Oh Lord. What if she wants to start dating?
As if he could read her mind, Kyle rested his hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry.”
“This is my…Gabby.” Trinity randomly pointed without taking her eyes off her new friend.
Standing, Gabriella extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Freddie.”
He responded in kind. “Ma’am.”
“Freddie.” Kyle stood up and Freddie flinched, but shook his hand as well.
“Sir.”
They all stood in awkward silence for a moment, before Flo arrived.
“Here you go, Freddie.” Flo handed him a takeout bag. “Tell your mom we all said hello. Stay warm.”
“Thank you, Miss Flo.” He gave them all a respectful nod. “See you soon, Trinity.”
“Bye, Freddie,” they all answered, and Trinity giggled once the young man was out the door.
They all settled back in their chairs.
In an attempt to avoid embarrassing her daughter, Gabriella didn’t say a word about what had just happened, but she couldn’t be more thankful for the warm welcome by the locals. “T, what did you want for dinner, sweetie?”
A dreamy look settled on her daughter’s beautiful face. “Did Flo say they had good grilled cheese sandwiches?”
“Two roasts and a deluxe grilled cheese, Merlin.” Flo yelled as she walked by their table before attending to new customers who’d walked in.
Immediately, Trinity pulled out her sketch pad and feverishly began drawing.
A calm nestled in Gabriella’s heart as she watched her daughter’s eyes sparkle while she made the pencil sail across the paper.
Well, that’s a good sign. She’s drawing again. With the chaos of the last few weeks, her daughter hadn’t created anything new.
“Trinity told me you drove for four days to get here?” Kyle leaned forward as if he were about to tell the most interesting story. “What part of Texas did you drive from again?”
“Near San Antonio, a town called Lone Star Crossing.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it.”
“Don’t worry. Most people just say they’re from San Antonio. It’s an easier landmark.”
He flashed her a playful smile. “Fair enough.”
Gabriella wrung her hands in her lap to keep them from reaching out and feeling just how thick Kyle’s biceps were. “I wanted to give us plenty of time. Pulling the trailer and having the animals certainly proposed some challenges, but—”
“But we had to stop in Fort Collins to visit my aunt,” Trinity interrupted, a slight pout on her face as her pencil froze just above the pad.
“It was a nice visit, Trinity. We hadn’t seen her for years. She’s been overseas.”
“She’s in the military?” Kyle took a drink of his water.
“No, she works with Hewlett-Packard. She’s been in Ireland, but after twelve years, she decided now would be a great time to come back to the states with her daughter.” Trinity eyes glistened with unshed tears and it broke Gabriella’s heart.
Why couldn’t her family have been kinder and less obvious of their disapproval? As usual, Gabriella tried to put a positive spin on a shitty situation. “Yes, so you have a new cousin.”
“Does your sister like Fort Collins?” Kyle removed his wool-lined jacket and set it on the back of the chair.
The curve of his shoulders that fed into his arms made Gabriella’s mind wander to naughty thoughts…until she realized he’d asked her a question. “It’s not my sister. It’s Trinity’s mother’s sister who lives there now.”
His forehead furrowed. “Trinity’s aunt then?”
“Exactly. With her having moved back to the states, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see her. Right?” Smiling, Gabriella hoped Trinity would smile back. Instead, the teen didn’t respond, but had returned to focusing on her creation.
Turning her attention back to their dinner companion, Gabriella clasped her hands in her lap. “A fireman, huh? That’s cool.”
Well, that was an eloquent segue. Gabriella mentally cringed.
“And paramedic. Been here close to a year.” Kyle nodded as his eyes darted back and forth between the women as though he were trying to figure out their story.
Don’t even try, buddy. Your head will explode at the drama. “What made you want to be a fireman?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I’d already been a corpsman. Seemed like a good transition.”
“I don’t recall Flo mentioning you were a veteran. What branch?”
“I was a Marine Corps Force Recon, so a Navy corpsman.”
Good grief. I don’t think I can take him adding any more sexy to his résumé. Gabriella shifted in her chair, trying to quell that flutter between her legs. “A Marine Corps Force Recon. That’s a mouthful.”
“Say that five times fast.” He chuckled before taking a drink of his water.
“San Antonio has quite a few military bases.”
“I did my medical training there. More than half of all military medical personnel train in San Antonio.”
Now his knowledge of Mexican cuisine made sense. “Is that why you knew what barbacoa was?”
“I ate a lot of Tex-Mex while stationed there.” He patted his stomach. “Had to run many miles on the Riverwalk and the missions to burn off those meals.”
She appreciated his self-depreciating humor and the way the edges of his eyes crinkled up when he laughed.
And the width of his shoulders.
And what he probably looked like naked. Please don’t have said that out loud. “Adrenaline junkie, huh?”
Another round of flavors drifted through the air. This round had a hint of seasoned salt, but smelled heavy on the pepper.
“More like a helping people junkie, although it seems that helping people does require a certain amount of risk taking.”
“Anyone else in your family—”
“Nope. I’m the only one who’s a first responder.” He shifted to his left. “What are you drawing, Trinity?”
His sudden shift in conversation made her head spin. Guess his family isn’t his favorite subject. “Trinity has won several awards for her artwork. She’s quite talented.”
“I do okay.” She pulled her precious sketch pad close to her body as though she didn’t want him to touch it.
He encouragingly tapped the book with his index finger. “Can I see?”
The teen looked at him like he’d grown an extra arm out of his forehead. “Why?”
“Why not? If you’ve won awards, I bet whatever you’re drawing is great.”
The frustration on Trinity’s face began to wane as her shoulders relaxed. “Seriously?”
He patted the table. “Come on. I can only draw stick figures and even those suck.”
Good to know he’s bad at something. Although drawing would be one of the last things on her mind if Gabriella ever did get a date with this guy.
It took about three seconds before Kyle’s chipper mood became contagious. The corners of her daughter’s mouth curled up as she flipped through her sketches, explaining each one.
As the two talked art, Gabriella looked over the menu. The battered plastic-sleeved pages were a good sign of a busy restaurant, but the subtle wear and tear signified the need of a little TLC.
The metal, cushioned chair she sat in wobbled slightly, as did the table. Some of her daily maintenance would be spent completing basic repairs since a place this busy was in constant need of a tweak here and there.
Good thing Mom and Dad taught me how to fix things.
Trinity’s laughter pulled her away from ideas about the diner. How she loved hearing her daughter’s joy. There hadn’t been enough of it lately.
Scanning the room and seeing what people ate, Gabriella noticed the same kinds of dishes seen in so many small-town diners.
I could expand the menu a little, maybe specials for Sunday or weekends? I wonder what they’d say to themed food days? Se
asons? Use what local farmers grow.
“What do you think?” Flo came up with a basket of bread and slid it on the table, pushing Gabriella’s water glass a few inches over. “You thinking of changing much?”
She refolded the menu and placed it back in the holder. “Just looking over things. Getting an idea of it all.”
One of Flo’s over-plucked eyebrows arched. “Paige told me about the cooking school you went to.”
“The Culinary Institute gave me a great education. I loved it.” As accommodating as the woman had been, Gabriella could tell she was worried about her job security. Gabriella knew exactly what to say to calm the loyal employee’s angst. Resting her hand on Flo’s arm, she encouragingly replied, “But I have to say, nothing can be as good as cooking with moms and grandmas and long-time friends. They add something to a kitchen that you can’t get out of a book or a class.”
“Amen to that.” Her dangling monkeys-holding-bananas earrings gently swayed. “Looking forward to seeing what you bring to Marietta.”
“Thank you, Flo. I appreciate that more than you know.” Especially after what happened at the Winston.
A bell rang from the kitchen. “Order up!”
In less than a minute, Flo returned with their plates. “Two pot roasts, one with double mashed potatoes, and a deluxe grilled cheese. Oh, I’ll get your broccoli, Kyle, and I didn’t ask you what you wanted with your sandwich, Trinity.”
“Can I have fries?”
“You got it.”
“Thanks, Flo.”
The heaping helping of pot roast and the two mountains of mashed potatoes took up the entire eleven-inch plate set in front of Kyle.
Gabriella smirked at the feast, but Kyle had to be well over six foot and having the kinds of muscles she imagined, a man would need his protein sources. “You’re really going to eat all that?”
“Yep.” He broke off a large chuck of meat and attacked it like a T-Rex, giving her a wink as he devoured it.
Oh, what I wouldn’t give for you to devour me like that.
Her eyes went wide at her erotic thoughts.
Thank goodness I didn’t blurt that out. What in the hell is wrong with me?
She nibbled on the pot roast as she tried to sort out why her libido had gone on overdrive since this morning.
You’re exhausted.
You’re overwhelmed.
You haven’t had sex for over a year.
“What do you think? Good huh?” Kyle asked, his green eyes the color of new grass in springtime.
Yeah, it probably has to do with the guy sitting next to you. “Yes, it’s very good.”
Watching Flo work, Gabriella noticed how easily the woman glided from table to table. She seemed to know almost everyone and what customers liked and didn’t like. She was for sure an asset and someone Gabriella didn’t want to lose.
Gosh, I hope she stays. Being in the restaurant business for close to a decade, Gabriella knew a new owner could certainly make established staff as skittish as newborn colts. Hopefully, I can win their trust quickly.
As they ate the perfectly cooked pot roast, Gabriella and Kyle discovered each of them were movie lovers and read voraciously.
“How many brothers and sisters do you have, Gabriella?” Kyle asked as he used the last piece of his roast to soak up the gravy.
“Eight. I’m in the middle of nine.” The remaining hints of garlic and beef from the perfectly tender dish still sat on her tongue. Regretfully, she washed them down with the rest of her water.
“That’s a busy house.”
“Not all are your actual siblings—right, Gabby?” Trinity interjected after having remained silent for a while. “A couple are cousins. Friends.”
The strain on the word friends pulled on Gabriella’s heartstrings. “That’s true, Trinity. But we all grew up together. We help each other. Support each other no matter what.”
“Sounds like family to me.” Kyle shrugged before finishing his drink. “Some of the best people I’d call family were friends.”
Trinity pulled her last sandwich triangles apart. A long string of cheese dangled between them before she bit it in half. “This is the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had.”
“See, I told you.” Flo refilled their water glasses and removed completed plates. “Coffee anyone?”
Gabriella nodded. “I’d love a cup.”
Kyle held up two fingers while Trinity happily ate the remaining French fries.
“I’ll bring it with the pie.” Within a minute, Flo returned with two steaming mugs of coffee, a cup of individual creamers, forks for all, and one huge slice of lemon meringue pie.
A perfectly browned crust cradled the bright, gooey yellow filling and was topped with a two-inch thick meringue.
“Thanks, Flo.” Kyle gave her a wink.
“It’s something we’ve had on the menu for years.” The waitress looked at Gabriella with wide-eyed angst. “It’s a popular item.”
“Then I can’t wait to try it.” Plastering on her best smile, Gabriella grabbed a fork. As the tongs plunged into the pie, the crust’s flaky layers gently fell apart. “Oh my goodness. I can already tell this is going to be magnificent.”
Flo’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “You can?”
“The crust came apart perfectly.”
“You hear that, Casey? The crust is perfect.”
Casey gave a less than enthusiastic thumbs-up.
The tart of the pie hit Gabriella’s tongue about two seconds before the sweet of the meringue, layering exquisitely. She couldn’t help but close her eyes and bliss out on the dessert. “Wow.”
Flo’s excitement only increased. “That good, huh?”
“That’s amazing.”
“Told you it was good.” Kyle helped himself to another forkful.
“Wouldn’t change anything, then?”
Gabriella stopped the words before she let them escape and lied, “Nope. Not a thing.”
Giving them a wide smile, Flo nodded. “Well, looking forward to working with you, boss.”
Boss. Gabriella really liked the sound of that.
Chapter Seven
That went better than I thought it could.
Kyle had forgotten the pressure of wanting to impress someone, especially over a meal as messy as pot roast and mashed potatoes. At least he hadn’t dripped any on his clothes.
But the best part of the night had been when Flo introduced Trinity to Frederick.
He hadn’t forgotten the awkwardness of teen years. He well remembered how hard it had been to meet good people, especially after his family’s scandals wouldn’t quit making headlines.
Washing his hands, he gave himself a mental pat on the back for how well the teens’ introductions had gone.
After meeting the ladies this morning, he’d gone by the diner and asked Flo if anyone Trinity’s age came in during the dinner rush. Thankfully, Frederick Westbrook always picked up dinner for his mom, Shelly, on Wednesdays when she’d work a double at the hospital.
Flo knew when he’d usually arrive and said she’d give an easy, non-pressured introduction. As always, Flo kept to her word.
Seeing the general new-kid-in-town angst disappear from Trinity’s face had been a complete one-eighty since she’d muttered the words, “I don’t see any kids my age”.
Then the fantastic the sparkle in Gabriella’s eyes of seeing her daughter make a new friend made the stealth worth it.
Of course, it had been funny watching that happiness morph into protective fierceness on realizing her daughter had made a new male friend.
It was all Kyle could do not to laugh out loud and it only made him like his new neighbor even more.
Glad to know she takes the job of motherhood seriously.
As he exited the bathroom and popped a mint, he noticed Gabriella talking to a few of the locals. Her dark hair rested gently about her shoulders and her kindness radiated into the room as if being in this diner was the most natural place for h
er to be.
He leaned against the doorframe and simply watched her for a moment. For obvious reasons, he’d always found beautiful women intriguing. Female company, he’d never been short of, but many of the starlets he’d met over the years were as vapid as they were gorgeous.
Not Gabriella. She’d already shown herself to be smart, beautiful, and quick-witted. Without even trying, she’d kick-started his repressed lust that he’d tamped down since he arrived in town. Being in the same room with her had him so tightly wound, he worried he’d bust his zipper.
Thank God for thick coats.
His phone buzzed and he glanced at it. His mother had texted him again, this time with a link to reviews of the resort.
Dammit, Mom.
The melody of Gabriella’s laugh tickled his ears. I can’t leave now. Not yet.
He turned off his phone as his mind continued to search for some loophole in all this.
They’d said their goodbyes to the diner staff and headed out into the frigid night air.
“Ready?” He rubbed his hands together before he opened the door, preparing himself for the frigid air that slapped him in the face as soon as he walked outside.
Quickly, they made the short distance to his car and buckled up.
“Holy crap! It’s cold.” Trinity’s teeth chattered. She pulled the cap over her ears.
He turned up the heat. “I’d usually make this a walking tour but considering the wind chill factor is in the teens—”
“Are you kidding me?” Trinity dramatically pulled the collar of her jacket to her nose as she complained. “How cold does it get here anyway?”
“In the dead of winter, a lot colder than this.”
Trinity mumbled something about living at the North Pole. “Should I expect elves or a guy in a red coat walking by?” Frustration laced her commentary.
“No, we give the big guy off the month of March. Won’t see those guys around until at least September.” Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Gabriella bite her lip.
A giggle came from the back seat. “Okay, okay. Well played.”
With a stressed smile, Gabriella added, “Thank you, Kyle. That was incredibly nice of you to take us to dinner.”
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