Read Online Deep Autumn Heat by Elisabeth Barrett - Free Book Online
Authors: Elisabeth Barrett
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Dennis exclaimed. “I’m going with my parents. Maybe I’ll see you there?”
“You bet. But if I miss you, say ‘hi’ to your folks for me.”
“Will do. By the way, I want to thank you again for taking a chance on me with this job. My parents are really grateful, too. I need to save all the money I can for college next year. Things are a little tight at home and every bit helps.”
Lexie smiled at him and patted his arm. “Your mom was really kind to me when I first moved here. I’m happy to repay the favor. Besides, you’re doing a great job. It’s hard work, and I know you could’ve found something easier to do. We’re happy to have you on for as long as you can stay. And I’m holding open a position for you for next summer, if you want it.”
Dennis’s young face broke into a huge grin. “Really? That’d be awesome!”
“You don’t have to tell me now. I can hold it open for you until spring.”
“Wicked! Wait till I tell my mom. This’ll really help for school.”
“No problem. Now let’s finish cleaning up so we can get out of here and down to the Green.”
“Sure thing.”
Lexie, Buster, and Dennis worked in silence for another hour. At six-thirty, Lexie pronounced everything clean, and Dennis went home to join his family. There was still some time left before the movie, so Buster went upstairs to his apartment and Lexie planned out the week’s specials in the dining room. An hour or so later, Buster came back down with his jacket and some warm blankets and did a final sweep of the restaurant.
With his head, he gestured to the top of the file cabinet where they’d been keeping the packet of threatening notes from Paige. “Getting pretty full up there. Want to take them home?”
“Sure,” Lexie said, slipping them into her bag. “Why not? It’s not like they’re doing me any good here.”
They stepped onto the street and Lexie locked up the LMK behind her.
“You talk to Art?” Buster asked as they were walking toward the Green.
“No. I called, but I ended up speaking to some guy named Tony who apologized for the missed deliveries. Honestly, he seemed kind of distracted. I’ll try to reach Art, but I’m seriously wondering if we should consider a new supplier. We’ve been having problems with them for a month and it’s getting frustrating.”
Buster grunted his approval. “And the lawyer?”
“I’ll try to deal with that later this week.”
Soon, Lexie felt the crisp grass under her feet as she and Buster walked through the park to the field where the movie would be screened. In the dimming light, she could make out dozens of colorful blankets already laid out on the ground, families and friends gathering together to enjoy the first official holiday weekend of fall. Shining gas lamps surrounded the Green and a few scattered lamps were positioned throughout the park, too.
Lexie skirted the crowd, scanning for familiar faces, but at first glance she didn’t see anyone she knew. Buster set their blanket down close to the trees on the left side of the crowd, about twenty yards from the large screen that had been set up on the edge of the Green. Lexie was about to pop open their small cooler to get some hot cocoa when something rustled in the grass behind them. She turned expectantly, ready to make pleasantries with their temporary neighbor, but when she looked up, her greeting died in her throat.
It was Sebastian.
Lexie tensed and started to rise.
“Don’t go,” he said quickly. “At least, not on my account.”
Lexie sat there awkwardly, torn between leaving and staying. Buster tensed beside her, obviously ready to assist her however she needed.
“Seb?” another voice sounded in the evening air. Val Grayson suddenly appeared beside his brother. Lexie was well aware that Val was considered to be extremely handsome, but next to Seb, he seemed to fade into the background. She nodded hello to Val.
“Please, just sit down,” Lexie said before turning back
“You bet. But if I miss you, say ‘hi’ to your folks for me.”
“Will do. By the way, I want to thank you again for taking a chance on me with this job. My parents are really grateful, too. I need to save all the money I can for college next year. Things are a little tight at home and every bit helps.”
Lexie smiled at him and patted his arm. “Your mom was really kind to me when I first moved here. I’m happy to repay the favor. Besides, you’re doing a great job. It’s hard work, and I know you could’ve found something easier to do. We’re happy to have you on for as long as you can stay. And I’m holding open a position for you for next summer, if you want it.”
Dennis’s young face broke into a huge grin. “Really? That’d be awesome!”
“You don’t have to tell me now. I can hold it open for you until spring.”
“Wicked! Wait till I tell my mom. This’ll really help for school.”
“No problem. Now let’s finish cleaning up so we can get out of here and down to the Green.”
“Sure thing.”
Lexie, Buster, and Dennis worked in silence for another hour. At six-thirty, Lexie pronounced everything clean, and Dennis went home to join his family. There was still some time left before the movie, so Buster went upstairs to his apartment and Lexie planned out the week’s specials in the dining room. An hour or so later, Buster came back down with his jacket and some warm blankets and did a final sweep of the restaurant.
With his head, he gestured to the top of the file cabinet where they’d been keeping the packet of threatening notes from Paige. “Getting pretty full up there. Want to take them home?”
“Sure,” Lexie said, slipping them into her bag. “Why not? It’s not like they’re doing me any good here.”
They stepped onto the street and Lexie locked up the LMK behind her.
“You talk to Art?” Buster asked as they were walking toward the Green.
“No. I called, but I ended up speaking to some guy named Tony who apologized for the missed deliveries. Honestly, he seemed kind of distracted. I’ll try to reach Art, but I’m seriously wondering if we should consider a new supplier. We’ve been having problems with them for a month and it’s getting frustrating.”
Buster grunted his approval. “And the lawyer?”
“I’ll try to deal with that later this week.”
Soon, Lexie felt the crisp grass under her feet as she and Buster walked through the park to the field where the movie would be screened. In the dimming light, she could make out dozens of colorful blankets already laid out on the ground, families and friends gathering together to enjoy the first official holiday weekend of fall. Shining gas lamps surrounded the Green and a few scattered lamps were positioned throughout the park, too.
Lexie skirted the crowd, scanning for familiar faces, but at first glance she didn’t see anyone she knew. Buster set their blanket down close to the trees on the left side of the crowd, about twenty yards from the large screen that had been set up on the edge of the Green. Lexie was about to pop open their small cooler to get some hot cocoa when something rustled in the grass behind them. She turned expectantly, ready to make pleasantries with their temporary neighbor, but when she looked up, her greeting died in her throat.
It was Sebastian.
Lexie tensed and started to rise.
“Don’t go,” he said quickly. “At least, not on my account.”
Lexie sat there awkwardly, torn between leaving and staying. Buster tensed beside her, obviously ready to assist her however she needed.
“Seb?” another voice sounded in the evening air. Val Grayson suddenly appeared beside his brother. Lexie was well aware that Val was considered to be extremely handsome, but next to Seb, he seemed to fade into the background. She nodded hello to Val.
“Please, just sit down,” Lexie said before turning back
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