When he shifted his attention to her, his brown eyes held her own. She noticed that some of his brown hair almost reached his eyebrows, one of which lifted as he waited for her response to a question she must not have heard.
“What can I get you?”
Peering up — and up — at his face, Anna stood as tall as possible and spoke. “You can give me a job.”
He motioned towards the line of customers behind her. “We’re right in the middle of lunch hour.”
“And from what I’m seeing, you could use more help.” She refused to drop her gaze, even though he seemed to try to garner more from her than she was willing to reveal. “If you’ll direct me to your manager. Or the owner…”
A corner of his mouth lifted at the same time a sparkle of amusement lit his eyes. “You’re talking to both.”
Chapter Two
Joel Ash watched as a hint of surprise marched across the small gal’s face before she schooled her features. Telling her he needed no more help wouldn’t be true. But during lunch hour… well, he didn’t have time to deal with it right now.
Instead of leaving, she pierced him with green eyes the same shade as the lettuce in one of the ingredient bins. When he realized she wasn’t going anywhere, he made a quick decision. “Come back when things quiet down.” He expected her to leave.
Instead, she ordered lunch. “I’ll take a burger with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and mustard. A side of your seasoned fries. Oh, and water. Please.”
Joel picked up a plate and fixed her burger as she requested. He added a generous helping of seasoned fries. His diner was famous for the oversized burgers and he doubted the small woman could consume half of one. “Would you like a chocolate chip, sugar, or oatmeal raisin cookie?”
“Cookies come with the meal?” She seemed surprised.
He shrugged “Why not? Adults like dessert, too. I don’t see why most restaurants only give it out to kids.”
“Chocolate chip, please.”
After she paid the cashier, he handed the plate to her along with a napkin and a plastic knife. She took them and her water cup. Joel offered her a parting smile and turned his attention to the next customer in line.
More than once during the lunch rush, Joel noticed the woman sitting at one of the smallest tables he offered. She’d finished maybe half of her burger and wrapped the rest of it up in a napkin. Unlike the majority of his customers, he never saw her playing on her cell phone.
Things finally quieted down. When he had a few minutes, he made his way across the dining area. She faced the window, her attention focused on the park beyond. Her dark-colored hair hung to the middle of her back. Subtle waves caught the light from the window and created blond accents. Her chin rested in her palm. He noted the crease of worry between her brows.
She must’ve heard his approach and became instantly alert, clasping her hands and laying them on the table in front of her. “Your diner makes an excellent burger.”
“Thank you. It’s the shining star of the menu.” His burgers had made his place famous. Well, famous in Quintin, anyway. He slid into the bench seat opposite her and smiled. “You want a job. What brought you into my diner?”
She remained serious, her eyes darting to the front door every time it opened. Was she expecting someone else?
“Your steady stream of customers. And the fact that there’s always a high turnover rate in the food industry.”
That was true. Although he prided himself on keeping employees much longer than normal. But one of his best had quit several days before. “What’s your name?”
“Anastasia Henderson. But call me Anna.” She stuck a hand out. “And you are?”
He grasped her hand in his own and gave it a firm shake, her skin frigid. The temptation to hold her hand longer in order to warm it surprised him. “Joel Ash.”
When he released her hand, she used it to brush some hair behind her ear. “You own this place?”
“Yep.” Joel admired the girl’s spunk. But Anastasia? He swore her name was longer than she was tall. But it fit her. He would have guessed her to be college age because of her appearance, but suspected she might be older than that. “Why do you want to work here?”
She shrugged. “It’s a long story.”
Okay. What did that mean? “And are you wanting short-term or long-term employment?”
Anastasia fingered a section of her hair and absently wrapped it around a finger. “I’m hoping for long-term. But none of us can see the future.”
“That’s true.” Joel studied her a moment. He prided himself on being able to read people and usually got a sense of the person’s character within moments.
But Anastasia here was an enigma. Everything from the way she held herself to how she met him head-on spoke of self-assurance. But there was something else there, hidden right below the surface. A vulnerability that bordered on sadness. Or maybe fear. Was she scared of him? Surely not.
He slipped his right hand into his pocket, his fingers grazing the wooden handle of his pocket knife. Something told Joel to give her the job. He’d learned long ago to trust his instincts. “Hours are nine to six with an hour for lunch and two fifteen-minute breaks. I expect a lot from my employees.”
“I’m a hard worker. That won’t be a problem. Do any meals come with the job?”
Joel expected her to indicate she was joking, but her expression remained deadpan. “Are you negotiating?” Her chin rose slightly. “I’ll throw in a burger and fries at lunch.”
She was good. “Deal.”
“You’re something else.” Joel shook his head and swallowed back his amusement. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“You won’t.” Her eyes were serious as they held his own. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Joel put his palms on the table and pushed himself up. “Let me go grab paperwork for you to fill out and then we’ll go over a few things.”
When he returned, she was watching out the window again. She slowly turned her attention to him and reached for the papers.
“I’ll be back when you’ve got those filled out.”
Anastasia wrote on the white sheets in front of her. Joel kept plenty busy getting things caught up after the lunch rush. His gaze flitted towards the woman as she attacked the paperwork with determination.
When she finished, he rejoined her and told her she’d be working Tuesday through Saturday. The diner closed for business Sunday and Monday.
“That sounds great.” Anastasia folded her hands and rested them on the table. “For my lunch and breaks, I’ll need to do quick errands in the area. But I’ll be back before my time is up.” She paused. “Are you serious about the burger and fries?”
“You get one free meal each shift. But if I catch you abusing it, the privilege will be revoked.” Her brows rose. “It’s happened before, as crazy as that sounds.”
“What was someone doing? Sneaking fries all day?”
“More like taking a bag full of burgers home in the evening.”
“Yikes. Yeah, that’s not cool.” Anastasia offered him a ghost of a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You won’t have to worry about that. One burger’s good enough for me.” She picked up the leftovers she’d wrapped from lunch.
“I’ll hold you to it.” Joel glanced through the paperwork and noticed that one line remained blank. “You forgot to put your address on here.”
Anastasia chewed on her bottom lip. “I just got into town. I don’t have a permanent address yet. As soon as I do, I’ll update you.”
He wanted to ask what hotel she was staying in but bit his tongue. He had her cell phone number, and that was all he needed for now.
They were silent a moment before Anastasia cleared her throat. “When do I start?”
“Be here tomorrow morning. Nine o’clock sharp.”
She extended her hand to him. “I’ll see you then.”
This time, when his hand closed over her much smaller one, energy traveled
from there, up his arm, and straight to his heart.
He only nodded once and watched as she left his diner. Another glance at the paperwork confirmed what he’d suspected: She was twenty-three, four years younger than himself. The only thing she’d listed under past employment was secretary. Nothing specific.
Confident in his decision to hire the woman, he was as certain that there was a lot more to Anastasia Henderson than met the eye.
Joel glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost one-thirty. He grabbed a waiting to-go box, jogged to his car, and drove to the family hair salon a couple miles away.
Brooke was sitting on the curb out front when he arrived. She stood and approached him. “I was wondering if you weren’t coming by. I’m starving.”
Joel handed the box to his friend. “Sorry I’m late. I had someone come in asking about a job. Since Sam quit last week, I’ve been short-handed.” Joel leaned against a pole supporting the awning above the sidewalk. “I came over as soon as I hired her.”
Brooke swallowed the fry she was eating. “Her? Is she pretty?”
“Are you serious?” Brooke was forever trying to set him up on a date with someone. No matter who it was. “My employees are off limits.” He was only half joking.
“I know. Relax.” She offered him a fry and he declined with a shake of his head. “I called the mechanic and my car should be ready by the end of the day. Thanks for bringing lunch out.”
“You’re welcome. Is Chess still planning on picking you up and taking you to get it?”
“Yes. I’m sure glad it was a simple fix.”
Joel was, too. He, Brooke, and Chess were all friends who bought a house together. Being roommates came in especially handy during instances like this when one of them needed help.
Brooke was watching him, a playful half-smile on her face. “Come on, Joel. Is she pretty? You shouldn’t discount her just because she’s an employee.” Her eyes remained on Joel as she took a large bite out of her burger.
Joel pictured the way Anastasia appeared as she gazed out his diner window. He could still see the moment she turned those green eyes on him. “Yeah, she’s pretty.”
“You should ask her out.”
“No.” Dating an employee was never a good idea. Besides, he had enough on his plate right now without adding to it. He shoved thoughts of his parents from his mind. After spending his teen years in the foster care system, Joel grew to appreciate the times in his life when things were going smoothly. Like now. Why fix what wasn’t broken?
As beautiful as Anastasia might be, the last thing he needed was to throw a wrench in the works.
~
Liam eyed Anna’s Toyota. He delivered a hard kick to the bumper. He’d been driving down Oak Street when he spotted her vehicle in a lot of used cars for sale. It was a stroke of dumb luck, but he’d take it.
The car dealer held up a hand. “Please, sir. Easy.”
“Right, right. Well, the woman who sold this vehicle to you had no right to do so. She’s my little sister and she’s running away. I’m worried for her health. Her life.” Liam wiped at the corner of his eye, feigning tears. “I’m trying to locate her. I need to bring her home and get her the help she needs.”
The dealer’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I gave her a fair trade-in price.”
Liam stilled. “She traded this vehicle in? For what? If you give me the description and license plate number, I can track her down.”
“Of course.” The dealer motioned Liam to follow him. “She paid in cash. I’m not sure how much information I have. But if you’ll come with me, I’ll check the computer.”
“I appreciate that.” Liam tapped his chin with a knuckle as anticipation filled him. This was the first lead he’d had since she disappeared. You can run, Anna. But I will find you.
~
Epic snatched the half of a hamburger out of the air, chewed twice, and swallowed. Big, brown eyes watched her and his massive tail swooped back and forth.
“I told you I’d get a job today, boy.” Anna tossed him a cold fry. “We’ll have one hot meal every day. Give me a month, and we’ll find somewhere else to live. We can do this for a month, can’t we?”
Epic’s eyes followed the fries as she lobbed them into the air one by one. When the last fry disappeared, he moved to sit at her feet by a picnic table in the park.
Anna shifted until her back rested against the edge of the table. Epic closed his eyes and licked his chops. Content without a worry in the world.
She wondered if she’d ever feel that way again. And when she did, how would she know it was true? Lasting? She’d been fooled before.
Anna thought back to the first time she’d met Liam. It seemed like a lifetime ago. At twenty, she’d been on her own for three years after her grandparents died. She bounced from part-time job to part-time job and she didn’t always have a place to stay.
She and Liam had both been waiting at the same bus stop when they began to talk. He was starting up an advertising agency and claimed she had the perfect phone voice. He offered her a job as the secretary on the spot and she couldn’t turn it down. Not when work had been inconsistent at best.
Anna had thanked her lucky stars. It’d gotten her enough money to get a tiny apartment and the job was stable. She couldn’t have asked for more. Liam might’ve been demanding as an employer but she hadn’t complained.
And it worked well for two years. That’s when Liam showed an interest in her that went beyond that of an employee. He’d always been the flattering type and when he turned his charm on her, she fell for it. She frowned. Thinking back, she couldn’t believe how clueless she’d been.
Anna was thankful for this new job at the diner. But it didn’t mean she’d trust her boss or anyone else further than she could throw them. Things would be simpler that way. Safer.
She and Epic spent their evening soaking in the last of the sun before it set and left them going inside the van for the night.
Anna hadn’t been asleep long before the dream began.
Flames licked the walls of the building, consuming everything they touched. Anna backed away. Her hand searched for the doorknob she knew was right behind her. Becoming frantic, she turned to find nothing but solid wall.
Heat from the flames singed her arms as they closed in. Precious oxygen disappeared and smoke choked her lungs.
All the while, Liam watched from a distance, a sneer stretching his mouth unnaturally wide.
Anna jolted upright, the comforter slipping off her body and landing on top of Epic. Despite the cold air, sweat made her clothing cling to her skin. She shivered and stamped down any memory of the dream — the same dream that had haunted her since she left Utah.
Epic rested his chin on her hand and whined.
“I’m okay, buddy.” She lay on the bench seat again, her cheek against Epic’s warm head. He bathed her hand with his large, warm tongue.
Anna purposefully slowed her breathing and tried to relax. She focused on memories of her grandparents. The way her grandpa would light his tobacco pipe as he set a chessboard up for them to play. The hours she spent with her grandma in the kitchen baking and chatting about their day.
They’d raised her since she was a toddler. They’d made her childhood a happy one.
Then Grandpa passed when she was fifteen, and Grandma two years later.
She had no other family left. And rather than go into the foster care system for a year, she’d set out on her own.
That seemed like a lifetime ago now.
“I wish you were here. I miss you both.”
“Give it to God, Anna. He’ll see you through.”
Grandma always had such faith. Anna had lost sight of that once Liam came into her life. She’d put her trust in a man who seemed to be the answer to all of her problems.
Anna concentrated on the nights when she was a child and her grandparents would listen as she said her prayers before bed. She’d gone to sleep safe. Loved.<
br />
For the first time in years, Anna let a silent prayer flow from her heart. She thanked God for her new job and asked for safety until she drifted off to sleep once more.
Chapter Three
Joel stepped through the front door of his home. Talk about a long day. He’d hired Anastasia, taken lunch to Brooke, then come back to find the mail had arrived with information he’d been waiting on.
A building had opened in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area about forty minutes from Quintin. After multiple nudgings from customers and his friends, Joel was considering opening a second diner location.
If it did half as well as this one, Joel would see a sizable increase in revenue.
It would also mean he’d be torn between the two locations. He liked to connect with his employees and customers. He didn’t see how he could do either effectively if he was bouncing back and forth.
Joel had an appointment to tour the site on Saturday and hopefully that would help in the decision-making process.
The sounds of laughter filtered in from the kitchen. He inhaled, the smell of chicken filling the air. Every Tuesday, they got takeout from a little place in town. Home-style chicken strips with sides of mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and buttered corn. Joel’s stomach growled simply thinking about it.
The moment he entered the kitchen, the faces of his friends — his family — brought out a smile.
Brooke spotted him and handed him a plate. He didn’t hesitate to fill it. He often ate a burger at the diner. A change in food was always welcome.
Brooke spooned beans and corn onto a plate with her chicken. She sat down at the rectangular table. “It’s unusual to see you when the food’s still warm, Joel.”
Her comment would’ve annoyed him except for the humor sparkling in her eyes. She pushed her shoulder-length brown hair back and poured a generous amount of white gravy over her potatoes.
Safe In His Arms (Life Unexpected Book 1) Page 2