“Your buddy Hayden, that’s what’s wrong. Did you know he was doing a ‘Buy two tools, get one free’ special today?”
“No. I haven’t talked to him in a while. He’s been busy with wedding plans.”And I’ve been busy with my own plans.“What does that have to do with the diner?”
“He’s been sending his customers over here after they finish shopping. Tanner, I’m not kidding you, there is a line down the block. Almost all the way to Knots and Tangles. We’re swamped, and we need help. I couldn’t get a hold of George, so you were next on the list.”
“Hold tight. I’m on my way.” He hung up and nearly fist pumped, stopping himself just in time so Anita didn’t get suspicious. Still, when he told her what Hayden had done, he couldn’t stop grinning. He owed him dinner or a cigar or probably both for sending so much business his way.
Anita got up from the table. “I’ll go with you.”
He shook his head. “That means almost a double shift for you today. I don’t mind working one.”
“I don’t either. I just need to change.”
Tanner shook his head, halfway to the front door already. “Don’t worry about it. You can wear that.”
She frowned. “George won’t like it.”
He grinned. “I promise he won’t mind.”
Chapter14
It was nearly four thirty by the time Anita was able to take a break. Fred had been right about the number of customers waiting to get into the diner, and with Mabel gone, she and Tanner were sorely needed to handle the crowd. This was the busiest she’d ever seen Sunshine; she and Bailey had practically worn a path in the floor between the dining area and the kitchen.
But while the rest of the crew was frantic, Tanner remained calm. He was also whistling, as if making a dozen hamburgers at a time was no big deal. And it probably wasn’t, considering how skilled he was as a cook. No, make that chef. He’d managed to make boxed pancake mix taste gourmet.
Bailey and Fred had clocked out a few minutes ago, leaving the diner empty . . . and her alone with Tanner. The past few hectic hours had distracted her from what happened this morning. She’d been so afraid and upset from her experience on the roof that it had barely registered when he told her hehadn’t coincidentally been in her neighborhood like she’d initially thought.
He wanted to have breakfast with me.
That not-so-little fact was sinking in now, and it made her smile. Just as friends, of course, and she was fine with that, even though when he’d held her hand to comfort her, she hadn’t wanted to let go. But there was no angst, and most of all no pining.
There was a connection between them, though. Admitting to her fear that she’d failed her parents was something she had never brought up with anyone before, and there had been no judgment from him, only encouragement. That reminded her of their tutoring sessions in high school. He’d never made her feel dumb, and he’d always boosted her confidence.
But it wasn’t only his response to her admission about her parents that made her feel closer to him. She was glad he had trusted her enough to discuss his father, and she hoped that if he needed to talk about his dad again, she would be there for him.
She would have to find a way to pay him back for helping her off the roof, though. That would take some thinking, because whatever she decided to do, it would have to be special.
She was standing at the counter, folding napkins around silverware still warm from the dishwasher, when Tanner appeared. His apron was covered with fresh food stains, proof of how busy they’d been. His continual smile was contagious, and she smiled back. “What a day,” she said, placing the wrapped silverware on a small pile in front of her.
“Definitely.” He started helping her. “I owe Hayden big time for today.”
That was an odd thing to say. “More like George owes him.”
“Ah. Right. George.” He ineptly wrapped the fork and knife and put it on the pile.
Anita picked it up with a smirk. “Leave this to me,” she said.
“Gladly.” He turned to leave. Suddenly he uttered a curse.
She stilled. She’d only heard him cuss a handful of times, and only when he was angry. She looked up from the silverware bundles. “What’s wrong—” Oh.
Heather was looking through the window.
Tanner grabbed Anita’s elbow and dragged her to the kitchen, out of sight of the serving window. “This isn’t good,” he said, starting to pace. The doorbell rang above the diner door, signaling that she had come inside. “This isnotgood.”
“I thought you blocked her,” Anita said, confused.
“I did.”
