The Waitress's Secret

by Kathy Douglass

  A moan of pure pleasure escaped her lips as the hot water began to warm her, slowing the chatter of her teeth. No shower had ever felt this good. If it wasn’t for the fact that her hosts were waiting for her, she’d spend the next hour letting the warm water pound every ache out of her body. As a guest, an unexpected one at that, it would be rude to linger.

  She hurriedly poured shampoo into her hands and quickly lathered her hair. Joni used the same brand she did and the familiar scent soothed the last of Arden’s nerves. Her remaining tension disappeared down the drain with the bubbles.

  She gathered her wet clothes and placed them on the counter. She would ask Joni where she could launder them later. Joni had left an assortment of clothes and she sorted through them before selecting a long-sleeved cotton top and denim pants. The jeans were a little long, so she rolled them up before pulling on socks and heading downstairs.

  When she’d entered the house, she’d been too cold and uncomfortable to give more than a cursory glance at her surroundings. Now, though, she looked carefully. The house was a wonderful blend of old charm and modern convenience. The rooms had wide baseboards and crown molding around the high ceilings. Painted white, they were a nice accent to the darker-colored walls.

  The furniture in the living room, while stylish, had clearly been chosen for comfort. With randomly placed pillows and a throw tossed over a leather ottoman, this room was used for living and not just for show.

  Arden heard voices coming from the back of the house and followed them to the kitchen. The aromas wafting through the air reminded her that it had been hours since she’d eaten lunch. If scarfing down a hot dog and bag of chips in her car qualified as eating lunch.

  “Come sit down. Dinner is just about ready.” Joni pointed to a seat at the table. A small vase of wildflowers was in the center. The curtains were closed so Arden couldn’t see the storm. She could hear it, though. The rain pounded on the windows like it was trying to get in, and the wind howled like an injured animal. This was definitely not a night to be outside. And if it wasn’t for Brandon, she’d be out in this wicked weather.

  Arden glanced at Brandon. He’d changed into a gray polo shirt that pulled tight across his barrel chest and loose-fitting jeans that couldn’t disguise his muscular thighs. The man put all the statues she’d studied in her art-history class to shame.

  She shook her head. What was wrong with her? She’d seen plenty of handsome men in her life, yet she didn’t gawk at them like some teenager with no home training. “I can’t thank you enough for your hospitality and the clothes, Joni. I’ll return them as soon as possible.”

  Joni smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I have way more clothes than I need.” She then fixed her brother with a mock glare. “Don’t say a word.”

  “I didn’t open my mouth.”

  “Good.”

  “But if I had said anything, it would be that you have more clothes than any three people need.” Joni tossed a linen napkin at him. He caught it with ease and dropped it onto the counter. Then he pulled open the oven door for a quick look and nodded with apparent satisfaction.

  Arden watched them banter back and forth with a smile on her face. It was clear to her they not only loved each other, they genuinely liked each other. They were friends.

  She sighed wistfully. She wished she could say the same of her relationship with her brothers. She knew they loved her. They’d do anything for her. But Blake and Jax were stuck in protective-big-brother mode. To them, she was still the child who got into jams and waited for them to bail her out, which they’d done without fail. She’d grown up, but they hadn’t noticed. Because they didn’t view her as an adult, their relationship hadn’t evolved to the point of friendship.

  And the near disaster with Michael-the-sneak wouldn’t help them see her as an equal. Which was why she had told them only that she’d ended the relationship, keeping the disgusting details to herself.

  Brandon stirred, then began ladling soup out of a pot into large bowls while Joni placed warm bread on the table.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Arden asked, shoving aside the depressing thoughts.

  “Not a thing,” Joni said, taking the bowls from her brother and setting one before Arden. “Just relax.”

  Brandon joined them. As he scooted his chair closer to the table, the scent of soap teased her nostrils and her heart began to beat double time. He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to sample her food before he ate.

  Arden picked up a spoon and sipped her soup. Incredible flavors exploded in her mouth. She’d eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, but nothing compared to this Italian sausage soup. Before she could stop it, a moan of unadulterated pleasure slipped from between her lips.

  Brandon stared at her, his dark eyes unreadable. For a moment their gazes locked and time stood still. Her breath caught in her throat. Trapped like a fly in a web, Arden couldn’t look away to save her life.

  “My, my,” Joni said with a laugh, looking from Brandon to Arden.

  Joni’s voice broke the spell, freeing Arden from Brandon’s hypnotic gaze.

  “Sorry.” She looked down at the bowl to hide her embarrassment. What is wrong with me? She looked at Joni. “This soup is the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life. You’re a great cook.”

  Joni shook her head. “Not me. I can’t toast bread without burning it. Brandon is the chef.”

  Arden risked a glance at him, warning herself not to get caught in those dark, amazing eyes again. “You made this? Wow. It’s wonderful.”

  “Thanks.” His voice sounded strained and low. He’d been charming in the car, but now he seemed more reserved with her. It was as if he regretted their earlier camaraderie.

  “Brandon is chef and owner of the most popular restaurant in the state. Heaven on Earth.”

  “The name fits,” Arden added, wishing her bowl was larger. She’d just hit bottom when Brandon removed her empty dish. A couple moments later he returned with three plates.

  “Be careful,” Brandon said, setting the dishes on the table. “It’s hot.”

  “This looks wonderful. What is it?”

  “Oven-roasted sea bass with oranges, tomatoes and olives.”

  Arden stared at him in amazement. “You made all of this while I was in the shower?”

  “No. I prepared it earlier today. Joni put it in the oven when we got home.”

  She took a bite and this time managed to stifle the sound of pleasure that threatened to escape. The perfect combination of flavors was unlike anything she had ever experienced, even during the summer after high school she’d spent in France and Italy.

  Joni sipped her drink, then looked at Arden. “Where were you headed when your car broke down?”

  “Don’t be so nosy,” Brandon said, shaking his head.

  Joni waved away his comment like she would a pesky gnat, then looked at Arden expectantly. Ordinarily Arden would be annoyed by such a personal question from a complete stranger. But Joni didn’t feel like a stranger, she felt like a friend. “I’m on my way to Florida.”

  “For vacation? A new job?”

  Arden shook her head. “Neither. I just need to get away for a while.”

  “From what?” Brandon asked, apparently forgetting the no-prying rule.

  “I thought we weren’t going to be nosy,” Joni pointed out.

  Brandon glared playfully at his sister, then smiled at Arden. “Sorry. Forget I said anything.”

  “No, it’s okay. A relationship I was in ended badly. I just needed some space to get my head together. I’m a middle school science teacher, so I’m off for the summer. Since there was nothing holding me in town, I decided to get out while the getting was good.”

  “So...what are your plans when you get to Florida?” Joni asked.

 
Brandon shook his head at his sister but did appear interested in Arden’s answer.

  “I don’t really have plans,” Arden confessed. Suddenly, sitting alone in her parents’ home hiding from the world and licking her wounds lost its appeal. It actually sounded pretty pathetic. Was she so fragile that she needed weeks in seclusion because her boyfriend had turned out to be a jerk? Heck, no. Double heck, no. She was stronger than that.

  “And now you’re stuck in Sweet Briar.” Brandon finished his meal and pushed his plate into the center of the table. She did the same. “John’s good. He’ll have you back on the road in no time.”

  He stood and began clearing the table. Before she or Joni could move, he’d rinsed the plates and bowls and loaded them into the dishwasher. When that task was complete, he excused himself and left the kitchen.

  Arden watched him leave, noting once again what a fine specimen of a man he was. He was the definition of masculinity. She might not be in the market for a man, but she wasn’t opposed to window-shopping. Realizing she was gawking at Brandon in front of his sister, she pulled her gaze away and reached for her coffee cup. She stifled her attraction before it could turn into interest or something more. She might not know much, but she knew better than to let her emotions get the upper hand on her common sense. No way. She wasn’t going to open herself up even for a minute and end up getting hurt again.

  Thankfully, she wasn’t going to be around long enough to put that theory to the test. As soon as her car was fixed she was out of Sweet Briar.

  Chapter Three

  Arden woke to the sound of birds chirping and a dog barking in the distance. Stretching languidly, she smiled and opened her eyes. Momentarily startled by the unfamiliar surroundings, she jerked upright to a sitting position. A heartbeat later she remembered everything: her car breaking down, Brandon rescuing her and bringing her to his home.

  Slipping from the bed, Arden crossed the room to the en suite. Not a morning person by nature, she felt unusually refreshed. She credited her vigor to the early hour she’d gone to bed and the fact that she’d slept like the proverbial baby.

  She brushed her teeth, washed up and applied some lip gloss. After dressing in the clothes she’d washed last night, she tidied the bathroom and made her bed. When she stepped into the hallway she heard voices, so she knew Brandon and Joni were awake. Following the sound, Arden arrived at the kitchen.

  “Good morning,” Joni said from her seat at the table. “Help yourself to some coffee.”

  “Thanks.” Arden grabbed a mug from beside the coffeemaker, filled it, and added sugar and amaretto cream.

  “Brandon and I were just talking about you.”

  “Were you?”

  “Yes,” Brandon replied.

  Until he spoke, Arden had avoided looking at him. Now, though, she forced her gaze to where he leaned near the window. She’d thought he was to-die-for gorgeous yesterday, but it was nothing compared to the way he looked this morning. His jaw was scraped clean of all stubble and appeared baby-bottom smooth. She curled her hand into a fist to resist the urge to caress his face and find out. His dreadlocks were hanging loose around his shoulders. Dressed in a simple white T-shirt, his denim-clad legs crossed at the ankle, he looked perfectly relaxed.

  Although her heart thumped wildly in her chest at the sight of him, she managed to speak normally. “Do I want to know what you were saying, or should I go back upstairs?”

  He smiled. “We were discussing your situation.”

  His smile momentarily stopped her brain from functioning. “What situation?”

  “Your car.”

  “Right.” She took a swallow of her coffee, hoping a jolt of caffeine would help her follow a simple conversation.

  “I talked to John. He’ll tow it to his garage this morning and get to work on it as soon as he can. I didn’t know your cell phone number, so I told him to call me when he knows what the problem is and has an estimate. Does that work for you?”

  She nodded. He’d handled everything with one phone call, saving her the hassle and the stress. She knew she should be grateful, and she was. If only he didn’t remind her of her brothers rushing in to save the day. “That works great. Thanks.”

  “Sure.” He glanced at his watch, then pushed away from the wall. “I need to get to the restaurant. I’ll catch up with you two later.”

  Arden managed to keep her eyes from following him as he left.

  “How about breakfast?” Joni asked. From the twinkle in her eyes, she hadn’t missed Arden’s struggle to not watch Brandon leave.

  “Breakfast sounds great. But you told me you’re not much of a cook and, to be honest, neither am I. The best cook just left the house.”

  Joni laughed. “I didn’t mean here. Brandon would lose his mind if I touched his precious stove without his written permission and step-by-step instructions. There’s a great diner in town where everyone goes for breakfast. Even Brandon, and he doesn’t make a practice of eating other people’s cooking.”

  “Okay. I’m in.”

  Ten minutes later Arden and Joni entered Mabel’s Diner. The place looked exactly like Arden imagined a small-town diner should. Red vinyl booths lined the walls. Square tables with chrome chairs with red vinyl cushions filled the middle of the room. Framed pictures of movie stars hung on the walls at odd intervals. An old-fashioned jukebox played an ancient doo-wop song. It was positively charming.

  Several people called hello to Joni, who returned their greetings. Every booth was filled, so Joni led the way to one of the tables. Arden grabbed a laminated menu from between an old-fashioned sugar bowl and the salt-and-pepper shakers. There was so much to choose from. Omelets, waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausage, even pork chops and fish.

  After looking over the selections, she glanced up at Joni, whose menu remained untouched. “You already know what you want?” Arden didn’t know how she was going to decide what to eat. She loved food and considered eating her hobby. Fortunately, she had a high metabolism or she’d be the size of a sumo wrestler.

  Joni nodded. “The special on Tuesday is excellent. Grits, breakfast potatoes, two sausage links, two strips of bacon, two pancakes and two eggs cooked any way you want as long as you want them fried.”

  “All for two dollars?” Arden quipped.

  Joni didn’t laugh or even smile. Instead, she placed her hand on Arden’s and gave a squeeze. “Don’t worry about the cost. Breakfast is on me.”

  Arden had opened her mouth to correct Joni’s misconception about her finances when the waitress stepped up to their table, pad in hand and ready to take their orders.

  “Hi, I’m Lynn and I’ll be your server. Are you ready?”

  Joni nodded at the perky teenager. “I know what I want. What about you, Arden?”

  “I think I’ll try the special.”

  “Good choice,” Joni said. “Two specials.”

  “Okay.” The waitress scribbled down their orders and promised to return right away with their orange juice.

  “You don’t have to buy me breakfast. I have money.”

  “And a broken-down car. My mother is a teacher and I know they don’t make much money. Especially new ones.”

  “I know how this must look, but—”

  “No buts. Just accept breakfast with the same good grace you accepted our hospitality last night. Simply smile and say thanks.”

  Having someone offer to pay for anything was a new experience for Arden. Usually it was the other way around. People sat on their hands waiting for Arden to whip out her wallet and pay for their meals. And if someone did treat her, it was only because they wanted something in return. Joni didn’t know she was a Wexford, so she obviously didn’t have an ulterior motive. Joni was being nice because she was a nice person.

  Still, she didn’t feel right leaving Joni w
ith the wrong impression. It felt like lying by omission. And she hated liars. But Joni was adamant about buying breakfast and Arden didn’t want to insult her by refusing her offer. She’d let Joni buy her breakfast now and she’d treat Joni later.

  Arden smiled. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome,” Joni replied.

  Their waitress returned with their food, setting the plates before them. Arden picked up her fork, breathing in the delicious aromas. As they ate, Joni told Arden about life in Sweet Briar. She mentioned little tidbits about the different residents, but none of it was mean-spirited or gossipy. From what Arden heard and saw, Sweet Briar was almost too good to be believed.

  When they finished eating, Joni took several bills from her wallet and dropped them on the table.

  “I should at least leave the tip,” Arden offered, rummaging through her purse.

  “Not a chance. But if you want, you can help out at the youth center. I need to get some things together before the kids arrive.”

  “Sure. Whatever you need.”

  “Great.”

  After a short drive Joni pulled into a paved parking lot in front of a three-story building. Arden had come to think of Sweet Briar as a quaint town, so the dynamic mural with graffiti art wrapping around the outside of the building came as a pleasant surprise.

  Joni looked with pride at the building. “The youth center was built by the city, but the tax dollars we receive only go so far. Donations and grants keep us afloat. At least most of the time. We’re popular with the kids, though, and we’re filling a need. That’s what matters.”

  Joni popped open the trunk and grabbed a couple of boxes. Arden did the same and followed her inside. The trunk was loaded with bags and boxes so she knew several trips would be necessary. Joni turned off the alarm and flipped on the lights. “Just drop everything on the front counter for now.”