Read Online Construction Beauty Queen by Sara Daniel - Free Book Online

comment he’d made to Veronica. Whether she needed curtains on her windows or not, he shouldn’t have flirted with her. He was her boss, and his impressionable niece was within earshot.
    “Hey, my favorite couple.” Pauline greeted them with a wide smile as they stepped inside the restaurant. “Take a seat, and I’ll be right with you. You’re in luck. I’m trying out a bunch of new espresso recipes today.”
    Jenny led him to a table in the middle of the restaurant. He raised a hand in greeting to the chairwoman of the library board and her husband in a booth near the door and a family from Jenny’s school at the table next to them. All of them gave him a subtle headshake on the espressos.
    Jenny picked the seat facing the door. Matt settled in across from her as Pauline bustled back. “I have cinnamon-mocha-apple, caramel pistachio, cherry-vanilla-squash, and hazelnut parfait espressos,” she said.
    “We’ll just have the usual,” Matt told her.
    “Are you sure?” Pauline’s enthusiasm deflated. “These espressos are the best yet.”
    “Grilled cheese is the best,” Jenny declared.
    The usual meant milk to drink, along with grilled cheese for Jenny and the cook’s nightly special for Matt. Liver and onions was the only meal that Matt couldn’t stomach, and only on those nights did he reluctantly venture into trying Pauline’s bizarre concoctions.
    Pauline set out two glasses and uncapped the jug of milk. The front door jingled, and she poured the milk right over the rim of his glass.
    “You’re overflowing,” he said, since she didn’t appear to notice. The white liquid headed straight for his lap.
    She set down the jug and handed him a stack of napkins, all with her gaze locked on the front door. “Oh my gosh. The city girl has come to my diner!” She rushed across the room to pump Veronica’s hand. “You are going to love my espressos, honey.”
    “Uh, thanks. You can call me Veronica.” She shot Matt a questioning glance, as Pauline led her to a table directly in front of the door.
    “I’m going to let you try one of each flavor.” Pauline rattled them off again. “And you have to give me your honest-to-goodness opinion if they’re better than what you drink in those fancy coffee shops, okay?”
    “Um, sure. May I order some food, too?” Veronica’s eyes lit up with amusement as she smiled at Pauline.
    “We’ll get to that. The good stuff comes first.” She bustled away.
    Veronica’s gaze flicked around the room, where no one would meet her eye. When her gaze came to him, Matt nearly laughed out loud. “Welcome to the diner.”
    Her eyes widened. “Are these espressos like Barney’s ‘gifts’ from the convenience store?” she whispered.
    “Nope. Pauline doesn’t play favorites. She’ll try out her concoctions on anyone who’s not quick enough to order the nightly special.”
    Pauline came back before Veronica could reply and set four mugs and saucers in a row in front of her, along with a pen and an inch-thick stapled booklet.
    Jenny’s eyes widened. “Uncle Matt, she’s not really going to taste test, is she? Someone has to warn her.”
    “I think it’s too late,” Matt murmured back as Pauline opened to the first page in the booklet.
    “See this checklist? I want you to rate each of these drinks on a scale of one to ten based on the criteria on the paper. I doubt it would happen, but just in case, if you rate anything less than a ten, please write an explanation below. I have extra blank pages in the back if you need more space.” Pauline smiled widely at her.
    “Okay,” Veronica said uncertainly.
    “I need to check on the rest of my customers. I’ll be right back.” Pauline hurried away, a spring in her step.
    Veronica raised an eyebrow at Matt.
    He shrugged, but his stomach felt queasy. “If you want, whisper to her to mark everything perfect tens,” he said to Jenny.
    “I’ll spill a couple on the floor, too, so she doesn’t have to drink them