Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 117443 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117443 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Sarah wrapped her arms around his waist. At that moment, Hawk came in. “Aw, now don’t hog it all, Cowboy,” he said, opening his arms wide for Sarah to come into them.
When Caleb entered he came up behind her and took hold of her hand. “Let’s see this thing in the light,” he commanded.
Tex grinned. “We’ve seen it before, but not on you,” he clarified, leaning in.
“He was so proud of himself,” Hawk declared, teasingly. “Brought it into the garage. Into the bar, to show Maria and Milo.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Sarah told them. “It’s perfect.”
Everyone sat down at the table and dug into the pancakes. “They’re just regular pancakes,” Sarah announced, trying to soften the blow. “There’s nothing in the pantry or the fridge. I need to go shopping today. Poker Night’s here at our place next week.” Tex and Hawk stopped fighting over the syrup long enough to cheer.
Hawk bit into his pancakes and screeched. “Demon!” he said, reaching down underneath the table. He brought Pepper up and set her down on his lap. She greedily licked syrup off his finger as he held the fork in his other hand. “Missed having you around,” he told the cat. “You keep me sharp, little demon. Don’t want to lose my edge,” Everyone laughed and the cat began to purr loudly.
Sarah set down her fork and wiped a tear off her cheek.
“Sarah?” Chris asked, leaning toward her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she told him sheepishly. “I like Family Breakfast,” she told him quietly.
********************
The next day, Sarah got a ride with Chris, who dropped her off at the bar. She slipped in through the front door and let her eyes adjust. Milo was there, perched on bar stool and Maria stopped washing a glass long enough to peer at her from across the bar. A few of the other patrons started murmuring amongst themselves. Sarah straightened her spine. Rapid City was a small town, no doubt about it. And she knew her return here would come with it’s own special challenges.
She ignored it and walked closer to the bar. She was nervous but tried not to show it. “Heard you need a watiress,” Sarah declared.
Maria narrowed her eyes. “What’s your name?”
Sarah halted, glanced furtively at the gawkers, and then back to Maria. She cleared her throat. “Um, Sarah. Sarah Davis.”
Maria nodded.
“Where you from, Sarah?”
“Raleigh. North Carolina. Just got off the plane.”
“Guess you’ve waited tables before.”
“Guess I have,” Sarah said, trying to hide her grin.
“Don’t hire slackers.”
“Well, good because I’m not one.”
“Last girl swore off men,” Maria announced.
Milo grinned this time. “Judging by that rock on her hand, she’s sworn off men, too.”
Even the regulars laughed.
“Well, I guess,” Maria said over the jukebox. “That that’s all we’ll be saying about that.” Apparently the patrons read her meaning loud and clear.
Sarah only did a half day. She said goodbye to Maria, who promised to write out a new schedule that night, kissed Milo on the cheek and went shopping because God knew she wasn’t going to be eating frozen tv dinners and whatever else Chris incorrectly deemed to be food. The man might be able to restore vintage log cabins but he couldn’t seem to put together a recipe and while it seemed odd, she accepted that everyone must have their limitations.
She arrived at Burnout in a cab, arms laden with grocery bags. The boys grabbed them from her and stowed them in Chris’ truck. She entered the office where Chris was sitting at the desk. “Can I have the keys? I’ve got frozen stuff from the grocery store.”
“Sure,” he told her, fishing in his pocket. “How’d it go at Maria’s?” he asked, following her back out in the service area.
“Got my job back,” she said brightly. “Everything else will work out.” She stopped under the large bay doors. “I need to go back out and get some more things. Can you get a lift home?”
Chris nodded but said, “It can’t wait until the weekend?” He had planned to knock off early.
Sarah shook her head. “No. I’ve got wedding stuff to buy.”
Chris looked at her askance. “Wedding,” he said slowly.
Sarah put her hand on her hip. “You asked me to marry you.”
Chris’ eyebrows knitted together and he risked a glance at the guys. “Um, yeah. I was there. I remember.”
She nodded. “So I’ve got wedding stuff to buy.”
“Sarah, baby, it can wait until the weekend. I can-”
“The wedding is next weekend.”
Chris’ mouth dropped open. “Well....that’s...”
“You’re not busy,” she asked the others.
Hawk grinned broadly and shook his head. “Ah, nope. Not busy. Not busy at all.”
“Well, good,” Sarah announced. “Because we’re getting married. Next weekend.” To Chris she said, “I just thought you should know.”
She turned and walked to the truck.
Hawk, Tex, and Easy guffawed riotously. “Well, I guess we got our Slick back,” Hawk declared.
“And then some,” Tex said grinning.