Chapter 3 #2
"You should be so lucky," Wilde replied. A slightly crooked smile followed, one that I was sure had left plenty of women quaking in their panties.
Laughter that was still stunted by tension trampled through the room.
I hadn't seen my first hero return from the ladies' room.
It seemed she'd witnessed the exchange. She put her hand on the young man's shoulder and gave it an approving squeeze.
"Knew I liked you." She then straightened and released a whistle that would put a tea kettle to shame.
"Everyone, I need your attention." The woman was short in stature but big in presence.
Everyone paused their conversations to listen.
"We'll be out on that job over there for at least a year.
That's a nice, steady paycheck for everyone in this room. "
Applause followed.
She lifted her hands, and the clapping stopped. "That's not the point I was going to make. We're all going to be spending plenty of time here in this diner, so we will treat the staff with respect." The woman turned toward Carol. "Any complaints, bring them straight to me, Doris Richmond."
Carol nodded. "Thank you."
"Now, get those orders in, so we can get back to work." Doris marched back to her seat. Something told me she'd never crawled around as a baby. She probably went straight to marching.
"I'll take a chili burger, extra onions," Sam said and politely handed me the menu. I went around the circle and ended at the guy with the amazing smile.
"Uh, you know, I'll just have a cola, and can you put it in a cup to go?" He handed me his menu.
"How ya going to last the rest of the day on a soft drink?" Sam asked.
"I had a big breakfast," he said.
I finished putting in orders and delivering plates. Nora, Carol and I raced around like we were on turbo-charged skates. Hank was flipping burgers like a pro. One day in, it was obvious Carol was going to have to hire an assistant cook and at least one more server.
Conversations and activity dulled to a low roar as everyone shoveled in their lunches.
My green-eyed hero had taken his soda outside.
He sat on the bus stop bench in front of the diner eating a granola bar and sipping his drink.
I knew exactly what was going on out there because I'd eaten plenty of granola bar meals myself.
My night job had finally given me enough wiggle room to keep the refrigerator stocked and even have some extra for toys and trips to the local amusement park.
Carol was busy in the office writing up purchase orders and posting job openings. Nora was refilling water pitchers. I walked into the kitchen. Hank was sitting on a stool eating a sandwich. His apron was stained with grease and ketchup, and his face was red with perspiration.
"What a day," he said.
"I'll say. I'm going to have to soak my feet tonight. Is there a leftover sandwich?"
"In the refrigerator. Help yourself. The one on the left has no mustard." He winked.
"Thanks." I didn't bother letting him know it wasn't for me.
Carol didn't mind occasionally feeding someone who needed it, but I didn't want to advertise what I was up to.
The man had come to my defense today, even knowing that it might get him in trouble with his coworkers.
I took the sandwich out, wrapped it in brown paper and tucked in a napkin.
"Nora, I'll be right back."
"All right."
The man was scrolling through his phone as I walked up to the bench. He glanced up at me and squinted at the bright sky past my shoulder. He really did have the most amazing emerald green eyes.
"Now, don't be mad, but I know that look. I've worn it many times myself."
"What look?" he asked.
I pointed at the bench, and he motioned for me to sit down.
"It's called hunger." I handed him the paper wrapped sandwich.
He took it reluctantly. "Let me guess, you've been between jobs for weeks, your account is dry and will be until you get your first paycheck on this job.
So, you've got no food. You didn't have a big breakfast, did you? "
He leaned back. "Actually, I did. I'm staying with my brother, and his girlfriend fixed me some eggs and toast." He unwrapped the sandwich. "But yeah, thanks for this. I'm not sure the granola bar was going to hold me, and I want to show the boss I'm up to the job."
"Doris, then, she's the boss?"
"She's second in charge, but she'll be the one mostly at the site. I like her," he said.
"I do too. I'm Rachel, by the way." I pointed out my name tag. "But you knew that. Friends call me Ray, and since you were kind enough to stop Sam from humiliating himself, I feel like you fall into friend category."
"I'm Ronan. Friends call me Ro, so I think our friendship is off to a great start because we're Ray and Ro."
I laughed. "Makes you wonder why parents bother with full, multi-syllable names when everyone just gets shortened down to a nickname."
Ronan took a bite of the sandwich. "Man, that hits the spot."
"Good." I stood up. "I've got to get back in there. The diner hasn't ever seen business like this." I patted my pocket. "I'm hoping for a good year. Nice meeting you, and enjoy the sandwich."
"Yeah, thanks a lot for this." He'd already downed most of it. He was a big enough guy that I was sure one sandwich would do little to fill his belly.
I stopped and looked back. The sun illuminated him like a spotlight. He was certainly a scene stealer. "You're not going to have problems with Sam, are you?"
There was the slightest crease on one side of his face when he smiled. "I can handle him."
"Good. Guess I'll see you around." I could feel his green gaze on me as I walked back to the diner, and for some reason, it made my face warm with a blush. I glanced back at him as I stepped inside. He'd finished the sandwich and had returned to his phone.
"Figures you'd zero right in on my pick of the day," Nora said. She said it airily, but there was a smidgen of anger in her tone.
"I didn't zero in on anyone, Nora. He looked hungry, so I took him a sandwich. Remember my resolution. You're welcome to him." I said it as if he was mine to give, which he clearly was not. A man like that had no shortage of women on his contact list.
Nora giggled. It was a tired sound. "What a day. I can't wait to go home and soak my feet."
"Yep, I think both of us are going to have to buy those clunky, nurse-y shoes that Carol wears. She swears by them."
Nora's face scrunched up. "I'd wear swim fins to work before I showed up in those clunkers." She patted her pocket. "I'm thinking a trip to Hawaii might just be in my future. How about you?"
"Jack's been asking for a bicycle. I think this is going to be a good year, Nora."