by Reina Torres
“Willa, sweetie, you’re such a dear girl-”
The ‘dear girl’ was nearly ready to clock him if he didn’t stop trying to placate her instead of getting to the point.
“You’re just not the one for me. I need someone who can be the face of my diner. The one out there in front of the customers, making them feel at home. Marie and I are much more… in sync.”
“Now you sound like a boy band, Charlie.”
His hands tightened around her shoulders as she tried to pull away. “You’re not going to cry, are you?” He leaned closer to look her straight in the eye. “Oh good, you’re not wearing a lot of eye make-up, otherwise I’d get you some napkins.”
He was such a gentleman, wasn’t he?
“Look, I’m really glad we’re getting all of this out in the open. Really, it’s going to be better this way.”
Right.
“Look, Charlie, I think I get it, but I just have one question.”
Relief brightened his face a shade. “Shoot.”
Oh, if I only could.
“I’ll go ahead and get through today, but what about the rest of the time until you come back? Are you closing the diner?”
That seemed to rock him even more than his news had done to Willa. “Why would I do that?”
An angry buzz filled her head. “Because you’re dumping me and going on vacation with Marie! If you’re firing me, who’s going to run the diner?”
“I’m not firing you, silly! You’re great at the stove.”
“So, I’m going to be working the diner with who?” She just couldn’t wait to hear this one.
“We’re never that busy,” he waved off her concern, “you’ve got this.” He leaned forward and pressed a sloppy kiss on her forehead. “Besides, all the tips will be yours, right?”
Oh yes, absolutely brilliant.
“Work it how you want it with the hours, but when Marie and I get back, we’re going to revamp the whole place and take the diner to a new level.” By the time he made it to the door, Willa was only sort of considering throwing a sugar dispenser at his head. “Think of this as a chance to figure out what’s next for you, without me hanging around, distracting you.”
Distracting. You mean you hanging around, inspiring my murderous tendencies?
Willa opened her mouth to say something. What, she’ll never know, because Marie stepped back into the doorway with a pointed look on her face. “Charlie, come on!”
And that’s all it took to get Charlie moving toward the door.
When he stepped up beside Marie, the once-hostess turned boyfriend poacher, lifted her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, and the early morning sunlight shone off the diamond on her finger.
As soon as the door shut behind them, the bell above the door jingling like laughter… aimed at her.
She seemed frozen to the floor for a long moment until Mr. Poston cleared his throat as he lowered the newspaper.
“Willa dear, if you’d rather close up, I can go home-”
“No, no,” she mustered up a smile, “the last thing I want to do is send you away. I like cooking, I’m good at it.”
“Is that what you want to do with your life, Willa? Work as a cook? You’re really good at it. You keep me coming back here for two out of three meals a day most days.”
She blushed and felt her heart warm to his compliment. “I wouldn’t mind another job cooking, but it’s not what I want forever. I want a family. I want to find a kind and caring man, raise a houseful of kids. Cooking is just my favorite way to show I care. That’s why I’ve worked here, helping Charlie to build up the business so he could pursue the Culinary Degree he wanted. I thought… well, I guess I thought too much.”
“Too much of him, maybe. I’ve always thought you deserved better, but you seemed happy.”
“I was,” her sigh a long and heavy release of pent up pain, “I thought he was too, but maybe it was just because I wanted this thing between us to be real.”
He smiled at her and she saw more than pity in his eyes, she saw genuine affection. “You’re too good for him, by far. I’d say you’re lucky in some ways. The only thing that girl knows how to do is her nails, and right now she has them firmly in his backside. They’ll end up tearing each other apart sooner rather than later, but you deserve a fresh start. And I know just the person to help.”
She paused before heading through the doorway into the kitchen. “Mr. Poston, you are a sweetheart. Don’t tell me… you have a spare fairy godmother in your pocket?”
He shook his head, a warm healthy glow high on his cheeks. “Just down the hall in my apartment building. Don’t you worry, dear. You’re going to put all of this behind you.”
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About the Author
Love - Romance - Books
Aren't they all the same thing?
Oh, I sure hope so!
I've been reading romance books for what seems like forever. When I was a teen, the days that I wasn't in dance class after school I'd go to the mall to wait for my mom to finish work for the day and my haunt of choice... the book store.
Whether it was Scottish Lairds, Medieval Knights, Regency Gents, Rough and Tumble Cowboys, or handsome modern Heroes, I loved them all! There was always another hero and heroine to follow through page after page of breathless love!
I really hope that my readers will enjoy some of the same thrills as discover characters to love between the pages of my books.
For More Information about Reina
www.reinatorres.net
[email protected]
Howls Romance
Howls Romance
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