Read Online Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) by Mitzi Pool Bridges - Free Book Online Page B

cook,” Nellie said. Talk about surprises. This was turning into a day of big ones.
    “Humph!” Emma frowned. “Girl can cook, all right. Too bad she isn’t a little nicer.”
    By now, Emma was on her feet. Dani handed her a cane. “Okay. You wanted a cinnamon roll, let’s go.”
    “You could’ve gotten it for me. I didn’t have to leave the house,” Emma whined.
    “Not an option,” Dani said firmly. “You want it, you have to get it yourself.”
    Dani held the door open. Emma, leaning heavily on her cane, glared at her as she limped past and into the diner.
    “Wonderful job, Dani,” Nellie whispered.
    “Believe me, Nellie, the woman is as exasperating as my dad.”
    “He’s in the back booth. He’ll be glad to see you.”
    “No!”
    “Yes. Now go in and say hello.”
    Turning, Nellie left, wishing she’d stayed a little longer. Emma seemed to be taking orders from a girl more than three times younger than herself. Neither gave an inch. Now Nellie knew what Molly meant about them being quite a pair.
    ****
    Beau wanted to follow Nell out. Ask for a date; anything to get her alone again. Instead he sat there like a lump, confused and uncertain. He’d never had this problem with women. He had a glib line they seemed to like. He enjoyed their company for a short time until another woman caught his eye. Now his thoughts were on one woman, different from the others—as different as his life was now from his previous one.
    That was good. Wasn’t it?
    He rubbed a hand over his face, inhaled the soft scent of lavender Nell left in her wake.
    What were his intentions anyway? That would be the first question Donovan would ask if Beau ever gathered the courage to ask Nell for a date. Was he out to have a good time like he was with his previous lady friends? Nope. Was he serious? Big question. Or was he just being neighborly? The woman was attractive. Why not see each other and see where it went?
    Taking the last bite of his roll, the last sip of coffee, he looked around the diner. Lots of customers. Nell was right. Where would everyone meet if Molly closed? He spotted his daughter as she led an older woman inside. The thought of Dani being a caretaker made his heart turn over. When he’d first learned what she planned to do, he’d been aghast. Dani didn’t have the will or the stamina. Nor did she have the know-how. But here she was, two weeks into the job and was still at it.
    He had to give her credit for her stick-to-it-ness.
    “Hi, Dad.”
    “Dani.” He rose from his seat until the older woman was settled, then sat back down when Dani slid in beside her. “How are you?”
    “Great.”
    “This must be Emma Wells.”
    “Sorry. Emma, this is my dad, Beau Chandler.”
    Emma leaned closer to get a better look. “Don’t look a thing like him, except for the eyes.”
    “She favors her mother.” Beau told her.
    “Did her mother have a smart mouth?”
    “Uh…”
    “That’s okay, Dad. Emma enjoys being crabby.”
    He sat back and eyed the two of them as they glared at each other.
    Then laughed.
    Dani turned on him, her mouth open and ready to pounce when Molly showed up. “It’s great to see you out and about, Emma,” she said as she removed Nell’s barely touched roll.
    “That’s because this girl won’t do as she’s told.”
    “Maybe that’s a good thing. You want to get back to your old self, don’t you?”
    “Just bring me one of those rolls and a cup of coffee. I don’t need anybody else trying to get me to do things I hate doing,” Emma snapped.
    Molly’s gaze swung to Dani. “How about you? What would you like?”
    “A roll and a diet coke.”
    Molly limped away to get their order. Beau thought she might be retiring a lot sooner than Nell thought.
    He wanted to talk to Dani but couldn’t do it here. Emma glowered at everyone who came by to say hello. He could swear that was everyone in the place.
    When Molly set their orders down, Emma spoke up. “Cancel my food deliveries