For such a little girl, Jacks' eyes were piercing, as though she perceived more than other kids her age. "You're a kid doctor?"
Dad nodded.
Finally, Jacks grinned. "I dig it."
I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. This time when my dad smiled, it didn't look forced at all.
I looked down at my plate and caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Brody's hand was fisted on his thigh, so tightly that his knuckles were white.
Without thinking, I reached out and put my hand on his forearm. Then my brain kicked into gear and I froze. Before I could move my hand away, he reached over with his right hand and covered mine.
Holy shit. What was I doing? This was Brody Murphy. We didn't like each other and we definitely didn't hold hands.
I was saved from figuring out an awkward extrication by my mother's voice. She asked Brody a question and he shifted his hand when he turned toward her to respond.
My cheeks heated up and I knew my face was probably a bright pink beacon. I angled my head toward Sierra. When our eyes met, she bugged hers out as if to sayWhat was that?
I shrugged. I had no idea.
The expression on her face assured me that we would discuss this later. Since I'd rather yank out an ingrown toenail than have that chat, I decided I'd sneak Benadryl into her evening cup of coffee. The woman drank coffee morning, noon, and night. I'd seen her drain an entire pot a half hour before I found her facedown and drooling on her laptop.
As though she could read my mind, which wouldn't be a surprise after nearly a decade of friendship, Sierra cocked a single brow at me and shook her head once.
I was once again saved from our silent argument by my mother's voice.
"Cameron, aren't you going to eat? You'll have to leave for the shop soon and I don't want you to get hungry later."
Sierra smirked for a moment until Mom's voice continued. "And you, Sierra, finish your vegetables. I know your favorite food group is coffee, but you need proper nourishment. "
I couldn't suppress my snort, but I turned my attention to my plate and picked up my fork. Mom was right. I had to be at work shortly and I probably wouldn't have time for dinner until after I closed the shop down at eight.
* * *
Just as I expected,my afternoon and evening were busy. Though the shop was only open for five hours on Sunday, it was still one of my craziest days. Between the teenagers who liked to spend afternoons in the shop to the families that came in after church or dinner, Crave stayed hopping.
It was also unfortunate that one of the two part-timers I'd hired called in sick. This was the third Sunday in two months that she'd done it so I was beginning to wonder if she hadidontwannaworkitis.
By the time the shop closed, the soles of my feet were burning and my legs ached. I wanted nothing more than two ibuprofens, a hot bath, and my bed. All those things would have to wait though because there was a lot of cleanup to do and only two of us to do it.
As Kelly, my other part-time employee, and I finished the last of the washing-up, I pressed a hand to my lower back and vowed to have Sierra take a look at the books with me and find the money to hire an assistant manager. I couldn't keep working six, sometimes seven, days a week. Especially since my goal was to open up other locations in Texas. I wouldn't have time to do that if I spent every waking moment here.
"Bye, Cam," Kelly called. "See you Wednesday!"
"Bye!"
I did a final walk-through of the shop and everything looked clean and ready for me on Tuesday when I came in. Tomorrow, the shop was closed, but I had to make ice cream, pay bills, order stock, and take care of various other tasks associated with owning my own business.
I'd just checked the lock on the front door when I saw something dart past in my peripheral vision. I whirled around and stifled a scream when I saw the figure of a man standing not a foot from the door, his face nearly pressed to the glass.
It took my terrified mind a few seconds to realize who it was. Brody frowned at me and tapped on the glass when I continued to stand there and stare at him, my heart still thundering in my chest.
"Cam," he called.
I mulled over my choices, the events from earlier that day, and how badly my feet hurt. Then, I made my decision.
Without a word to him, I turned and walked toward the back of the store. The employee exit was in the kitchen and led to a small parking lot behind several of the buildings downtown.
I knew it was petty of me, but I just didn't have the energy to deal with Brody Murphy any more today. I grabbed my bag from my office, locked it up, shut out the lights in the kitchen, and set the alarm.
