Chapter 1 #2
“I’ll handle it.” Charlotte and Misty are part of the late shift that make the donuts. “Did Will tell you we’re low on ground beef for dinner?”
Her head whips around. “I ordered it.”
“The truck didn’t show up last night.”
“Well shit,” she says, making a beeline for the cooler to see what we have. “Nobody said anything.”
“Did he mention there’s an issue with the back grill?”
Her expression is pure exasperation. “No, he did not. I’ll take care of it.”
“Go tear him a new one,” I chuckle. “And let me know if the beef doesn’t show by four. I’ll swing by the store to get enough for the dinner rush.”
While she goes to remind Will that she’s the new manager and to quit going over her head, I slip into the new addition I’ve had built.
It was surprising how quickly it was completed.
For years, I tried to convince Mom to add specialty coffees to our menu.
We’re a small town with no chain coffee shops.
The only coffee place in town is run by an old couple who plan to retire and close it by the end of the year.
It was a gamble but instead of trying to add a few coffee options to our menu, I decided to add on a coffee house.
We’ve always served donuts but now instead of them being tucked away into a small corner case, they’ll be moved to this nice space along with the full coffee bar.
We’ll be the only place in town offering flavored iced and frozen coffees.
I’m confident it’ll do well, especially with the younger crowd.
The furniture has already been delivered.
The tables, wooden chairs, bar stools, and couches wait in a storage trailer behind the restaurant.
My plan is to open by next week, but we’ll see.
Camille is on the phone with our supplier when I return to the office to grab the deposit that needs to be dropped off at the bank.
“And I need you to understand that if we don’t have it here by three, you’re going to have a problem with me. Do you want a problem with me, Henry?”
Ethan hovers nearby, his eyebrows rising at the severity of her tone. “I think I’m in love.”
A snort of laughter leaps out of me. Don’t get me wrong, I get it. Camille is gorgeous. She also just turned forty, got divorced, and wouldn’t give his little twenty-year-old self a second look. She flashes me a grin as I pick up the bank bag and head out.
By the time I return with my painting supplies, our late delivery truck has shown up, and a maintenance guy has been called to fix the grill.
Diana is happy to pick up an extra shift tonight when I ask her.
Which means I’m free to focus on the new addition.
I’ll get everything taped off and the drop cloths down.
The bell above the door tinkles and the voice that calls my name has me rolling my eyes before I turn around.
“There you are! Austin’s been trying to call you.” Grady Matheson, the judge executive of our county, announces.
“I know. I watched it ring.” A stifled laugh comes from another customer and Grady’s eyes narrow.
“He’s willing to go higher. The least you can do is speak to him.” He hefts himself onto one of the chairs. His considerable gut won’t allow a booth seat.
The offense in his tone is satisfying. If there’s one thing a Matheson hates, it’s being told no.
Considering the judge executive, town mayor, and chief of police all share that surname, they tend to get what they want.
The family owns a good chunk of the town but it’s never enough.
Grady’s son, Austin, tried to get Mom to sell the diner to him before, and she refused.
Ever since she died, they’ve been after me to sell. It’s not happening.
“I’ve made it clear that Lucky’s is not for sale.
There’s no reason for any further discussion.
” I can feel all the eyes on me as my customers watch the exchange end when I walk away.
Most of these people wouldn’t dare speak to any Matheson in such a dismissive manner and you can’t blame them.
Even if you ignore the fact they can pretty much lock up whoever they want, they also have control over a lot of the jobs in town.
Call me stubborn, but I’m not kissing anybody’s ass. Least of all some ignorant assholes drunk on the power of running a town of twenty-thousand people. I have work to do.
“Wow, this place looks great!” Calli calls, stepping through the door to admire the new coffee shop. “You’ve been busy.”
Busy is an understatement, but it’s worth it. The whole place is painted, and most of the equipment has been installed. “Thanks. I’m trying to get it open before the Harvest Fest since it’s being held right on our street this year. What are you up to?”
“Just waiting for my pick-up order. Arlow ordered lunch for everyone. I have too much to do to prepare for tonight to worry about cooking.”
Arlow’s birthday party is tonight, and his family is visiting them for a while. “How’s it going so far?” I ask, and she joins me at the counter, leaning her elbows on it.
“It’s chaos. Arlow’s parents are staying in our guest room while his sister and her kids stay in our cabin. Arlow childproofed it but they’re already putting that to the test.”
“How old are they again?”
“Two year old twins. They’re adorable, but oh my god, I don’t know how Alicia does it. They’re little tyrannical tornadoes.”
“You didn’t know what you were getting into, did you?” Calli is the one who told Arlow they should invite them to come for a long visit when she found out his sister’s husband would be out of the country for a work opportunity.
I pull a couple of stools out for us, and she sits beside me. “No, but I’m glad they came. Arlow hardly sees them, and they need to make up for lost time. I want to get to know them all better too.”
“They’re staying for what, two months?”
“That’s the plan. Until right after Christmas.”
We’re interrupted when my phone beeps with a text.
Lee
Hey beautiful, do you want a ride tonight?
“It’s Lee.” I’m not aware of the smile that’s grown on my lips until Calli raises an eyebrow at me. “He’s asking if I want a ride.” I can’t resist messing with him.
Me
What a nice offer. Maybe. Do you need to be ridden?
His response is instant.
Lee
Keep teasing me and I’m going to remind you how fast you come when I stop being nice.
Damn. I wouldn’t say no to a reminder.
Calli regards me when I look up from the phone. “Is something going on between you again?” Her question is curious, not judgmental.
“He kissed me,” I confess with a shrug. “I might bring him home tonight. I could use some stress relief.” I’m not riding with him to the party, though.
She bites her bottom lip and hesitates to reply.
“You don’t think I should? Are you worried things will get messy with him being Arlow’s friend?”
“No, I’m not saying you shouldn’t. Just be careful. I know a lot of men say they don’t do relationships or whatever, but Lee means it. It’s been seven years since he lost his wife, and he hasn’t been serious with anyone since.”
This isn’t news to me. I’m not sure of the details and Calli isn’t either. All we know is that Lee’s wife was murdered and he doesn’t talk about it. “I’m not interested in anything serious. I told you I’m done with relationships and that hasn’t changed.”
Calli leans her elbow on the counter and props her head on her hand.
“I know, but I worry that you’re vulnerable right now after such a tough year.
That shit with Kyle and Sandra, then losing your mom so suddenly.
If he hurts you after all that, I’ll have to kill him.
” She rolls her eyes. “Then there’s the whole digging a grave to bury him.
He’s not a little guy if you haven’t noticed. ”
“You’re overlooking the obvious. He’d totally fit in that dry well on the back of the property.”
“Possibly. It’s just a lot of hassle when I’m already busy, you know?”
Everyone should have a friend as good as her. I lean over to give her a hug. “Don’t worry, he isn’t even my type.”
“I know, you like the soft guys,” she says. “And he isn’t one to be told what to do, just like you.”
“We’d tear each other apart,” I agree as Nina steps into the doorway to tell Calli her order is ready.
Calli gets to her feet. “Okay, I should go. See you tonight.”
She has nothing to worry about. I’m not interested in having any man to deal with right now. I have plenty to focus on with my business. That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a night of being ravaged by a beast of a man who can throw me around like a rag doll.
I reply to his text before getting back to work.
Me
I’ll drive myself, thanks. Also, if I was teasing you, I’d admit that I won’t be wearing panties.
Without checking to see if he answers, I tuck my phone in my pocket and get back to work. Tonight’s going to be fun.