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She didn’t look at me, just sang a soft gospel-like tune as she refilled the mug beside me. Then her eyes lifted, sweeping over me with a gentleness that was somehow more precise than judgment.

“Well now,” she murmured in a warm voice, “you look a little less dead today, sweet pea. That’s good.”

“Thank you?” I said. I couldn’t help wondering if there was anyone in this town who didn’t already know who I was…or hadn’t heard of the spectacular mess I’d arrived in.

Dot gave a single, approving nod, then slid a menu toward me with the solemnity of presenting a sacred text. “What can I get you?” she asked.

I hesitated, glancing at the display case. Maybe I should try the pie first. If it was good enough to attract serial killers, it was probably good enough to soften whatever humiliation I was about to unleash.

No, I needed to get down to business.

“Actually…” I hesitated as I twisted my hands together nervously. “I was wondering if you needed help. Hattie over at the inn said you might be hiring.”

Dot’s eyes flicked down to my fidgeting hands, then to the napkin I’d managed to crumple in under thirty seconds. She gave a single, decisive nod. “All right, darlin’. Let’s give it a try.”

Relief hit me so fast my knees nearly buckled.

She hooked a finger toward the hallway behind the counter. “Come on, sweet pea. Aprons are back here. Follow me.”

I slid off the stool and hurried after her, the diner noise dulling as we slipped into the narrow hall. Halfway down, I noticed an office door standing open.

And him.

Sterling sat behind a battered desk with his sleeves rolled up. There were papers spread out in front of him. He looked up right as I passed, and I almost tripped when I realized I had his attention.

He leaned back, crossing his arms, and my eyes got caught on his exposed forearms.

“Well,” he drawled. “If this isn’t my favorite surprise of the day.”

I kept walking. Kind of. “I’m busy.”

“Mmh,” he said. “Is that so?”

Dot didn’t break stride. “Don’t harass my new waitress,” she called back without even turning around. “I’m trying to run a respectable establishment for you.”

“For him?” I asked, cocking my head.

“Sterling’s one of my investors. We’re going to start selling pies online at the end of the year. It’s going to be huge,” Dot explained with a big grin.

“We hope it’s going to be huge,” Sterling corrected.

Dot snorted as she opened a door and pulled a folded apron out of what looked like a closet. “Hope is for fools.”

She tossed me the apron, and I looped it over my head before tying it around my waist. “All right, sweet pea. Smile, write things down, and don’t dump coffee in anyone’s lap unless they deserve it.”

“I can work with that,” I said, squaring my shoulders.

Behind us, Sterling’s chair scraped back, and he leaned out of the office doorway to catch my attention. “Good luck,” he said in a surprisingly sincere voice. “Try not to overthrow the place before noon.”

I didn’t look at him. If I did, I’d forget how to walk. “I’ll do my best to keep my reign brief.”

His laugh followed me back into the diner.

And somehow…I did okay. Shockingly okay, as a matter of fact.

I took orders without panicking. I remembered who wanted rye and who wanted sourdough. I refilled coffee before an old rancher named Earl could get emotional about it. I balanced a tray without spilling anything on my shirt, which felt like a personal victory worth a parade. I even managed to not trip on the random rug in the middle of the room.

Dot watched from behind the counter, nodding every so often when I did something right.