by Ellie Hall
Betty had technically been waiting tables at Coconut Cove Café longer than Billie had been alive—first while her kids were in school to help with the bills and later because she enjoyed the social aspect. She always joked that she wasn’t going to work, but to entertain her best friends. She slipped seamlessly into the morning routine.
The two women worked in companionable silence in an almost choreographed dance as they swept from the waitstaff station to the tables, to the counter to the cook’s window.
When the morning rush started to slow, Betty poured Billie a glass of coconut lemonade and broke them each off a piece of Bimini bread then added a few dabs of vanilla-cinnamon infused butter to the still-warm bread.
It melted in Billie’s mouth as she took a much-needed bite. She’d never tire of its subtle coconut sweetness and pillowy, soft center. The smell and taste always brought her home—not that she often left. Not with her responsibilities or financial situation.
The Coconut Cove Café was a Blue Bay Beach institution and the thought of something happening to it nearly caused Billie to want to crawl under a mangrove tree, but instead of telling Betty, she asked about her weekend spent at an antique car show with her husband Gus. There were a lot of classic cars in town, including Billie’s own Chevy, which was passed to her from her father.
“Gus is thinking of starting a classic car club with an annual show here in Blue Bay Beach. We could have a barbecue, Coco’s Cones could set up for ice cream, and if you’re up for it, Coconut Cove Café could have a refreshments table and sponsor a gift card for a raffle.” Betty twirled her straw in the coconut lemonade.
“That’s a cool idea. I think it would go over well. I’m surprised no one has thought of it before,” Billie said.
“It’s a lot of work to organize, but Gus has something of an apprentice now. It was his suggestion and he offered to help with it. The young man comes over a few times a week and Gus teaches him how to fix old cars—our garage has been hopping lately. Gus always says, ‘They don’t make ‘em like they used to.’”
“He’s right about that. It’s a good, practical skill to understand auto mechanics.” Billie took a sip of the coconut lemonade.
Betty grinned wide. “He seems to be very good with his hands, is around your age, and...”
Billie flashed the ring on her right hand.
“Oh, right. You’re fake engaged.”
“I’m not looking for a relationship.” Billie didn’t have time for romance—except on Sunday nights when she settled in with a rom-com or sweet romance special on TV.
“Because you’re married to this place. I know, I know,” Betty joked.
The trickle started for the lunch rush and they both got back to work even though neither had sat down while chatting, but had organized supplies and restocked behind the counter.
Billie found herself tired and preoccupied, and had a case of the butterfingers. Sunday, when she could relax, couldn’t come soon enough.
“You okay, dear?” Betty asked after they nearly collided.
“Oh, me? I’m fine.” Billie picked up a knife that had slid off the plate she’d cleared.
“You sure?” Betty lifted an eyebrow.
Billie nodded.
However, Betty was right to be concerned. Billie prided herself on rarely being out of sorts.
“Well good, because today is your day.” Betty waggled her eyebrows.
Today was not Billie’s day, but she didn’t want to upset Betty so she kept why she felt slightly less than fine to herself—though Betty had certainly heard about the rumors about the resort. Billie had to be strong and solid for everyone and not let them think she was worried or saw the resort as a real threat.
“It’s your turn,” Betty prodded.
“My day? My turn?” Billie asked not understanding—maybe she missed something and was much more tired than she thought.
Just then, Eisley appeared with a bright smile and Coco, her adopted daughter, on her hip. “Hey, everyone. We lost Bunny.” Eisley went on to describe the little stuffed animal Coco usually had with her everywhere she went.
“I haven’t seen it, but I do have a big hug for Miss Coco.” Betty gathered the adorable little girl in her arms and sang her a silly nursery rhyme. Coco was practically the Coconut Cove Café mascot. Everyone adored her.
“While we’re here, let’s get something to eat, huh, Coco?” She turned to the others. “Don’t tell Ford, but we’ve kind of been living on ice cream.” Eisley went on to talk about the success of her ice cream business called Coco’s Cones and how they’d started selling online using a delivery service that mailed the ice cream in insulated containers so it would remain frozen.
They settled at a table right by the counter and Billie brought them a small cutting board with a slab of Bimini bread on top. Her father, Frank Fisher, made the cutting boards himself to perfectly fit the small loaves of bread brought to each table after the customers placed their order. There was even a little divot to set the pats of butter and a holder for the knife.
It was little touches like that, which brought the customers back, but it seemed things had slowed recently or that overhead had increased and Billie was spending more. Since her meeting with the accountant, she’d hardly had a chance to look at the books and really figure out where the leaks and fires were in her business. She’d hardly had a chance to stop and catch her breath.
As she poured waters for Eisley and her daughter, Billie closed her eyes a moment. She had hardly had any sleep. When someone brushed behind her, she startled.
“Just here for my check. Sorry to surprise you. I forgot it last week.” Claudia appeared and was all smiles.
Claudia routinely forgot her check, her apron, and would likely forget her head if it wasn’t attached—she supposed that’s what happened after falling in love. Not that Billie wanted or even had time for that. No, she was married to her business and that was the way it would stay. But she loved that even her employees stopped in on their days off.
Betty smirked as Claudia reappeared from the back office carrying the envelope containing her paltry earnings. Most of the women worked part-time and none of them needed to from a financial standpoint—none of them except Billie.
Betty and Gus were comfortable with their retirement. Ford, Eisley’s husband came into a fortune after the grandfather he’d never known had passed away. Claudia and Carter were successful musicians—especially Carter as the rock star formerly known as Wilde. Fortunately, she’d tamed his wild ways. They weren’t married but were deeply in love. Billie imagined they’d soon be tying the knot. Mostly, Carter was concerned about the attention from the press and didn’t want to bring that into their lives.
“Good. You’re all here,” Betty said. “This is perfect. It’s Billie’s turn today.”
She shook her head, still not clear about what Betty meant.
“You have to date the next guy you wait on,” Betty clarified.
The space between Billie’s eyebrows creased as she recalled the batty idea Betty had come up with to initiate the new hires earlier in the summer. She’d dared them to date the next guy they waited on. Betty was a romantic and wanted to see everyone happily coupled if not engaged or married.
“That’s not fair. I don’t need to be initiated. I own the place.” Billie shook her head, feeling slightly childish, but the whole idea was foolish.
What if she waited on someone from out of town, someone who was married, or any number of other dreadful possibilities. She knew what could happen. Betty would just move on to the next eligible customer. If nothing else, Betty was persistent. She supposed her fifty years of marriage to Gus didn’t happen by accident.
“Think of it as a way to demonstrate to your employees that you’re a team player.” Betty shook her hands like she held pom-poms.
“I am a team player—I give you days off when you need them,” she started to protest.
“You have to ask the next guy that comes in on a da
te.” Betty wagged her finger.
Keep Reading!
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Also by Ellie Hall
The Only Us Sweet Billionaire Series
All I Want for Christmas Novella (Book .5)
Only a Kiss with a Billionaire (Book 1)
Only a Night with a Billionaire (Book 2)
Only Forever with a Billionaire (Book 3)
Only Love with a Billionaire (Book 4)
Only a Date with a Billionaire (Bonus Book)
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The Rich & Rugged, the Hawkins Brothers Clean Romance Series
Second Chance with a Firefighter (Book 1)
Wedding Day with a Rancher (Book 2)
Resort Getaway with a Bodyguard (Book 3)
Falling in love with a Police Officer (Book 4)
Christmas with a Mountain Man (Book 5)
♥
The Blue Bay Beach Reads Romance Series
Summer with a Marine (Book 1)
Summer with a Rock Star (Book 2)
Summer with a Billionaire (Book 3)
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Acknowledgments
This summer series of beach reads have been incredibly fun to write. From the setting (a combination of Florida towns I’ve spent time in) to the characters (a few of the best qualities of people I know or admire) to the beach, food, and new romance, I can’t get enough! I hope you feel the same way. Thank you for reading.
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About the Author
Ellie Hall loves puppies, books, and the ocean. She writes sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels. Oh, and she loves tea in the morning and pizza for dinner. She believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God's grace.
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P.S. If you have a moment, and enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a starred and written review so other readers can find it too.
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