area.
The name Grayson Monroe hadn’t come up, at least not when she could hear it, and she hadn’t thought of a viable reason for asking about him yet. She hadn’t thought that part through before turning her car in his direction and had spent the past few days pondering what her next move should be.
“Thanks, Clyde,” Avery said, picking up the two plates of hamburgers and fries. Thank goodness everyone wore jeans instead of a uniform and that Gertie had given her three long-sleeved shirts with the diner’s logo on the breast pocket. With her plain brown hair pulled back in a braid, her face shone with a light sheen from nonstop movement.
A smile wreathed the cook’s weathered, lined face. “Quit thanking me, missy. It’s my job.”
“Got it. I’ll try to remember.” Turning, she bumped into Gertie, almost dumping one of the burgers. “Sorry… sorry,” she stuttered, embarrassed by her clumsiness.
Shaking her head, her boss grumbled, “For such a klutzy girl, you sure have quick reflexes. Go on. I seated table six with my favorite customers. See to them next.”
Nervousness increased her ineptness and Avery sported the bruises proving how on edge she’d been lately. “Yes, ma’am.” Watching her step, she dashed away before Gertie could reprimand her for the slip. She couldn’t help it. Marci had drilled the politeness her mother lacked into her and old habits were hard to break.
“Here you go. Enjoy your meal,” she told the young couple seated in a corner booth as she delivered their order.
Pulling a note pad from her back pocket, she pivoted toward table six, faltering in her steps when she saw the three men seated with an attractive redhead. Damn, were all the men in this state so big and rugged? The golden oldies pouring out of jukeboxes and loud conversations from the other customers drowned out their voices until she came within two feet of their table. Avery’s hands started to shake and her legs turned to jelly as the midnight-haired, broad-shouldered man’s familiar voice halted her steps with jarring abruptness the second that deep tenor reached her ears.
“Excellent idea, Caden. Do you have an estimate yet?”
Avery closed her eyes as that unforgettable tone washed over her with the same impact as when she’d heard it through the phone over two weeks ago. It was that same voice that compelled her to come to Willow Springs. Somehow, the warm flow running through her body that hearing it produced didn’t surprise her. Struggling to get a hold of herself, she cast a swift look around to see if anyone noticed her frozen hesitancy. When it appeared no one had, she breathed a sigh of relief and forced herself to approach their table.
“Hi, I’m Avery. Are you ready to order?” she asked, not too worried about him recognizing her voice since she’d disguised it with a thin scarf over the phone. She tried not to stare, but found her eyes drawn to the man across the table, the one looking at her out of the most startling gray/green eyes. The black Stetson hooked on the corner of his chair matched his hair and the light blue, worn denim shirt stretching over wide shoulders emphasized the swarthiness of his weather-whipped complexion. A lump lodged in her throat as she realized just how far out of her league he appeared to be.
“Sydney, you go first. I’m still deciding,” the equally big man seated next to the young woman said.
“I’ll have the Rueben.” She smirked and handed her menu across to Avery. “It’s almost as good as the one I make.” Leaving her hand extended, she introduced herself. “I’m Sydney Greenbriar. You’re new.”
Avery shook her hand, noticing the winking diamond adorning her ring finger. “I’ve been hearing that a lot this week.” Pointing to her nametag, she only offered her first name. “I’m Avery.” Conscious of that steady, penetrating gray/green gaze, she shifted on her feet and tightened her fingers on the notepad.
“This is my fiancé, Caden and his brother, Connor.” Sydney nodded to the man on Avery’s left.
Reaching across the table, the man she now knew was Grayson Monroe demanded her attention and delivered another jolt of shock with his introduction. “Sheriff Grayson Monroe.” Cocking his head, he asked, “How did you slip into town without me knowing it?”
Avery released his hand, took a hasty step back and bumped into the patron walking behind her, causing her to fumble and drop her notepad. “I… excuse me, sir,” she mumbled, bending to pick it up. Red-faced, she looked back at
the man she’d come here to meet only to learn he was in law enforcement. She knew not all cops were bad, in fact few were. But now that she’d committed the crime of hacking, could she risk confiding in him? The surprise and uncertainty over hearing his title hadn’t abated enough for her to compose a feasible reply. “I… sheesh,” she muttered, “I don’t know.”
Grayson frowned, his brows lowering and his gaze turning even more assessing. To avoid another question, she asked, “Do you know what you want?”
“Double cheeseburger, fries and a shake. Thank you.”
She jotted it down as fast as her shaking fingers would allow and then asked the silent man, Connor for his preference. His slow drawl and the twinkle in his blue eyes helped her relax.
“I’ll have the same, sweetie. It’s nice to meet you. I hope you like our little community.”
“It’s quite the change from where I’m from,” she blurted before thinking it through.
“And where is that?”
Of course it would be the sheriff who asked. “Uh… about as Midwest as you can get… Kansas City,” she lied, giving the same answer as she had at her two previous jobs. Something told her he wouldn’t take anything she said at face value though, giving her something else to stew over. As if she didn’t have enough on her plate. “I’ll just… get this turned in.” Whirling, she fled to the safety of behind the long counter.
Avery managed to serve Grayson and his friends without further mishap but getting through the last hour of her shift had never been so difficult. Finally putting a face to the man who’d had such a huge impact on her flight removed one barrier to enlisting his help. The biggest obstacle, getting to know him well enough to learn how much she could trust him still loomed. The friendly overtures from Sydney were both welcome and heartwarming. Other than Gertie, Clyde and Ed, the part-time cook, she hadn’t visited a lot with other people. When not working, she was walking the main streets and shops or catching up on some much-needed rest at the motel.
When the three men walked up to pay their tabs to Gertie at the cash register, Sydney stepped over to Avery with a smile. “Would you be interested in getting together sometime, just us girls? I hope you don’t mind my asking, but it hasn’t been that long since I was a newcomer here and didn’t know anyone, so I thought you could use a friend.”
Boy, could she. Not only that, getting close to one of Grayson’s friends could help Avery learn more about him. “I’d like that. Thank you. Being new is… difficult.”
Sydney nodded. “Where are you staying? I have a few hours free in the afternoons and can show you around.” She grimaced, adding, “Provided I don’t get lost myself. My sense of direction isn’t the best.”
“To say the least,” her fiancé drawled behind her, his blue eyes warm with humor.
“Hey, I’m getting better,” Sydney defended herself.
Grayson stepped over and tugged on her long hair, a toothpick now nestled in the corner of his mouth. “Is that why I found you parked over on Charleston Street the other day looking for Forest Lane?”
Avery smiled at their banter, but the shiver of awareness the sheriff’s nearness and gaze produced distracted her from hearing Sydney’s answer. Was it the fact this man had wrung such a stunning orgasm from her without even being in the same room, or the potential of being an ally that made him so desirable? Despite her trepidation over his job, she still ached to find out. She just wasn’t sure which possibility held the most appeal, or if he would be worth risking either her body or her safety.
“How about tomorrow, Avery? Nan’s Tea Shop is a quiet place we can sit and visit,” Sydney suggested.
“I’d like that, but I can meet you there…”
“Nonsense. Don’t listen to these guys. I’ll pick you up.”
Seeing no way around it, Avery sighed and admitted, “Okay, I’m at the motel…”
Gertie turned, snapping, “Girl, why didn’t you say you were forking out money every day for that dump?”
Uneasy with everyone’s eyes on her, Avery fidgeted and replied, “I… I plan to look for a place soon.”
“Nonsense.” Looking at Sydney, Gertie stated, “She can meet you there after moving into the studio apartment upstairs in the morning. It’s just a short walk from here.”
Her new friend smiled. “Don’t argue with her, Avery. It won’t do you any good. Let’s meet at one-thirty.”
Why did she feel as if her life was spiraling out of control again? Thanking her boss, Avery finished her shift in a daze, trying not to get her hopes up too much.
Caden and Sydney said goodbye and strolled toward Caden’s truck before Connor turned to Grayson and asked, “What are you thinking?”
Grayson glanced back at the diner they’d just exited and answered with a question of his own. “Does the new waitress seem familiar to you?”
“No, not at all, but she’s a cutie.”
He agreed with Connor’s observation, finding large whiskey eyes behind black frames, a small straight nose and lush, bottom lip all attractive features in the waitress’ flushed face, but the nagging sense of familiarity bugged him. “There’s something about the way she talks that’s teasing my memory, but for the life of me I can’t figure out why. I know I’ve never seen her before. I would’ve remembered those eyes.” And the way they shied away from direct eye contact with him.
Connor lifted a brow. “You could have toned down your Dom look, then you might not have scared her off.”
Grayson shrugged as he fished his keys out of his coat pocket. “Just because you’re on holiday from exerting your need for control doesn’t mean the rest of us have to be.” He regretted the remark as soon as his friend tightened up. “Sorry, Con. I know breakups are hard.” Only a few months had passed since Connor and his long-time girlfriend split ways.
“Really? How?” he asked, Connor’s tone as derisive as the look in his eyes. “You’ve never given a monogamous relationship a try.”
Stepping off the curb, Grayson grasped the cold door handle of his police cruiser, looking back at Connor over the hood. “True, but years of friendship count for something. You should consider taking either Caden or me up on our offers to listen while you vent. It might help.”
Just as he’d done whenever his brother or Grayson prodded Connor into talking about what caused his breakup with Annie, he shut him down. “See you tomorrow night.” With a wave, Connor hopped into his truck parked next to Grayson’s and pulled out without a backward glance.
Frustrated with his stubbornness, Grayson slid behind the wheel and cranked up the heat to dispel the chill of standing outside in the frigid air. As he drove down Main, heading out of town, he spotted Avery walking alone, hunched against the biting wind. Swearing under his breath, he pulled alongside her and lowered the window.
“Get in, I’ll give you a ride.” Hesitation replaced her surprise at his sudden appearance, but he wouldn’t let her balk. Not only would the evening turn pitch-black once she left the lighted square, but it was too fucking cold to walk the distance to the motel. “I can escort you back to the diner so you can bother Gertie to drive you or you can take me up on my offer. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I let you walk back to the motel alone at night.”
She frowned, and it pleased him to see she was wary of a stranger even if he knew he could be trusted. He wondered what circumstances brought her to Willow Springs in the dead of winter as they didn’t get many newcomers this time of year. She finally relented and, stumbling on the curb, hurried around to the passenger side. Shaking his head, he leaned over and opened the door.
“Th… thank you. It is cold,” she admitted with an appreciative sigh at the heat.
“We’re a good distance north of Kansas City. It would be best if you remembered that when going out, even during the afternoon when it’s warmer. Seatbelt.” Her quick obedience stirred Grayson’s interest even more, and he liked the disheveled look of her with several strands of loosened, caramel hair falling around her f
ace and clinging to her neck.
Avery seemed to weigh her answer before she replied, “It’s cold at home, but we don’t have these wide-open spaces with no tall buildings to provide a buffer.”
“Would you like to share what brings you here? Other than during the summer tourist season, we don’t get too many strangers coming to town.” He eyed her askance, watching for a hint of evasion and found it in her tightened jaw and the shift of her eyes out the window.
“I found myself… in need of a change, is all. I’m in room two ten,” she pointed out with obvious relief as he turned into the motel lot.
Putting the cruiser in park, he swiveled in his seat and pinned her with a pointed look before saying, “Get to know Sydney, she’s a good person to have as a friend, as is anyone in Willow Springs. I hope you’ll remember that.”
“I will. Thanks, Sheriff.”
“Good night, sugar.” Grayson heard her sudden indrawn breath as she jumped out and wasn’t surprised when she fumbled with her room key before dashing inside without looking at him again. The girl carried baggage, that’s for sure. The question was, was she in trouble or just needing a fresh start, as she claimed?
Driving home, his thoughts remained on the skittish new waitress at Dale’s. Not since his four-year stint in the army, including eighteen months spent in Afghanistan had opened his eyes to the plight of innocent women had he seen that look on a woman’s face. Last fall, Sydney had arrived on the Dunbar Ranch avoiding her uncle’s nefarious intentions, but she’d never exhibited the genuine distress he caught reflected in Avery’s eyes, at least not in front of him. As soon as he had introduced himself to Avery, she had avoided eye contact with him, the same as just now on the ride to the motel, and the best he could figure his job as sheriff caused her worry.