Yes, that’s true. Jo-Beth used to work part-time at the diner, but now she’s with Mrs. Thorne full-time at Butterfingers. “I’m just messing with you. Tell me what the note said, for heaven’s sake.”
But before she can answer, a voice interrupts us with, “What note?”
We both look up to see Sadie standing at the foot of the table, neither of us seeing her approach.
“Hey,” we both chime at the same time.
“Hi, yourselves.” Sadie smiles and slips into the booth across from me and puts her bag down. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Jo-Jo has a secret admirer, slipping her roses and notes without so much as a hello.”
JB giggles and quickly fills Sadie in on where we were up to, which, granted, isn’t much to go on so far.
“Oh my, this really is a charming development,” Sadie says. “Don’t let me stop you from telling the rest of the story.”
“The note.” I nod toward Jo-Beth to continue.
“Ah, yes, well,” she goes on. “It was in a cute little envelope and had different colored flowers on it. The script was really neat, it just said,For you, Jo-Beth - because you make everyone smile.”
“Awww.” Sadie claps her hands together. “That’s so cute.”
“Wow,” I let out a breath. “Pretty cavalier if you ask me.”
“What? It’s romantic.” Sadie smiles dreamily. Of course, she would think it’s the greatest news since sliced bread because she’s all loved up with my boss, Zane Lawless.
Sadie moved from New York to Alpine Falls last year. We’ve known each other since we were kids and both grew up in Colorado. She came out here to Wyoming for the holidays aftera string of bad luck and started working at Lawless Christmas Tree Farms. I work there as the current stable manager and mentioned the job to Sadie on a whim, knowing she wanted a change of scenery. Then she hooked up with none other than the usually ungettable and super-grumpy Zane Lawless himself. Though I have to say, they are perfect together and she makes him a lot more agreeable to be around.
“Of course you would think that. Don’t tell me JB has roped you into her newly formed romance book club as well?” I grumble.
Sadie laughs, shaking her head. “This is news to me.”
“I was only talking aboutstartinga book club, not that Ihadone,” JB chimes.
“I’m sure it’s only a matter of time,” I say as I glance back at the menu. Why I’m reading through it, I don’t know—because I always have the same thing: their famous Bison Burger and homemade fries with dipping sauce. “Though there’s worse things you could be doing, I guess.”
“Exactly right,” JB agrees. “Though swooning over hot cowboys seems like the way to go.”
She and Sadie giggle away happily and I urge them to take a look at the menus so I can go place the order at the counter. It’s table service, but you have to go order and pay first. Sadie is easy, being a vegetarian, she has about three options to choose from, and always has the veggie garden burger anyway.
Glancing down at JB’s book, I can’t exactly say I disagree with what she’s saying. A hot cowboy would definitely be welcome for any girl around Alpine Falls, or any of the neighboring towns like Silver Pines, where the guy to girl ratio is dwindling. It’s quite a sad phenomenon, really, but it is what it is.
I’ve been burned in the past by guys, one in particular, Wyatt, who promised me the world years ago but never delivered onany of his promises. I was young and naïve, and I kinda haven’t trusted anyone since.
“Maybe your secret admirer could be your own swoony cowboy,” Sadie says to JB with a sparkle in her eyes, her blonde hair shimmering under the soft lighting. “Wouldn’t that be something?”
JB holds one hand over her heart and fans her face with the other. “It could happen.”
At least she’s optimistic, unlike me.
“I just hope you’re right on all accounts,” I say. “But I wouldn’t read too much into it before you know more. You won’t set yourself up for disappointment that way.” I don’t mean to be the wet blanket on her parade, but someone has to keep it real around here. And it’s not because I think all men are bastards—I don’t at all—but sometimes I see it as my unspoken duty to protect those around me from themselves, and wild fantasies from reading too many romance novels. The rose thing may be intriguing, but Jo-Beth is a romantic at heart, and I don’t want her to get hurt. This guy could be a whack job for all we know.
“Who do you think it could be?” Sadie asks JB in a whisper.
JB shrugs. “I’ve no idea, honestly. Like B was just saying, I meet a lot of new people every day. None that I can say I’ve clicked with recently.”
Sadie’s eyes light up. “All the more interesting. I love a good mystery.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m going to order my burger, either cough up your orders now or forever hold your peace.”
