She should get Jasper his tea, but since he hadn’t asked for it yet and he seemed to be engrossed with Tanner and Heather right now, she stayed put. She tilted her head toward them, trying to hear what they were saying. Or rather what Heather was saying. Tanner simply stood with his arms crossed, nodding his head as she continued to talk.
The bell above the diner door rang out as two couples she didn’t recognize walked inside. All Sunshine diners seated themselves, and as they decided on a table, Anita stood. “I’ll get your tea,” she said to Jasper. “Do you need anything else?”
“Supper,” he said, still staring at Tanner and Heather. “I skipped lunch, and I’m peckish.”
Anita nodded. But as she made her way over to the two couples on the opposite side of the diner, her heart sank. Heather was leaning forward and showing Tanner not only her phone but almost everything the good Lord had given her from the waist up. If that wasn’t bad enough, their heads were almost touching.
“Excuse me, miss?” One of the women lifted her hand. “Can we get a menu, please?”
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry.” Anita hurried to the end ofthe counter and grabbed four menus, trying to ignore Tanner and Heather as she went over to the table. “Our specials are on the board,” she said, handing them their menus. “Can I get you something to drink?”
She tried to focus on their orders, something she could do in her sleep. But when Heather giggled behind her, her pencil tip snapped against the menu pad.
“Did you catch our order?” a man with a white straw hat said, looking at the broken pencil point.
“Yes. Two iced teas, one Diet Coke, and a glass of water.”
“Thank you.”
Anita shoved the broken pencil behind her ear and headed for the drink machine.
“See you later, Tanner,” Heather said, sliding off the stool. She swung her long brown hair, streaked with blond, behind one shoulder and slipped the strap of an expensive-looking purse over the other one.
“Uh, see you.” Tanner gave her a quick wave.
Anita scurried to the kitchen and filled the drinks before anyone noticed she was lingering. When Tanner followed her, all she said was, “Jasper’s hungry.” He nodded and started on the man’s supper—one slice of pot roast, green beans, a dinner roll, and mashed potatoes, no gravy. She filled Jasper’s tea glass, set it on the tray with the other beverages, grabbed another pencil from the cup by the door, and went back to the dining room.
Envy swirled within her, along with a fat dose of irritation. Tanner obviously hadn’t taken her advice last night, or even today since Heather had said she would see him later. Had he even seriously considered what she said, or was hejust being polite when he thanked her? And what about him being too busy to date? Was he lying about that too?
None of this lined up with the Tanner she knew... or thought she knew. She reminded herself that there were years of his life she knew nothing about. But still, she’d never imagined a woman like Heather would be a part of that life.
For the rest of the afternoon and evening she tried not to think about the two of them as she completed her shift with Pamela and Kevin, who had clocked in at four. It helped that Tanner hadn’t said much. No doubt he was thinking about being with Heather, while Anita was struggling not to picture the two of them together.
After the diner closed, she dawdled in the kitchen while everyone left except for her and Tanner. He had taken off his apron and hairnet and was smoothing down his newly short hair. He didn’t need to bother because the light-brown waves were still perfect. She’d always liked his long hair, but now that it was short...Swoon.
Stop it!She needed to leave now, while she was still upset and confused. All she had to do was go to George’s office, clock out, and put Tanner and thatmisguidedwoman out of her mind.
Tanner walked up behind her. “Anita?”
Warmth traveled her spine at his low, husky voice.I’m hopeless.
“Would you mind closing up for me? I’m kind of in a hurry.”
His words hit her like a bucket of cold lemonade, a Sunshine Diner staple in the summertime. “Sure.” Trying to be nonchalant, she turned around, twirling the pencil shewas holding between her fingers. Two twirls in and it flew out of her hand, hitting the floor.
“I got it.” Before she could move, he had already swooped it up.
When he handed it to her, she blurted, “Do you have plans tonight?”
“Last-minute ones, yeah.”
That confirmed he was going to see Heather.
She’d better appreciate you.
His brow furrowed. “What?”
Had she said that out loud? She had to stop doing that in front of him. “Nothing.” Her forced laugh sounded like she was choking on a basket of fries.
