Summer Serenade

by Belle Calhoune

  “Do the two of you have history?” Zeb asked.

  “Other than the fact that we went through school together, no. Absolutely not. Elle ran in different circles than I did. She was the golden girl.”

  Zeb raised a brow. “Do I detect a little bitterness there?”

  “Nope,” he said in a flippant tone. “I’ve gotten over being the high school nerd who never quite made it to prom or even had a single date all through high school.”

  Zeb winced. “Ouch. To be honest, it’s hard to imagine. Especially since you’ve got the ladies here in Sugar Hollow chasing after you on a regular basis.”

  He let out a laugh at Zeb’s turn of phrase. Although it was true that he was sought after in town, his love life wasn’t exactly rocking and rolling.

  Jonas was still searching for his other half.

  He was looking for something that continued to elude him. Jonas wanted a woman who loved the Lord and who enjoyed helping people as much as helping herself. He wanted a woman who dreamed of filling up a house with kids and making it a home filled with love and kindness. He dreamed of being with someone who had a wide open heart.

  “I don’t want to be chased, Zeb. Call me corny, but I want someone to walk through life with.” After dating several women in town, Jonas had gotten frustrated. Sadly, none of them had much substance.

  Zeb patted him on the shoulder. “It’s not corny at all. It’s deep. And meaningful. I hope you find it soon. As for me, I’m only twenty. The idea of women chasing me is pretty awesome.”

  Jonas threw his head back and chuckled heartily. “I don’t blame you one bit.”

  As they readied themselves for the lunch crowd, Jonas couldn’t stop thinking about Elle Harrington. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like to lose your life’s dream in one fell swoop. All of Sugar Hollow had cheered when Elle’s ballet career began to take shape a few years ago. Elle had been the success story of their small town.

  He had to admit, working at the diner was a step down from being a world class ballerina. Elle had traveled all over the world and met Princes and Prime Ministers. Although he loved Sugar Hollow, it was a far cry from New York City. He couldn’t help but wonder how Elle would fare being back home.

  Time would tell what happened to Elle. Would she stay in town or head back to the Big Apple? For now, he was happy to give her a job. Even though it was hard for him to admit, there was still something about Elle that drew him toward her like a moth to a flame. Even after all these years, she still tugged at his heartstrings.

  He would keep things professional between them though. He was the boss and she would be his employee. Crossing the invisible line in the sand wasn’t smart for his business. And it might not be wise for his heart either.

  ***

  When Elle’s alarm clock went off at six a.m. she automatically hit the snooze button. She did this three more times until she sat up in bed, her heart racing at the idea of being late for her first day at the diner. A quick glance at the clock showed she had exactly fifteen minutes to get there. She jumped out of bed, dragged a comb through her hair, then raced to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face and give her teeth a quick brushing.

  She dragged on leggings and a T-shirt, then slid some loafers on. A quick rummaging in the kitchen didn’t yield anything she could take as an on the go meal. Elle grabbed her purse and her keys, then jogged to her white Jeep. It had been an eighteenth birthday present for her and had been sitting at her parents’ house since she’d left for New York City. Owning a car in New York had been impossible, so the vehicle had been sitting unused for way too long.

  Elle made it to the diner in nine minutes flat. A quick look at her watch showed the time as 7:03. Drat. She was three minutes late. She locked up her car and vaulted toward the entrance. She flew through the doors like a whirlwind, her hair swirling about her shoulders.

  The moment she stepped inside, a tall woman with jet black hair, russet colored skin and striking brown eyes stood watching her. Her nametag read Trina. Somewhere in the back of her mind Elle thought the name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place her. Maybe she just had one of those faces!

  Out of breath, Elle could barely speak. Somehow she managed to squeak out the words, “Hi. I-I’m Elle. I’m here to work.”

  The woman smirked. “Jonas told me to expect you, but I didn’t think you’d show.”

  “What? Why not?” Elle asked, not sure whether Trina was kidding or not.

  “Because I’ve heard of you. The great Elle Harrington. Local girl makes good in the Big Apple. Blah blah blah. I’ve been hearing it ever since I arrived in town.”

  Elle didn’t miss the edge in Trina’s voice. She sounded angry, but Elle didn’t have a clue as to why she would be upset with her. She didn’t even know the woman.

  “I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot,” Elle said. “I really need this job. I’m not sure what you think you know about me, but I’m not looking for trouble.”

  Trina made a tutting sound and pushed a piece of clothing at her. “Here. Go put this T-shirt on. It’s the official Sugar Hollow Diner uniform. Tomorrow you can wear a pair of Khaki shorts or pants along with the shirt.”

  “Thank you,” Elle said, looking around for a place to change.

  Trina let out a sigh. “Let me show you the employees’ lounge. There’s a place to put your things. We each get a locker.” She led the way toward the back. Trina pointed to the bathroom then turned away.

  Once Elle had changed into the T-shirt—a cute pink and white one with the words Sugar Hollow Diner etched on it—Trina brought her back out front. Jonas was standing by the front counter, looking handsome and relaxed. With his slightly damp hair and a baby blue short-sleeved polo shirt paired with khaki-colored pants, he looked very appealing.

  Elle really needed to stop noticing Jonas’s good looks. It would only be a distraction to the matter at hand—her new job. Getting back on her feet.

  “Morning, Elle. Nice to see you,” Jonas said, treating her to a friendly smile.

  “Hey, Jonas. I’m happy to be here,” Elle said. And strangely enough, she meant it. Being a waitress had been the very last thing on her to-do list, but given her circumstances, it served as a blessing.

  For the next two hours Trina showed her the ropes. She shadowed Trina as she took orders and put them through to the kitchen.

  “If you want, you can take a break now. We have a little lull,” Trina said, her tone softer than when Elle had first arrived. “There’s a break area in the back in case you want to take a load off your feet.”

  Elle thought she was seeing things when Trina gifted her with a hint of a smile. “Good job, Elle.”

  “Thanks,” Elle said to Trina’s back as she turned and went to greet a customer at their table. Perhaps, Elle realized, Trina’s bark was worse than her bite. These days Elle was determined to believe in people, even though most of her New York friends had dropped her like a hot potato. It still stung.

  Elle walked toward the back room, passing Jonas on the way.

  “Hey. Are you hungry?” Jonas asked. “What did you eat for breakfast?”

  “I had a big plate of nothing,” Elle said with a laugh. “I overslept so I had to race to get here on time.” She rubbed her stomach. “I have to admit, I’m pretty much starving.”

  “Come on in the kitchen,” he said, waving her toward the back. Elle trailed behind him, sniffing her nose in the air as soon as she entered the kitchen. The smell emanating from the grill was heavenly.

  “Have you met Luis?” Jonas asked as he approached the cook standing by the stove. Luis turned around and raised his hand in greeting to Elle. He was a short, dark-haired man no older than mid-thirties. He had a kind face.

  “Nice to meet you, Luis,” Elle said. “It smells terrific in here.”

  “Welcome,” Luis said. “I heard you’re going to be working here.”

  “On a trial basis,” she explained.

  “According to
Trina you’re a natural,” Jonas said, looking at her with an all-knowing expression. Elle found herself staring at Jonas with deep appreciation. He radiated warmth and light.

  The compliment made her feel great. She didn’t know a thing about being a waitress, but she knew people. Treating people with dignity and respect and kindness came naturally to her. She intended to treat each and every customer in that fashion.

  “Elle hasn’t eaten today,” Jonas explained, making a face.

  Luis looked at her with wide eyes. “Elle! That’s terrible. Didn’t anyone ever tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?”

  She shrugged, feeling sheepish. Lately her diet hadn’t been all that great. As a ballerina, Elle had been forced to take care of her body meticulously. She had needed energy in order to dance and to compete at a top level against other ballerinas. Making sure her body was nourished had been a big part of her profession. In the last few months Elle hadn’t done too well in that regard.

  “My mother used to tell me that every single day growing up, but somewhere along the way I stopped listening to her sage advice.” Bunny Harrington and sage advice didn’t necessarily go hand in hand, although her mother had given her a few pearls of wisdom during her upbringing. To say her mother was flighty was a huge understatement.

  “So, Luis. What can you make for Elle to fix that grumbling noise emanating from her stomach?”

  “Hey! My stomach isn’t rumbling,” she said with a laugh.

  Jonas was chuckling, clearly enjoying riling her up.

  “How about some mouth-watering apple and cinnamon pancakes with a spinach and cheese omelet?” Luis asked. His eyes were dancing with excitement as he talked about food. Elle could tell he greatly enjoyed his job.

  “That sounds delicious.” She bit her lip. “If it’s not too much trouble. I know there are some customers who just came in.”

  “No problem,” Luis reassured her. “I can fix this in a jiffy. You can go sit in the lounge. I’ll bring it to you when it’s ready.”

  “You’re going to spoil me,” Elle said, warmed by their kindness. It had been a long time since anyone had taken her under their wing. Being at the diner felt like shelter from the storm.

  “That’s the plan,” Jonas teased. “We like to inject a sense of belonging into the work place. It makes it feel like it’s not drudgery to be here. It’s also a place of community. Make sense?”

  “It does,” Elle said with a nod.

  Jonas shooed her out of the kitchen. “Go enjoy your break. Your food will be coming right up.”

  Elle walked to the lounge and settled down in one of the comfy leather loveseats. Although the room was fairly small it had a cozy vibe to it. A flat screen television had been hung on the wall in front of the seats. A small sofa was located next to the loveseats. A beautiful, oatmeal-colored rug sat on the floor. Magazines were scattered on top of a mahogany-colored coffee table. It was the type of room where you wanted to sit for a spell and unwind.

  Less than five minutes later, Jonas appeared in the room, his arms holding a tray filled with food. He placed it down in front of her on the coffee table.

  Elle sputtered. “Seriously? I can’t eat all of this food.” Along with the sumptuous looking pancakes and the omelet were a fruit cup, hash browns, a mouth-watering biscuit and a side of grits.

  “Give it a whirl. Maybe taste a little bit of each item. Luis is going to be insulted if you don’t make a dent in this meal.”

  “I’m going to waddle back to work if I do,” she said with a giggle.

  Jonas looked at her. “That’s highly doubtful,” he said, sending her a glance that seemed to be full of male appreciation.

  For a moment something hovered in the air between them. Jonas backed away and shuttered his expression. “I should get back to work. Enjoy the food.”

  In a matter of seconds, Jonas was gone. Elle had no idea what had caused him to stiffen up and act so awkward. She hoped it wasn’t anything she had done. At the moment, Elle needed all the friends she could get. And something told her Jonas would be a loyal, faithful friend.

  She had no business even thinking about his handsome features, his rugged frame or the way his face lit up when he smiled.

  It was for the best, she realized. Jonas Landry was her boss. She needed this job to give her life a jump start. It would be a nice position to get her settled and on her feet. Not to mention the fact that she had promised herself to stay away from good-looking men who were too charming for their own good. So far, those situations hadn’t ended well for her.

  As she dug into the food Luis had prepared for her, Elle tossed all thoughts of Jonas aside. It was important to focus on improving her life and making strides toward the future. Jonas was nothing more than a sweet distraction.

  Chapter Three

  Jonas tried his best to keep his gaze from straying toward his new hire. Elle was in her second week of waitressing at the diner. She’d passed her one-week tryout with flying colors. Jonas knew he would have hired her even if she’d been the worst waitress in America. Elle had gotten under his skin. Even after the doors of the diner had closed for the night, Jonas found himself daydreaming about Elle. What would it feel like to be the man in her life? Did she like flowers? What was her favorite movie? Around and around the questions went in his head. He wanted to know everything about her.

  But he was her boss. It wasn’t wise to date a subordinate. What if they started dating then broke up? It would add tension to a great workplace. He shook his head. He was getting way ahead of himself. There was no indication Elle would ever agree to a date with him, although they did share a nice rapport.

  He let out a sigh. Maybe he shouldn’t have hired Elle. That way he could have asked her out with no potential drawbacks.

  Just then, Elle walked up to the counter where he was standing.

  “Hey, Jonas. Can I ask you something?” she asked. With her blonde hair pulled up in a high ponytail it only served to emphasize her lovely features.

  “Sure thing,” he said in an overly casual voice. He didn’t want Elle to have any idea of how often he thought about her. Or that he was crushing on her in a major way.

  “People keep talking about the summer block party. When is it? Is this different from the one they had when we were kids?” She had a cute little frown on her face.

  The summer block party. It was an annual event in Sugar Hollow where all of the businesses on Main Street had a party celebrating the townsfolk. Each restaurant or eating establishment offered items from their menus at no cost. It was a lively celebration of summer. Music flowed freely and the vibe in the air was one of community and fellowship.

  “Well, for starters, it’s my favorite town event. A few years ago we switched it up a bit from the way it was done when we were kids. It’s mushroomed into a really cool town event. People come out for fellowship, food, music and mingling. It’s a fantastic event. The diner provides food. We pick about four items from the menu and then make them in bulk. It’s a great way of saying thank you to all of our faithful customers.”

  “It sounds great. And you’re right. It’s a perfect way to say thank you to customers. You have a really successful business, Jonas. You’re truly blessed.”

  “Thanks to my parents. They were the ones who did all the work building up the business. I owe them everything.”

  “I like a man with gratitude,” Elle said, giving him a cheeky smile then turning toward the entrance to greet the party of four awaiting a table.

  He watched as she introduced herself to the group, then led them toward an available booth.

  “Why don’t you just ask her out?” Trina’s voice washed over him. He turned toward her, feeling annoyed by her probing question.

  Jonas gave her his most disgruntled look.

  Trina held up her hands. “What? I’m only asking the question everyone else is thinking. It’s so obvious, Jonas.” Trina dramatically rolled her eyes.

  He frown
ed at her. “What do you mean by everybody?”

  Trina shook her head. “It means you aren’t fooling anybody. It’s clear you have feelings for Elle.”

  “Shh. Lower your voice, Trina,” Jonas urged. All he needed was for Elle to overhear their conversation. She would probably run in the opposite direction as fast as possible.

  Trina sucked her teeth. “Why are you acting so strange about this? From what I can tell, she likes you too.”

  Jonas felt his heart beating like a jackhammer inside his chest. “You think so? Really?”

  Trina shoved him playfully. “I really do. And I think the two of you need to stop circling each other and go out on a date.” Trina smirked at him, then walked away.

  Maybe Trina was right. He and Elle had known each other since they were kids. They were the same age and had graduated in the same class. What harm could there be in taking her out to the movies or dinner and dancing? After all, he’d had a crush on Elle ever since middle school. If he was being honest with himself, he’d probably liked her romantically since they were in first grade together.

  Jonas chuckled as he remembered leaving a bunch of wild flowers at her doorstep with an anonymous note. He wondered if Elle remembered receiving them. One of these days if he mustered the courage he might just ask her.

  ***

  It was lunch time. Although Elle was getting used to the waitressing gig, this morning had been non-stop customers. She was beat! Elle often wandered outside to eat lunch since being inside all day caused her to miss the gorgeous summer weather. She loved it when the sun beamed down on her. She couldn’t wait till her skin was burnished from the summer sun. Elle walked across the street to the town green. There was a little picnic table she liked to eat at and people watch during her lunch hour.

  Elle slid on to the bench. She pulled out her brown paper bag and sorted through the contents. As she bit into her tuna sandwich, Elle began to watch the passersby. Loving couples. Small children running ahead of their parents. A woman in a wheelchair playing Frisbee.