appeared Carson had found a waitress.
A cup of coffee appeared on the table in front of her. “Good morning.” She glanced up as Carson set another cup across from her. “Know what you want to eat?”
A few minutes later he returned with two plates of food and sat down with a sigh. “Man, I needed a break. Food service is tiring work.”
Susan could imagine, what with standing all day. When she looked up from her plate, she caught Carson studying her. Heat rose to her cheeks. She resisted the urge to cover the faint scars on her face. The surgeon had assured her they looked like nothing more than age lines.
“You look good this morning—rested.”
She relaxed. Yeah, she’d slept well. Making a decision helped. “Thank you. I did sleep well.” She grinned. “I guess having Hans nearby for protection eased my mind.”
He clapped his hand to his chest and laughed. Shannon’s heart thumped at the sound—and stopped all together at the dimples that appeared in his cheeks.
“I’m sorely wounded that you doubt my ability to defend and protect damsels in distress.”
She giggled. A first for her in several weeks. Her humor vanished. She didn’t want anyone to be responsible for her care, to go against Dewayne if he came for her.
“Shannon?”
She stiffened and met his eyes.
“Are you running from someone? Someone trying to hurt you—an abusive husband or boyfriend?” Yes, the man was intuitive, maybe too much so for her to stay here.
“No, what makes you think that?”
“The expression on your face.”
“Oh, that. I was remembering something from my past.”
His furrowed brow indicated he wasn’t convinced.
“Really. I’m on health leave from my job and plan to tour this area.”
“So, we might see more of you around here?”
“More coffee, honey?” The new waitress appeared between them with a pot in her hand.
Shannon wasn’t sure who the “honey” was directed to, but the woman never took her eyes off Carson. Her expression resembled a cat about to enjoy a bowl of cream. Shannon watched Carson to see if he encouraged her interest. She bristled at the blatant sexual suggestiveness of the other woman. Surely Carson could see through her machinations and realize her intent. Was she staking a claim?
“Yes, Gina, thanks.” He raised a brow in question in Susan’s direction, and she nodded. “Fill both our cups.”
“You’re welcome, honey.” She leaned forward and poured, her breasts on a level with Carson’s eyes. When Shannon caught him looking, his face reddened.
Smile of satisfaction on her face, the waitress filled Shannon’s cup and moved away to other customers.
Shannon couldn’t resist asking, “She wasn’t here the other day. Is she new?”
“Yeah. I’d hoped you’d come back and take the job.”
“Me?” Shannon looked around the room. She could do it, if she had to, but to maintain her image of being on health leave, she’d be safer not to appear to need work. “I appreciate the thought, but I wouldn’t want to take a job from one of the locals. Plus, I’m on paid leave, so I don’t need the money.”
“Ah, a woman of leisure.”
“Well, no, I wouldn’t say that. I’m still working on several accounts. I design websites in my spare time.” It hadn’t been her main career path, as she’d worked as a programmer until she resigned several months ago from the large firm where she’d worked for the past eight years. Her web design business was small, but she hoped to expand and obtain more clients in the near future.
He sat up straighter. “Really? Would you consider creating one for me? I’d like to bring in more business.”
“Sure.” This was working out perfectly. “How about we trade services? Free hookups and meals for three weeks in exchange for the website.”
His eyes narrowed, brow furrowed. He sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “Nope, can’t do that.”
Oh, shoot. She’d asked for too much, or maybe he
A cup of coffee appeared on the table in front of her. “Good morning.” She glanced up as Carson set another cup across from her. “Know what you want to eat?”
A few minutes later he returned with two plates of food and sat down with a sigh. “Man, I needed a break. Food service is tiring work.”
Susan could imagine, what with standing all day. When she looked up from her plate, she caught Carson studying her. Heat rose to her cheeks. She resisted the urge to cover the faint scars on her face. The surgeon had assured her they looked like nothing more than age lines.
“You look good this morning—rested.”
She relaxed. Yeah, she’d slept well. Making a decision helped. “Thank you. I did sleep well.” She grinned. “I guess having Hans nearby for protection eased my mind.”
He clapped his hand to his chest and laughed. Shannon’s heart thumped at the sound—and stopped all together at the dimples that appeared in his cheeks.
“I’m sorely wounded that you doubt my ability to defend and protect damsels in distress.”
She giggled. A first for her in several weeks. Her humor vanished. She didn’t want anyone to be responsible for her care, to go against Dewayne if he came for her.
“Shannon?”
She stiffened and met his eyes.
“Are you running from someone? Someone trying to hurt you—an abusive husband or boyfriend?” Yes, the man was intuitive, maybe too much so for her to stay here.
“No, what makes you think that?”
“The expression on your face.”
“Oh, that. I was remembering something from my past.”
His furrowed brow indicated he wasn’t convinced.
“Really. I’m on health leave from my job and plan to tour this area.”
“So, we might see more of you around here?”
“More coffee, honey?” The new waitress appeared between them with a pot in her hand.
Shannon wasn’t sure who the “honey” was directed to, but the woman never took her eyes off Carson. Her expression resembled a cat about to enjoy a bowl of cream. Shannon watched Carson to see if he encouraged her interest. She bristled at the blatant sexual suggestiveness of the other woman. Surely Carson could see through her machinations and realize her intent. Was she staking a claim?
“Yes, Gina, thanks.” He raised a brow in question in Susan’s direction, and she nodded. “Fill both our cups.”
“You’re welcome, honey.” She leaned forward and poured, her breasts on a level with Carson’s eyes. When Shannon caught him looking, his face reddened.
Smile of satisfaction on her face, the waitress filled Shannon’s cup and moved away to other customers.
Shannon couldn’t resist asking, “She wasn’t here the other day. Is she new?”
“Yeah. I’d hoped you’d come back and take the job.”
“Me?” Shannon looked around the room. She could do it, if she had to, but to maintain her image of being on health leave, she’d be safer not to appear to need work. “I appreciate the thought, but I wouldn’t want to take a job from one of the locals. Plus, I’m on paid leave, so I don’t need the money.”
“Ah, a woman of leisure.”
“Well, no, I wouldn’t say that. I’m still working on several accounts. I design websites in my spare time.” It hadn’t been her main career path, as she’d worked as a programmer until she resigned several months ago from the large firm where she’d worked for the past eight years. Her web design business was small, but she hoped to expand and obtain more clients in the near future.
He sat up straighter. “Really? Would you consider creating one for me? I’d like to bring in more business.”
“Sure.” This was working out perfectly. “How about we trade services? Free hookups and meals for three weeks in exchange for the website.”
His eyes narrowed, brow furrowed. He sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “Nope, can’t do that.”
Oh, shoot. She’d asked for too much, or maybe he
Similar Books
