“Anything interesting happening today, Daisy gal?”
Leaning her hip against the counter in the diner’s kitchen, Daisy Parker watched Ike scramble eggs on the flattop with the expertise of a five-star gourmet chef. She could almost forget he was a short-order cook, because the man had a palate of a food critic and the skills of a French-trained gourmand.
He added salt and pepper and a heaping handful of sharp cheddar, and within moments piled it onto a plate with bacon and sausage. Two slices of buttered Texas Toast were added to the order, along with a single orange slice. She remembered him teasing her in the past, calling it fancying up the plate.
“I’ve got the rest of the afternoon off, and all day tomorrow. Jackie is going to cover my shift, while I spend a few hours pampering myself from head to toe.”
Ike placed the hot plate on the counter and grinned at her. “Guess that means Derrick Williamson’s coming to town.”
Heat flooded her face, and she knew the blush would be visible with her fair skin. Being a natural blonde, she tended to blush easily and turned a most unbecoming shade of bright red. She’d always wished she were one of those women who look adorable when they blushed—she looked like she had a two-day-old sunburn. She fingered a lock of her hair, loving the dark blue streaks she’d applied a couple days earlier. If there was one vice she’d claim proudly, it was experimenting with her hair color. Blues, greens, pinks – she’d worn a virtual rainbow of hues over the past couple of years. Called it her signature, her style. All she cared was it made her feel young and alive, and if some of the fuddy-duddies didn’t like it, though.
“I have no idea if Derrick’s coming to town. Not like it’s my business.”
Ike slid a stack of flapjacks with link sausages beside the scrambled egg plate and added the bottle of maple syrup to the tray. Not the cheap stuff, either. There were only a couple of things Ike insisted on when he was cooking. Fresh ingredients whenever possible, and real honest-to-goodness maple syrup. Since he was one of the best cooks west of the Mississippi, she indulged his whims. It was a small price to pay to keep the old grump happy. But he was her old grump, and she adored him.
“Seems like Williamson’s been showing up more and more lately. How do you feel about that, Daisy gal?”
“He’s had lots of work in the area recently. It’s not like he’s coming just to see me, Ike.”
“Seriously? Are you blind? Haven’t you noticed how he hangs around the diner when he’s in town? And don’t tell me Patti Boudreau wouldn’t feed him up at the Big House, the way she does all the strays who end up in Shiloh Springs. He ain’t hanging around the diner to see my ugly mug.” He paused and scratched at the perpetual salt-and-pepper stubble that seemed ever present on his chin. “Of course, could be he keeps coming back for the food.”
“I’m sure that’s it.” She grinned at Ike, then picked up the two plates and added them to the tray. With an almost imperceptible grunt, she hefted it high and carried the loaded tray through the swinging door separating the kitchen from the dining room. A fleeting thought raced through her mind. Could Ike be right? Derrick did tend to hang around the diner a lot when he was in Shiloh Springs, but she figured he liked the food, and it was a central location for meeting with everyone, especially Rafe and Antonio.
Stopping beside a booth toward the back of the diner, she smiled at Jill Monroe and Lucas Boudreau. They were cuddled together on one side of the booth, his arm around Jill’s shoulders. Daisy was thrilled for them both because she knew and respected them. Lucas had loved Jill for the longest time, and more than once he’d confided in Daisy how he felt about the town’s pretty baker. How he’d lost her through his stupidity and couldn’t figure out how to win her back. Luckily, he’d gotten his head screwed on straight, and now they were getting their happily ever after.
A tiny surge of the green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head made her wonder if she’d ever get her own Mr. Wonderful. She quashed it down, refusing to let the what ifs and maybes take away from being happy for her friends. Too bad all those Boudreau men were like brothers to her, because any one of them would make an ideal mate. Oh, well…
“Here you go, folks. Ike said to eat it while it’s hot.”
“It looks delicious. Tell him thanks.” Lucas dug into the pancakes like he hadn’t seen real food in days. Daisy grinned. Now there was a sight she never got tired of: Watching people dig into their orders and finding real enjoyment from the meal. It gave her a sense of rightness, and she never regretted moving to Shiloh Springs to help her uncle with the diner after his stroke.
“Daisy, want to get together later? We need to go over what you’re going to need for next week.” Jill’s sweet smile matched her personality. Several months ago, she had entered a business arrangement with Ms. Patti and opened a bakery on Main Street. Almost from the start, she’d made a business agreement with Jill to supply baked goods for the diner. Ike might be an amazing cook, but a baker? Only if you wanted to eat burnt cookies, half-baked pies, and sawdust cakes. Jill’s bakery, How Sweet It Is, had become a lifesaver to patrons of the diner who wanted something sweet after their meal.
“Can’t today, Jill. I’ve got plans this afternoon. How about we get together on Monday?”
“That works. I’ll text you with a time if that’s okay?”
“Sounds good. Y’all need anything else?”
Lucas shook his head, a forkful of pancakes halfway to his mouth. When Daisy’s gaze met Jill’s, they both laughed, knowing he didn’t have a clue. Most of their business meetings consisted of setting a schedule of baked treats for the diner, and then drinking coffee and sampling new flavors or products Jill came up with. The winners were sold in the bakery. The losers went into their bellies. As far as Daisy was concerned, it was a win-win.
“So,” Jill’s voice held the slightest hint of laughter, “you’ve got plans this afternoon. Does that mean Derrick’s coming to town?”
Daisy threw her hands up in the air. “Why is everybody assuming because I’m taking a day off it has anything to do with Derrick Williamson? Honestly, I don’t have a clue what the man’s plans are, or whether he’s headed for Shiloh Springs. I have an appointment for a total spa day. Manicure, pedicure, facial, and massage. It’s been way too long since I took a ‘me’ day.”
“What a great idea. You deserve to pamper yourself. You work yourself ragged, making sure the diner is running smoothly. If I’d known earlier, we could have made a day of it. Next time, call me. I’ll gather the other ladies, and we’ll have a total women’s only party.” Jill shot Lucas a side-eyed glare. “It’s not like the guys don’t get together all the time and have their guy’s night out. We should totally do the same.”
“You’re on.” Daisy gave Jill a high five and left them to their food. She’d spotted Jackie a couple minutes ago and wanted to go over things with her before she headed out. Jackie was new to Shiloh Springs, having moved to town six weeks earlier. When she’d applied for the part-time waitress position, Daisy took one look at her resume and hired her on the spot. She hadn’t regretted the decision. Jackie hadn’t missed a shift and worked harder than any waitress she’d had before.
“Hey, boss lady. Anything I need to worry about?”
“Nope. The breakfast crowd was insane. The lunch rush is pretty much over, so you shouldn’t have any problems. Ike’s got your back if you run into anything you’re not sure about. I’m only a phone call away if there’s an emergency.”
Jackie tied a pristine white apron around her waist, covering the light-colored jeans and red T-shirt, the standard uniform for wait staff at the diner. Daisy wasn’t too concerned about having fancy uniforms; comfort over frills was her motto. Besides, it wasn’t the clothes that kept the patrons coming back. It was the friendly atmosphere and Ike’s famous five-alarm chili. And his chicken-fried steak. And his pot roast. Of course, everybody knew the biggest draw was his burgers. People had been known to drive fifty miles or more just to get one of Ike’s burgers. The man had the magic touch when it came to the classic diner staples. She’d begged and pleaded to know what he did to make them taste so good, but he simply grinned, said it was a secret family recipe, and he was taking it to the grave.
“Go. Have fun, you deserve it.” Jackie stuffed a ticket book in the front pocket of the apron, ready to take over for the afternoon. She’d also handle opening the diner tomorrow morning. A tiny itch at the back of her brain protested the thought of somebody else taking care of her baby, her pride and joy, but she pushed the unwarranted thought down. Jackie hadn’t done a thing to make her feel that way, and Ike would be here, so nothing bad was going to happen.
Daisy walked the few steps toward the kitchen and pushed open the swinging door and waved at Ike. “I’m out of here. Jackie’s got the front covered. Call me if the place catches fire.”
“Get out of here, Daisy gal. The place will still be standing when you come back.”
Shaking her head, she grinned and turned to leave, but froze in her tracks. Illuminated in the open doorway of the diner stood the man who’d been occupying more and more of her thoughts over the last few months. Dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a white button-front shirt, a tan cowboy hat atop his head, he looked like he’d just rode into town after a day working the ranch. Nobody looking at him dressed this casually would mistake him for the man in charge of the Austin branch of the FBI. He reached up and removed the cowboy hat, revealing close-cropped sandy brown hair with golden highlights from the sunshine behind him. She’d always secretly wished he’d grow it a little longer. Her fingers itched to slide through it because it looked soft and silky and oh-so-touchable. When his brown-eyed gaze met hers, a slow, sexy smile curved his lips upward. A faint fluttering in the pit of her stomach had her clenching her hands at her sides. Dang, the man was fine, fine, fine.
Movement at his side drew her eyes to the mini-me version standing at his side, shifting restlessly from foot to foot. She’d met Derrick’s son a couple times when he’d brought the nine-year-old into the diner when they’d been in Shiloh Springs. Ian Williamson was a cute kid, looking like a youthful version of his father. Right now, though, he didn’t look all that happy to be here. His ever-present video game was clutched in his hand. When his father leaned closer and whispered something, Daisy couldn’t help seeing the kid’s eye roll. Oh, yeah, somebody didn’t want to be here. Was it the diner that drew his displeasure, or the fact he was in small-town Texas instead of his condo in the big city?
“Good afternoon, Derrick. Ian. Nice to see you.” Daisy couldn’t help noticing the way Derrick gave her a once over, then reached out and tugged on one of the deep blue streaks in her hair.
“Hello, Daisy. I like the blue.”
“Thanks. Feel free to grab a seat wherever you’d like. Jackie will be with you in a minute to take your order.” She hitched the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder, ready to shimmy past the taller man. Broad shoulders took up almost the entire opening, and her breath caught in the back of her throat at the thought of her body sliding past his. She swallowed and almost reached up to check for drool.
“Ian?” Derrick’s voice was low and filled with an unspoken command. The look he shot his son brooked no defiance. There was no anger there, simply a questioning look that accompanied his one word.
“Sorry, Dad, I forgot.” Ian scuffed one tennis shoe against the linoleum floor, not meeting her eyes. “Hi, Daisy. It’s nice to see you.”
Her brows rose at the obviously rehearsed greeting. Shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, she answered. “Hi, Ian. It’s nice to see you, too.”
“Go ahead and grab us a booth, kiddo. I need to talk to Daisy for a second. Order me a burger and fries if Jackie gets there before me.”
Without a word, Ian raced toward the back, grabbing the last booth and clamoring onto the seat. Immediately the video game was held in both hands, his concentration lost to everything but the battle taking place in front of his face. Daisy wondered if she’d ever been that focused and driven over something so innocent and frivolous as a game.
“How’ve you been, Daisy?” Derrick’s deep voice pulled her back to where she stood, and the quivering inside her intensified.
“Fine. What brings you to Shiloh Springs this time—business or pleasure?”
“Mostly pleasure. I have a quick meeting with Rafe and then I’ve got the whole weekend to relax. And by relax, I mean Ms. Patti is going to show me a couple of places to rent. It doesn’t make sense to keep staying at the Creekside Inn, since we’ve been coming here so much. There are things about Shiloh Springs I like—quite a lot.” His words were accompanied by a quick grin.
“That’s wonderful. I’m sure she’ll find you a great place. Are you looking at apartments or houses?”
“Probably a mix of both. I want someplace where Ian will feel at home. He’s been through so much upheaval in the last year, I want to give him a sense of stability. Let him know that I’m not going anywhere, and he’s got a father he can count on.”
Though they’d talked multiple times whenever he’d been in the diner, and even once when they’d met up at Gracie’s Grounds, there was so much she didn’t know about the man. They’d tried a couple of times to have dinner, but life seemed determined to conspire against them. He’d gotten called back to Austin twice, having to cancel. Another time the circuit box at the diner got fried and hadn’t that been a fun and expensive night? She’d pretty much decided Fate didn’t mean for them to be anything but friends. So why did the man fascinate her more than any other? All the Boudreaus liked and respected him and considered him a friend. That counted for a lot in her books, but as far as romance and Derrick Williamson—it wasn’t gonna happen.
“I don’t know all the details, but I’m sure you’re a good father. Give him time. Change is never easy, especially for a kid.”
“Most kids don’t have their mothers abandon them.”
His words hit her like a slap to the face. While she’d known he was divorced and had been for several years, she had no idea Ian’s mother had walked out, leaving her child behind. She couldn’t imagine not wanting your own flesh and blood. A flood of memories washed through her, and she wanted to run. As fast and as far as her feet would carry her, away from the anguish, hurt, and disappointment. Instead, she pasted a smile on her face, not wanting Derrick to see how his words affected her.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea.” Reaching forward, she laid her hand on his forearm, feeling the tightly bunched muscles beneath her fingertips. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Thanks, I might take you up on that sometime. Right now, all I can do is let him know he’s wanted and that I’ll never leave him. Never.” Daisy heard the ring of promise in his words, knew he meant them with every breath.
“Well, then, I’ll let y’all get your lunch. I’ve got plans for a total head-to-toe makeover.”
His hand reached up and tugged lightly on the dark blue streak again. “Leave the blue. It suits you.”
“Alright. I kind of like it too. See you guys later.”
“Bye, Daisy.”
Taking a deep breath, she walked out the front door and climbed behind the wheel of her little yellow Bug. She loved the vivid, bright color, and didn’t care that it was older than dirt. It had belonged to her uncle, and he’d driven in for years before his stroke. When she’d moved back to Shiloh Springs to help take care of him, he’d paid Frank at the garage to make sure it was mechanically sound and had it painted the brilliant and bold color. He’d gifted it to her, along with the diner. While he’d recovered mentally from the stroke, and was sharp as a tack, physically he’d never be the same. The unexpected cardiovascular attack had damaged his heart as well as paralyzed his entire right side. He had trouble breathing, walking was out of the question, and he’d become dependent on a wheelchair and an electric scooter when he wanted mobility.
Pulling away from the diner, she headed for the day spa, more than ready to get a little pampering and to forget about everything but enjoying a little TLC.
Too bad she couldn’t stop thinking about a tall, dark Texan who could never be hers.