“He’s here again. Dressed funny this time. I almost didn’t recognize him.”
Bethany stilled. She didn’t bother to ask Travis whohemeant. “How’s he dressed?”
Travis shrugged. “I think he’s supposed to be a handyman. He’s got on overalls and a matching blue hat. You want me to kick him out?”
Yes.She shook her head and sighed. “No, I’ll handle him.”
“That lady’s here, too—Elizabeth. I heard them arguing in the corner. At least they aren’t attracting a crowd this time.”
Hank’s voice from last night echoed in her head.I don’t need your advice on who to sleep with.Bethany bit her lip. He didn’t know it, but she’d heard a good part of hisconversation with Elizabeth. If she hadn’t been so humiliated and hurt, she would have called him out on it right then and there. Thank goodness she’d thought to have Travis pick her up. “What are they talking about?”
“Who knows? He’s got his toolbox. I don’t think she likes it. I heard her tell him he’s wasting his time here.”
Bethany grabbed a pitcher of orange juice. “Well, on that point, we agree. Work on filling the orders. I’ll take care of Sam and...them.”
Travis looked like he wanted to say more, but Bethany didn’t stick around to hear it. Instead, she breezed into the dining area, trying to keep her gaze from Hank and Elizabeth and failing. They were in the middle of a heated conversation and didn’t notice her. Bethany kept moving. She nodded at the boys, who looked like they’d eaten half their breakfasts already, and spotted Sam. She made a beeline for his table.
“Hi, Sam. Orange juice?”
Sam removed his hat. “Morning, Bethany. That’d be fine. Looks like another sunny day.”
Bethany filled his cup. “That it is. Your usual for breakfast?”
“Yes, indeed. I’m looking forward to eggs and hash browns.” Sam squinted at something over her shoulder. “Did you hire a maintenance man?”
“Oh.” Bethany turned, sloshing the orange juice.
Hank stood behind her in a white shirt and blue jean overalls, as Travis had warned. The overalls had pockets. In one, Bethany spied a tape measure. She raised her gaze to Hank’s, who in turn arched a brow at her inspection from under a blue baseball cap—as if there was nothing odd about the way he had dressed, as if Bethany were the odd one.
“Good morning.” He grinned and held up his toolbox. “I thought I’d get started with the kitchen today.” He tilted his thumb over his shoulder.
Now it was Bethany’s turn to raise a brow. “The kitchen?”
Hank smiled wider, if that were possible. “I plan to look at that cranky dishwasher.”
She made a face. “It’s not cranky—just old.”
“She’s not the only old and cranky thing in this café.” Sam cackled, bringing Bethany back to her surroundings with a jerk. Orange juice splashed up the sides of the pitcher and she placed it on the table. Sam wasn’t wrong—Bethany certainly felt old and cranky worrying about what would happen to the family business—but she cringed inwardly, wondering what Hank was thinking.
Hank laughed, and Bethany felt her cheeks warm. He obviously thought the description was amusing. She ignored him and turned to Sam, wiping her hands on her apron. “Sam, I’m not that old and cranky, am I?”
Sam’s smile faded. “Oh, I didn’t mean you.” He pointed at his chest and sighed. “I was talking aboutmyself. At least, that’s what my wife always called me—old and cranky.”
Bethany sniffed. “She didn’t deserve you.”
“They don’t make ’em like this one,” Sam said to Hank. “Prettiest and kindest girl around to an old fellow like me. You treat her right now, ya hear?”
Hank tipped his hat. “That’s my plan.”
“Uh, Sam, Hank and my relationship—it’s business. He’s here to make improvements to the building.”
Sam didn’t look convinced. He straightened his bow tie. “I thought he was an actor?”
Bethany wiped the handle of the pitcher with her apron. She didn’t look at Hank. “Well, he also happens toown this building. He’s agreed to let me rent for a couple of months and to fix up the place. That’s why he’s dressed like”—she flung a hand in Hank’s direction—“this.”
“That right?” Sam squinted at Hank and then shook his head, like he couldn’t make sense of the outfit. His gaze flitted from Bethany to Hank and back to Bethany. “He owns this building?”
She kept her voice cool. “Yes, for the time being.” A meowing sounded at her feet and Bethany used the opportunity to reach down and pet Gypsy. “He plans to sell for a profit.”
