Just Be My Love (Saving Sandy series, #1)

by Valentina Turner

  “Excuse me?”

  Hot color stained his cheeks when he realized what he just said. He forced his gaze from the stunning waitress and cleared his throat.

  “I beg your pardon. I want a refill,” he nodded at his empty cup.

  The waitress whose name tag read “Annie,” nodded with a twinkle in her eyes.

  Seth cursed himself for losing control. He was known for his iron-clad ability not to let situations get to him. Thus, he couldn’t understand why he was reacting this way to the waitress.

  Many beautiful women had come his way, but none had ever made him lose focus like this. Truth be told, his ex was even more beautiful than her. But something drew him to her that he couldn’t understand.

  Was it because he sensed innocence in her?

  His eyes drifted to her again. He figured she was about five foot five. The apron and the simple dress she had on couldn’t hide her curves and the graceful way she carried herself.

  Her porcelain skin glowed and her rosebud lips spread in a smile as she talked to a customer. He got a knock in his solar plexus when she lifted her head and their eyes met again.

  The atmosphere around him changed. It became so charged that he wouldn’t be surprised if the poles outside sparked from the intense current in the diner.

  “Here you are,” the waitress said cheerfully as she poured him a cup of coffee.

  A grimace spanned across his face as the woman interrupted the highly-charged moment.

  Seth dragged his gaze from Sandy as she continued interacting with the customers. Thrills ran though his body as he wondered why he was so enamored of her.

  True, he hadn’t been with a woman in ages, but he didn’t think it was just sex with Sandy. He wanted to know everything about her.

  Yes, he wanted to know what it felt like taking her to bed, but he also wanted to take her to the park, go on a picnic with her and just talk to her.

  Dammit!

  Seth signaled to the waitress who attended to him earlier. He asked for his bill. It would be crazy of him to remain there gawking at the waitress all morning.

  “The omelet wasn’t to your liking?” the waitress asked with worry in her voice.

  He offered her a bright smile to dispel her apprehension.

  “It was delicious. My compliments to the cook. However, I’m satisfied,” he quietly explained.

  The waitress smiled and nodded.

  Seth was careful to follow another route in the diner to the cashier. He didn’t want to accidentally brush against the gorgeous waitress, because he feared what he might do. He wouldn’t be surprised if he took her in his arms and placed his lips on her rosy ones.

  Seth figured he would ruin everything if he dared tried that. If she didn’t grace his face with a slap, she would think that all he wanted from her was sex. And that was far from the truth.

  She would have gotten a lot of propositions from men. He wasn’t blind to the way other men in the diner had looked appreciatively at her. A man would be blind not to notice her. He reckoned that even eunuchs would feel something at the sight of her.

  It wasn’t just her beauty. There was something about her that made him yearn to be with her.

  Seth threw one last look in her direction before he left the diner. She was standing at the counter pouring coffee into the cup of one of the customers there. He strode out of the place and climbed into his brother’s truck.

  Thoughts of the waitress filled his mind as he drove along the lonely interstate to his brother’s ranch.

  Come what may, she will be mine.

  Chapter Three

  The sound of the ringing phone jolted Sandy from her preoccupation with the painting before her. She knew that only one person would call her at this time of the night. It was almost 10 p.m.

  Jules was the only person she could call a true friend in the world. They usually spoke for hours over the phone. Sandy always enjoyed their discussions, but at the moment, she wished that she could be left alone to continue ogling the picture she had painted.

  Sighing, she wiped her paint-stained hands on the towel beside her and rose from the stool to regard the picture with appreciative eyes.

  All day, the image of the handsome stranger had plagued her. She had itched to return home so that she could capture the perfection of his face on canvas.

  Her eyes took on the picture with a critical eye. The jet-black hair, deep-set blue eyes, slightly pointed nose, firm lips and strong jaw stared back at her.

  Yes, she had done her best in bringing the man to life on paper. And she could spend all day staring at him and imagining being with him.

  Thoughts of him had penetrated her mind all day. Twice she had mixed up her orders and ended up burning the fries when Cook took a break.

  Aunt Karen had repeatedly asked her if she was all right. Blushing, she had nodded and quickly walked away to join the other waitresses in cleaning up.

  She had kissed her aunt goodnight before riding her bicycle through the empty streets. As she cycled on slowly to her house, she saw the house she had lived in for years. She had chosen not to look in that direction when she rode to the diner that morning and most mornings.

  She had also made it a point of duty never to glance in its direction when returning from the diner. The house held memories she would never forget. To see it still standing there was an injustice to her.

  If it wasn’t for the fact that she would be arrested for arson, she would have burned the place down.

  Stop having such thoughts, Sandy. You’ll put yourself into depression again.

  Sandy shook her head. Such thoughts would indeed invite the nightmares that had disturbed her sleep since she came back to Plyrock.

  Her phone stopped ringing and she sighed. Still wiping her hands on the towel, she walked out of the spare room which served as her studio.

  She retrieved her phone from the back pocket of her jeans. A smile touched her lips when she saw that it was indeed Jules who had called.

  Strolling into the kitchen, she dialed her friend’s number, opened her refrigerator and brought out a can of soda. Flipping it open, she smiled when Jules answered the call.

  “I thought you were asleep,” Jules said over the phone.

  “No. I was painting,” Sandy replied and took a gulp from her drink.

  “Really? That’s great. You haven’t done that in a while. What did you paint? Please take a picture and send it to me,” Jules requested with excitement.

  Sandy choked on her drink. She coughed for some seconds then took a healthy gulp from her soda.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. My soda went down the wrong way,” Sandy replied with a frown on her face.

  She didn’t want Jules seeing her stranger’s face. He was hers alone to gawk at. Jules, who was more experienced in the art of dating, might want to drool over him, too.

  Now I’m being childish.

  “I ... er ... I drew the face of ... er ... a man,” she confessed with a wry smile.

  “What?”

  Sandy’s smile widened.

  “Who is he? Tell me everything!”

  Sandy laughed and proceeded to tell her eager friend all about the handsome hunk of a guy who patronized the diner that day.

  “Oh, my God, and you didn’t talk to him? You didn’t take his number? You didn’t give him yours?”

  Her friend giggled. “Oh, please don’t start. I just met him.”

  “Exactly! You don’t know if he’ll be back. You should have at least written your number on his bill or on his extra napkins.”

  Sandy laughed like she hadn’t done in a while. “You’re incorrigible!”

  “No, I’m realistic. Go to that diner tomorrow and ask everyone if they know anything about him. Ask your aunt and all your staff. Do not rest until you find him,” Jules instructed with utmost seriousness.

  “I will do no such thing. Besides, he might just be passing through town. If he isn’t, then I figure he might be back
tomorrow.”

  “He certainly will. You’re drop-dead gorgeous, I tell you, even though you refuse to acknowledge it.”

  Sandy cringed as she recalled why she didn’t like drawing attention to herself. Looking ordinary suited her.

  “Well, fingers crossed,” she simply said.

  Her thoughts ran to the man again as she wondered where he was and what he was doing at that moment. Was he married? She hadn’t seen a ring on his finger, but not everyone wore those. Was he in a serious relationship?

  Why am I asking myself all these questions? The answers shouldn’t matter to me.

  Sandy belatedly realized that her friend was still talking. She laughed as Jules continued giving her pointers on how to snag the handsome man.

  She shook her head as her friend suggested outrageous things to get the man to notice her. Before she rang off, Jules made her take a picture of her painting and send it to her.

  He’s smoking hot! You should totally date him.

  Sandy laughed and trudged to her bedroom. Jules would definitely think so. Her friend dated only handsome men. Even though they kept breaking her heart, she still carried on, hoping that someday, she would find Mr. Right.

  Sandy took a quick shower and prepared herself for bed. The image of the handsome stranger with amusement in his eyes danced before her. She had sworn off men, but for some reason she couldn’t understand, she wished he would visit the diner again the following day.

  The next morning, Sandy dressed with care. Not that she was much of a dresser, but she didn’t want to look drab to the man. She put on one of her simple sheath dresses and gazed at herself in the mirror. She loved the way the black fabric skimmed over her figure.

  Seconds later, she yanked the dress off her body. After her decision not to have anything to do with the man, she couldn’t believe that she had tried looking good for him.

  Reciting to herself why she had to stay away from him and every other man out there, she pulled out a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt. This was all he was going to get if he returned to the diner.

  Not that she thought he would. She figured that he might just be passing through their small town. They usually had such visitors at the diner. Some of them even made passes at her.

  Sandy went on with her morning routine of having breakfast in front of the television and then talking to Jules. But unlike the previous day, she kept her eyes on the clock.

  Jules raved on about the handsome stranger but Sandy didn’t say a word to encourage her. Exasperated, Jules gave up and wished her a nice day.

  Sandy let herself out of her house. It was barely 7 a.m, yet the sun was already hanging brightly in the sky. She stood for a moment to listen to the sound of birds singing in a tree nearby.

  The sun bathed her with its warmth as she rode down the sleepy town to the diner.

  “I made it.” She grinned at her aunt who smiled at her and then gave her a hug. Then she left for her chemotherapy session. Sandy had stopped asking to go with her, because she figured that her aunt didn’t want her to know how sick she was. Besides, her aunt typically went with her caregiver and another cancer patient.

  Annie and Mary were placing menus on the table when she entered the diner. The looks both women gave her had Sandy’s brows rising. Wry smiles also marked their lips.

  “What?”

  Annie shrugged and said, “Nothing.”

  Mary giggled.

  Sandy drew closer and placed her arms akimbo. “Please tell me what’s going on.”

  “There was a customer who couldn’t take his eyes off you yesterday. When I asked him what he wanted after signaling for a waitress, he said he wanted you.”

  Annie and Mary were engulfed in fits of giggles while Sandy’s face turned a rosy hue.

  “Oh? Sandy has a secret admirer?” Aunt Karen came into the place with a bright smile on her face.

  Her niece hastily shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

  Mary huffed. “She sure does. The man almost peeled the skin off her body with his eyes the previous day. Annie and I have placed bets on him returning to the diner today.”

  Sandy tried to look stern but she couldn’t. Hilarity twinkled in her eyes. It was so typical of Annie and Mary to place bets on everything. The two women enjoyed a healthy competition. They even went as far as placing bets on who got the most tips in a day.

  They had worked at the diner for as far back as she could remember. Sandy could remember when they were teenagers, fresh out of high school when they started working there. But now, they were all grown up.

  Annie was married with a son, while Mary was engaged. They had wept as if they would never stop when her mother died. Sandy had quickly told them, along with the cook and Peter, that their jobs were secure for as long as they wanted to work there.

  They had told her they had nowhere else to go, and Sandy had been grateful to have them. They were one big happy family. Well, she’d like to think so.

  Annie added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “I think I saw you staring at him as well.”

  Twin red spots stained her cheeks. “I did no such thing!”

  Her aunt laughed and put an arm around her. “There’s no harm in admiring a man. After all, you’re old enough to have one in your life.” A frown scrunched her aunt’s brows. “Not that I’ve ever seen you with one.”

  Sandy sighed with relief when the door opened and Peter came in with their first customer for the day. Her aunt gave her a knowing look and Sandy laughed.

  Sandy discovered with annoyance during the course of the day that every time the bell jiggled above the door, her heart would jump. Her eyes kept darting to the door in expectation of the stranger.

  Her face turned crimson when she caught Annie and Mary’s looks. Forcing away thoughts of the man from her mind, she focused on her work. She struggled not to look at the door every time it opened, though.

  When he didn’t show up by mid-morning, disappointment rushed through her body. Possibly he had been passing through town and had decided to stop for breakfast.

  Sandy let out a sigh. It was all good anyway. From the way she had responded to him, she surmised that it was a good thing that he didn’t return. She would have made an utter fool of herself over him despite her resolve to keep men at arm’s length.

  A low groan fell from her lips when three people she had hoped never to see again walked into the dinner. Amy Raines, Samantha Whitworth, and Betty Parker stood by the glass door with triple looks of disdain on their faces.

  If she had known that the three girls who had made her life miserable in high school would show up at her workplace, she wouldn’t have taken off the sheath dress.

  Amy, she had heard was a model, and she was dressed like one in a simple yet elegant silver shift dress which looked out of place in the diner. Samantha was a computer programmer or something. She had no idea what Betty had delved into. Both ladies were garbed in formfitting dresses.

  The dark-haired women whom she had nicknamed the “three witches” saw her at the counter and waved. Their smiles didn’t reach their eyes, and Sandy wondered why they even bothered.

  They slid into a booth by the window and beckoned her to come over. Rolling her eyes, she took a yellow pad and a pencil and walked over to them.

  “Fancy meeting you here, Sandy,” Amy said immediately as she reached them.

  Amy raked her cold blue eyes all over her body. Sandy shook her head a little. The young woman hadn’t changed much, both in looks and character. She was still as beautiful as ever, and as bitchy.

  “I own this place now,” Sandy delivered with satisfaction.

  Her color, however, reddened when the women giggled behind their palms.

  “So, you’re back to this dump of a town?” Amy questioned with humor in her eyes and voice. “I thought you went to art college or whatever.”

  “Couldn’t make it selling your portraits on the streets for peanuts?” Betty asked with a snicker.

  Heat su
ffused Sandy’s face. She couldn’t believe that after five years, the girls hadn’t changed. She recalled with sadness how they used to tease her all the time and play pranks on her.

  Years later, they were still as snotty as ever simply because their fathers owned the majority of the properties in town. It particularly hurt a lot because she wasn’t supposed to be here. She was supposed to be in Chicago attending art functions with Jules.

  “I came back because my mother wanted me to,” she answered, not that it was any of their business.

  “Oh, poor you, saddled with a failing business, battling with a nonexistent career and single, I guess.” Amy shook her head and gave her a mock shudder at the pits her life was.

  “You guess?” Samantha cocked perfectly shaped brows. “Just look at her. Isn’t it obvious that she doesn’t have a man? I mean, has she ever been able to draw the attention of any male?”

  Smarting from the stinging words, Sandy blinked back her tears and raised her eyes. Her lips parted when she saw that the handsome stranger just entered the place.

  She didn’t know what pushed her to do it; possibly it was because of the mockery in the girl’s voices and faces.

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Samantha,” she delivered with savage bite. Then raising her voice and thankful that the diner had few patrons, she walked in the direction of the stranger and said, “Sweetheart!”

  Chapter Four

  Seth thought that he had died and gone to heaven when the woman who had deluged his dreams the previous night called him an endearment and walked toward him with a bright smile on her face.

  When she reached him, she went on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. Her flowery fragrance assailed his nostrils, and he raised his hands to curve them around her delicious curves.

  “Please, I beg you in the name of God to go with the flow,” she whispered into his ear. “I’m Cassandra Carlson. Sandy, for short. I’m an artist, and I own this diner.”

  She pulled away, still with that bright smile on her face. Seth saw pleading in her eyes and decided to give the performance of his life for her sake. He nodded. Locking her hand with his, she led him to a table where the three witches were seated, looking at them in awe.