Her ringtone erupted.
“Go ahead and get that,” he said. “I’ll finish the floor.”
She let go of the mop and walked over to the counter as she pulled out her phone. “Hey.” She paused. “Right now? We can’t do it another time?” She sighed. “All right, I’ll be there.” She slipped her phone back into her apron. “I’ve got to go,” she said. “Is it all right if I clock out early?”
“Sure.” He was the boss, wasn’t he?
“Thanks.”
He went back to mopping the floor, flinching when he heard the back door shut as she left. He leaned on the handle and blew out a breath. She was obviously out of sorts. Or maybe he was reading more into her mood than was there. He was tired, too, and they’d both had a long, eventful day. She’d said the kiss was no big deal.
It was a big deal to me.
Tanner finished cleaning up and shut everything off for the night. He left the diner and headed to his Jeep, then stopped when he saw the lights on in #3. Weird, because hecould have sworn there wasn’t any power hooked up to the building.
Then he saw Harper’s red Mercedes in the parking lot. Had someone finally bought the abandoned place? He hoped so. A new business downtown would be good for Maple Falls, and as Hayden had shown, cross-promotion worked. He made a mental note to call Hayden tomorrow, not only to thank him for sending so much business to Sunshine but to see if he knew what was going on with #3.
Whoever the new owner was, he wished him good luck and a lot of success.
Chapter15
On Sunday morning Anita settled against the supple leather of Kingston’s Audi SUV. He had picked her up from her house a few minutes ago, and she was looking out the window as they left Maple Falls and headed for Hot Springs. Her mind had been whirring since Wednesday, and it hadn’t slowed down. Even work hadn’t given her enough of a distraction, and when she had spilled coffee on Olivia’s Aunt Bea’s flowery—and very bright—top, she’d known she had to get it together.
So many things had happened this week. Harper had called Wednesday night saying Bob’s Realtor was ready to show the building—right that minute. She’d been glad for the interruption, because things between her and Tanner were awkward again. And it was her fault. She never should have kissed him in front of Heather like that. But she’d been so angry, and he was so hot—
“You’re quiet this morning,” Kingston said as he merged onto the highway. “Is something on your mind?”
“Nope. Nothing.”
“How’s work been?” he asked.
She should have known he wouldn’t let up. He wasn’t exactly nosy, but he did like to know what was going on with her. An annoying trait that came from the heart. “Good.”
“Just good?”
She didn’t look at him. “Yes.”
“Huh.”
That made her turn. As usual, Kingston looked like he’d stepped out of a fashion magazine—a conservative one, of course. He was dressed in khaki pants, a pale-green-and-white-checked short-sleeved shirt, and tan loafers, every stitch of clothing pressed and shined, along with his short blond hair. He always dressed like this when they went to brunch because this style pleased their mother. Anita doubted Mom was aware that her clean-cut son had an impressive collection of classic-rock concert shirts stashed away in his condo.
“What do you mean, ‘huh’?” she asked.
“Normally you have a story or two about the diner customers, or you talk about something funny or interesting that happened in the kitchen—”
“Nothing happening at the diner,” she blurted. “Or in the kitchen. Especially not behind the bar.”
Kingston glanced at her. “When was the last time you had a vacation?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Because you’re acting weird. First the drinking—”
“That was one time, and one time only.”
“—and now you’re dodging my question about work. Which makes me think something has happened.”
Not wanting her brother to worry, she said, “Somethinghas happened. But I want to tell you and Mom and Dad at the same time.”
