“Back in the kitchen. Just lean in the door and tell him what you want.” She points to the swinging door leading to the back.
“I might need to get some cereal and a toaster in my apartment,” I mutter. I’m not sure I want Bruce cooking my food now that I think about it. At least until I win him over by romancing his granddaughter.
“Oh, you don’t have anything to worry about. You treat Nora like the princess everyone here thinks she is, and you are going to be golden. Bruce will make you things off menu. And trust me, he’s an amazing cook. You’re going to miss breakfast here when you leave.”
Treat Nora like the princess everyone thinks she is. For some reason, I don’t think that’s going to be difficult.
“So I’m going to be okay?”
Everly grins. “Well, I didn’t say that. You’re going to have to treat Nora like the princess everyone thinks she is,” she repeats.
“Is that a high bar?”
“Nora could tell everyone that the sky is green, farts smell like candy, and eating mud will reverse the aging process, and they would all happily nod and go right along with it.”
“She’s a cult leader?”
Everly laughs. “She sure could be. Fortunately for us, she’s also smart, down to earth, and loves everyone right back.”
Suddenly, I realize that I may have gotten myself in over my head.
“So I need to talk Nora into having breakfast with me every day.”
Everly pats me on the shoulder on her way to the door. “You could do that. Or you could go have breakfast at that table by the window.”
I turn and find a table by the window occupied by one older gentleman who is nursing a cup of coffee and reading a book.
“Yeah?”
Everly nods. “Trust me.”
Then she steps behind the counter, leans in the door, and calls, “Hey, Bruce, we need a ham and cheese omelet and cheesy grits out here!”
“Fine!” comes the surly answer.
Everly lets the door swing shut and gives me a wink. “Have a good day, Alex.”
I take a deep breath and start toward the table by the window. “Hi. Would you mind if I join you?”
The man looks up and smiles at me. “Hi, Alex. Sure, sit down.”
I take the seat across from him, feeling immediately at ease. I extend my hand across the table. “Thanks.”
He takes my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Harley.”
Surprise ripples through me. “Harley. You’re Nora’s grandfather.”
His face lights up. “I am. And you’re her new boyfriend, from what I hear.”
I think I might be blushing. Fuck. I nod. “I couldn’t resist asking her out.”
He smiles. “I understand completely. And you’re brave.”
“Brave? Nora seems sweet,” I say with a grin.
He laughs. “She is. That’s why this whole town is protective of her, and you now have a town full of people who are going to want to be sure you treat her right.”
“So those jars will get even more stuffed full if I don’t take her on amazing dates?”
