Jessie filled a mug with fresh coffee and stood in the back of the kitchen, catching her breath. She had barely slept last night. Sleep eluded her until she searched as thoroughly as possible for a letter from Delfina but nothing turned up. BY the time she got in bed everything was whirling in her brain so fast she had trouble falling asleep.She was, however, determined to start out n the right foot here. She had decided to look at this as a real opportunity, one that came to her when her life was taking a nosedive. And maybe, just maybe, she might like it enough to stay here. She had arrived at the diner promptly at five o'clock, meeting Alton and Rona in the rear parking area. They both looked slightly shocked that she'd actually showed up at this ungodly hour, but she had to show them she was serious. As things stood in her life, she might not have another choice.Oh, she could always find a new apartment in Houston and look for another restaurant to hire her. But she'd be low m
She could tell from the look on his face he was still shell-shocked. The woman with him, a slender strawberry blonde, looked as if she was trying to decide whether to be gracious, friendly, just curious, or pissed off."Uh, Jessie?" He stared up at her. "Is it really you?""Sure is." She was determined to be Miss Bright and cheerful if it killed her. "I'm very surprised to see you here. I didn't think you'd ever leave Houston."He scowled. "I could say the same for you."She shrugged. "Oh, well. You never know when an opportunity will come your way. You folks about ready to order?"Folks? If I said "folks" in my last place of employment, they would have sent me back to culinary school."Jack?" Miss Strawberry Blonde curved her bright red lips into a smile that had little humor in it. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your little friend?"Little friend? Jessie wanted to pour coffee on her head.Jack looked as if he'd rather swallow nails. "Lynne, this is Jessie Coford. She an
Jack had debated with himself about doing this, confronting her, but he wanted to know what the hell she was doing in Fort Mavis. He'd moved halfway across Texas to leave her and the memories behind and here she was, bringing it back like a bad penny. How could she just show up in his life like this when she'd put her fancy career ahead of him and walked away? He didn't know whether to strangle her or kiss her, and that in itself made him mad."Just what the hell are you doing in Fort Mavis?"If he expected her to be intimidated, he was way off the mark. He should have known better. Jessie was a spitfire who wasn't unsettled by anything. At least not that she showed.She glared at him. "I could ask you the same thing.""I have a job here," he growled."And I inherited a business," she snapped.They stared at each other."So you didn't follow me here? Trying to patch things up?" Now that was a stupid thing to say. She was the one who walked away, not him. She didn't even know he
"That apron looks real good on you, honey," Rona teased, "but don't let Bob know you stole one of his."Jessie laughed and looked down at herself. She needed to get some aprons that fit her better, but she'd been so busy she just hadn't had time. This one nearly swallowed her up, but at least it covered her clothes. She always tried to remember to take it off before she went out front to wait on customers. The one time she forgot, her crew and some of her customers had a good laugh at her expense, a laugh that broke the ice all around."I'm thinking of embroidering my name and some pink flowers on it." She grinned. "Think Bob would appreciate that?"Alton laughed, a booming sound. "I'd pay to see it, I'll tell you."Jessie grinned. If anyone had told her three weeks ago she'd be settled into a small town in West Texas owning a place like Delfina's Diner and actually enjoying it, she would have told them to see a shrink. Yet here she was, feeling unexpectedly comfortable and happy i
Jessie stared at the envelope then turned it over. Her name was written on the front in flowing script but nothing on the back. And it was sealed. She noticed her hands shaking and stuffed the envelope in her jeans pocket."Thank you. I appreciate you bringing it by.""Again, my sincerest apologies.""No problem. Listen, I'll send Rona out to take your order, okay?" She wasn't sure she could write two words at the moment."Of course. And if there is anything in there that needs my assistance, please don't hesitate to call.The letter burned a hole in her pocket all day. She was so distracted when Bob came in he told her to please stick to cleanup and stop screwing up the orders. At last the day was over. She locked up and headed home, her head whirling as she wondered what Delfina had thought so important she wrote her a letter. Maybe she'd tell Jessie how they were related.She had no appetite for anything to eat so she took a shower, pulled on her sleep shirt, and fixed herself
"You are so beautiful." His voice was deep and gravelly, thick with hunger.The timbre of it vibrated through her, making every secret place quiver with anticipation. She was naked, spread out on his bed, his fingers manacling her wrists as he danced kisses along the line of her jaw and down the side of her neck. He drew a trail with the tip of his tongue to the hollow of her throat, sucking lightly at the delicate tissue, beneath which her pulses beat so wildly.She wanted to touch him, run her hands over his hard, masculine body, but he shook his head."My treat, darlin'. This is all for you. Just relax and enjoy it."He strung a trail of kisses lightly along her collarbone then down the valley between her breasts. His mouth was hot and urgent on her body. When he closed his mouth over one hard, beaded nipple she felt a shaft of heat directly to her damp pussy. Her inner muscles tightened in response, demanding to feel him inside her.She moaned and tried to lift her body to him
"Now everyone knows what to do, right?" Jessie asked, standing in the kitchen of the diner."Yes, Mom," Alton teased. "We'll be good boys and girls until you get back.""And then we'll be bad," Rona laughed."I know, I know." She brushed a stand of hair away from her face. "You all were doing this just fine before I got here. I'm sorry. It's just my obsessive nature.""It's okay," Alton said. "We're getting used to it."He shocked the hell out of her by giving her a hug. Then, as if realizing what he'd done, he turned back to the grill."You call us when you get there," Rona ordered, "so we know you arrived safe and sound. And let us know when you start back.""Yeah," Alton added. "Because we'd hate to lose our new boss just when we're breaking her in. Never know who we might get next.""I'm bringing back all my recipes," she warned."Oh, you want a cooking contest? Bring it on, girl."Jessie laughed. Every day she felt more and more at home here. She filled her thermos with
"I think it should be bigger," Alton said, looking up at the outside of the restaurant."I think it's just the right size," Diane told him. "Bigger isn't always better.""What do you think, Jessie?" He looked over to where she stood on her crutches next to Jack who had his arm around her.Jessie couldn't take her eyes off it. This was an important day in her life, and the sign was the milestone marker. "I think it should go a little to the left. What about you, Bob?"Bob looked down from where he stood on a ladder. "I think it's the right size and it looks damn fine right here."The crowd gathered on the sidewalk burst out laughing. A number of people had gathered to watch Bob take down the Delfina's Diner sign and now they were waiting for the new one to be hung. Jessie could feel the excitement and expectation and it made her feel good. These people had become her friends as well as customers."Then we're good to go," she told him, grinning. "Put it in place."This new sign w