Nicole waited until he was out of earshot before she let the laughter escape. Duke snorted beside her, as if he found the whole thing equally amusing. Her hand on the horse’s neck, she patted him softly and leaned in. “Interesting man, isn’t he?”
Chapter Eleven
Your destination will be six hundred feet ahead.The GPS had been giving him directions in feet as if he could measure distance with a glance. If a football field was 100 yards, or 300 feet, could anyone really tell how far away two football fields was?
What Seamus O’Farredeigh did know is that he’d been driving all day on an empty stomach and was most definitely starving. The Silver Spurs Café sounded like the perfect small town greasy spoon for a good meal. A few more yards—okay, according to the GPS, a lot more yards—he could see the neon sign for the eatery ahead. Pulling into the parking lot, he threw the gear into park and stared at the building. So far the small town looked like it had popped out of an episode of an old cozy mystery show, like Jessica Fletcher’s Cabbot Cove. Only in dusty West Texas there was no harbor or lobster traps. If anything, it could probably be a modern day setting for the old western TV show,Gunsmoke.
Turning the key and cutting the engine, he slid out of the truck and sucked in a deep breath. Food first. Housing second. Farradays last. Crossing the threshold, a bell over the doorway announced his arrival. So far, nothing about this place disappointed. The character inside matched the outside.
An attractive woman in a waitress uniform hurried his way, a stack of menus in her arms. “Welcome. Table for dinner?”
“Please.” He bobbed his head.
“How many?” Her smile stayed fixed on him.
“Just one, please.”
Now the woman nodded and gestured for him to follow her. She led him to the back right side of the café and pointed to the last booth in the corner. “This way you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of all the folks in town, or if you prefer, a bit of privacy.”
“Thank you.” Grinning back came easy. This lady seemed truly friendly. “I’m also going to need a room for a couple of nights. Any recommendations?”
“If you want to stay in Tuckers Bluff you’ll only have one choice. My sister-in-law runs a bed and breakfast. Everyone loves the renovated Victorian. Give me a minute and I’ll give her a call to see if she has any vacancies.”
“Thank you. That would be very helpful.”
Another minute as he perused the menu and the blackboard with the daily specials and the waitress was back with silverware and water. “If you’re looking for suggestions, Frank’s meatloaf is the special and it’s always a hit.”
“Very well.” He put the menu down and glanced at the name pinned to her uniform. “I’ll do the meatloaf, Abbie.”
Her grin widened. “Meatloaf it is, but save room for dessert.”
“Will do.” He watched folks wander in. Abbie greeted most by name and not once did her smile falter. When an attractive redhead walked in with two small children, a little girl and a boy, the waitress’s face beamed. Judging by the way the little boy wrapped his arms around her neck, he got the impression these weren’t ordinary customers.
A moment later the two women and two children made their way to his booth. Walking the boy by the hand, Abbie stopped infront of him and waved at the redhead. “This is Meg. She runs the B&B.”
“Welcome to Tuckers Bluff. Abbie says you want a room?”
“Yes.” He started to ease his way out of the booth.
“Oh, please don’t get up on my account.” The redhead waved a hand at him. “How many days are you thinking of staying?”
“Not sure yet?”
With that vague response, the two women shared a casual glance.
“Well,” Meg smiled again, “we have a lovely room overlooking the garden available for as long as two weeks if you need.”
“Thank you.” Now he just had to find the nerve to cold call a relative he didn’t know he had, and didn’t understand how he had him. “I don’t suppose either of you know Adam Farraday?”
Between stepping in the can of wood sealer and falling into the trough, Ryan felt like the bumbling clown in a three ring circus. All because he couldn’t keep his eyes off of Nicole. At this rate Quinn could be right, by the time Mike comes back Ryan could very well be in traction.
“I heard you had an…interesting day.” Aunt Eileen came in the back door.
“Who told you?”
Sitting on the bench by the pantry, she tugged at a boot. “I think the question should be who didn’t tell me.”
Great. At this rate the entire Tuckers Bluff grapevine was going to know, best case scenario that he was a klutz, worst case that he was practically drooling over an employee.
