But his eyes moved to the fancy things in her hands and the ring on her finger and he frowned worriedly.
“I’ll be right back down,” she said quickly, rushing up the stairs with her things so he wouldn’t have a chance to tell her again to be careful.
Allie had spent her whole life being careful, and she was starting to realize that some things were worth taking a risk on.
21
ASH
Ash sat at the diner in Sugarville Grove after a day of touring the area with his investors.
From Hayes Maple Sugar Farm to the country store with its homespun Santa Claus station out back, and everything in between, including the village itself, the park with its beautiful decorations, and now Bean Counters Café, Ash had left no stone unturned as he introduced his three guests to the small town that had won his heart so thoroughly.
It had been a little odd to take a limo up and down the winding roads of the modest town and the surrounding farmland. But it was worth it to sit here now and watch the three of them remarking over the menu and the fun they’d had all day.
“Look at that,” Patrick Weathers said to Geraldine Sheen, who sat beside him. He was pointing at the menu and whatever she saw there made her smirk.
Ash felt a twinge of annoyance, and looked over at Doug Pruitt, who was seated beside him.
While Patrick and Geraldine were the slick, opinionated business types Ash had expected to encounter when he first met the three, Doug was a little older, and he took his time with things.
Right now, the silver-bearded man was scanning the drink menu, frowning to himself.
“What can I get you all?” a waitress asked, floating over to them all with a smile.
“Do you have anything gluten-free?” Patrick asked immediately.
“We serve breakfast all day,” the waitress said brightly. “We can do bacon and eggs with fruit for you, or even a steak or sausages.”
“Fine,” Patrick said, slapping his menu shut. “Bacon and scrambled egg whites with fruit, but not bananas. And coffee.”
“You’ve got it,” she said, jotting it down carefully before turning to Geraldine. “And for you?”
“Pancakes with that local syrup,” Geraldine said. “And a diet whatever.”
“Great,” the waitress said before turning to Doug.
“How long have you been working here for?” Doug asked her.
“Oh, well, I’m a newcomer here,” she said with a smile.
“What does that mean to you?” he asked.
“It means I’ve been here less than a generation,” she replied, chuckling. “I was an accountant in the city, and I was burnt out six ways from Sunday. I came out here and started this place a couple of years ago, hoping to live better.”
“That’s why it’s called Bean Counters,” Doug guessed. “Because you were an accountant.”
“Right you are,” she said, smiling. “My name is Tara.”
“Tara, has your menu changed much since you opened?” he asked her.
“Not really,” she said. “Most of my customers are creatures of habit and we all like to support the local businesses, so I source as much locally as I possibly can.”
“That’s wonderful,” Doug told her. “Thank you for answering all my nosy questions. I’ll take the BLT and a chocolate shake, big as they come.”
“Very good,” Tara said with a smile.
“Steak and eggs, please,” Ash told her when she looked to him. “Rare. And a cup of coffee.”
