The Crispy Biscuit Diner. Austin had been there before. Often. But he’d never enjoyed his company as much as he would tonight. Good thing Regina had the night off. The aggressive lot lizard was also a server here. He’d barely swatted her away on the first leg of this journey, and not before she’d slipped her schedule and phone number to him on a dirty napkin two days ago. He’d promptly balled it up and tossed it in the trash.

Her attempts to seduce him were growing bolder yet no more effective each time he ran into her. She wasn’t the kind of woman he enjoyed. The superficial veneer of beauty she relied on to entice lonely men on the road didn’t do it for him. Never once had she laughed at his jokes or asked about where he was from or managed to make it through a single dance with him before flirting with other guys and stepping on his toes.

Though the stories he’d heard over the truck’s CB radio guaranteed Regina could entertain his body for a night or two, it would be an empty exchange. Something he wasn’t finding much satisfaction in lately. At the very least he’d rather enjoy the company of a local who was enthusiastic about getting naked with him because she shared a lusty spark with him, not because she made a living by manufacturing something that wasn’t there naturally.

Austin held the door for Hayden, who rocked the jeans and periwinkle sweater he’d bought for her. Her subtle curves called out to his hands, making him wish he could stroke the fuzzy material warmed by the heat of her body. Right before he took those clothes off her.

After she passed, he stealthily adjusted the growing bulge in his pants. Not again. He’d been hard as hell for most of the day, wishing he could soothe Hayden’s pain and calm her anxiety in a much more primal fashion. Her stoic fight to survive triggered instincts he hadn’t realized he’d inherited from the older generation of Compass men.

It was probably best that she was about to ditch him. It would keep things from becoming awkward. He couldn’t hide his hunger for her much longer.

How he’d kept things civil this long, he couldn’t say.

Oh right, it probably had something to do with the shiner she’d obscured a little too easily with the cheap makeup Hope had insisted he add to his cart during their emergency shopping videochat. When Hayden had caught his suspicious glower, she’d sworn she had practice because she was used to hiding dark circles after working graveyards at a local motel then taking the breakfast shift at the diner where she’d waited tables.

Hopefully she was telling the truth. Working herself to the point of exhaustion to support a piece-of-shit boyfriend was bad enough. She deserved to have someone look after her for a change.

Austin didn’t think before resting his hand on the small of her back and guiding her toward the stools at the bar. It made something animalistic inside him howl in victory when she didn’t flinch at his possessive touch. Things were going better than he’d expected. He was two steps away from persuading her to ditch her plan in favor of riding the rest of the way to Compass Ranch with him in the morning. If he didn’t fuck up in the next hour or so and then the rest of the night, he might have a shot at convincing her that was her best option.

She smiled over her shoulder at him when she put one foot on the chair rail. He cupped her elbow and steadied her, boosting her into the tall seat beside his usual spot.

When he claimed his place next to her, she leaned toward him and asked, “What’s good here?”

Before he could meet her halfway to give his recommendation and soak in the nearness to her, a familiar saccharine voice called out from behind him, “Hey, handsome! Didn’t think I’d have the pleasure of your company twice in one week.”

Regina sidled up, pressed her side to the bar between Austin and Hayden’s stools, then draped her arm along its surface in his direction. The move effectively boxed him in while cutting off his line of sight to Hayden. If he guessed right, Regina might have jostled his temporary co-pilot with her generous ass. That primordial part of him was back, this time baring its teeth in a warning their server seemed oblivious to.

“Hello.” If he was civil though curt, maybe she would follow his lead. Hopefully Hayden realized that Regina’s false insinuation was nothing more than wishful thinking. Nothing dirty had happened between them earlier in the week. Or ever, for that matter. “Could I get two menus? One for me and another for my guest?”

“Her?” Regina peered over her shoulder as if expecting to see another trucker instead of a pretty young woman she couldn’t possibly have missed on her way over. Hayden wasn’t the kind of girl who faded into the background. The tip of Regina’s pen flicked against her order pad. “Hmmm. You didn’t mention you were picking up any heifers on this trip.”

“Excuse me?” Hayden bristled and began to rise. “If I’m not welcome—”

“You are.” Austin deliberately ignored Regina and stared directly at Hayden so she could see for herself that he was dead serious. No fucking way was Regina going to ruin his hard work and patience. Apparently the harmless flirtation he’d engaged in with her in the past hadn’t been quite so inconsequential after all. Damn his momma for raising him to pay compliments that could sometimes be misconstrued.

“Hey, Charlie!” Austin shouted to a balding guy who was finishing wiping spots off glasses at the other end of the bar. The Biscuit’s owner didn’t take shit from anyone. He kept this place running smoothly even when it was full of bored, drunk cowboys and truckers competing for the scarce supply of female attention. A dangerous combination. “Can you seat us in a booth in someone else’s section?”

The man swung around. His eyes narrowed as he took in Regina and her obvious violation of Austin and Hayden’s personal space. Then he clomped over.

“Damn it, Regina.” He wrung his hands on the wet dishtowel. “You know I don’t have time for this crap. First Diamond cancelled and left us without an act for tonight, now you’re ruining people’s appetites. Go home. Come in tomorrow if you can quit pissing off our customers.”

She flipped him the bird, whipped her apron off, and spiked it to the floor. Before storming out of the diner, she spat, “You’ll be lucky if I come back at all.”

“Yeah, yeah. What’s this, the third time you’ve quit this month?” Charlie shook his head and turned to Austin and Hayden. “Sorry about that. She’s my wife’s bratty little sister. Used to getting her way.”

“I bet.” Hayden watched until the other woman vanished with an exaggerated swing of her hips. “If your wife resembles her at all, you’re a lucky man. She’s beautiful and has a lot of…uh…assets.”

Austin nearly choked. Then he realized she was serious. “You’ve got plenty of your own.”

Charlie chuckled as he tried to discreetly check Hayden out. Austin didn’t blame the guy. It had to be obvious he was about to start drooling, and not over the smell of the daily special either.

Hayden didn’t seem to catch the knowing glance the guys exchanged. She surprised Austin when she spun back around and addressed Charlie. “If you need help, I’m willing to work for our dinners and a token for the shower facilities. I have a lot of experience as a waitress or a greeter or even as a dishwasher. Heck, I clean a mean toilet and I…”

She trailed off, making Austin lean forward, wondering what she’d been about to say.

“We’re going to have plenty of extra staff if there’s no entertainment.” Charlie cursed. “Thanks anyway.”

“Welcome,” Hayden mumbled. Her shoulders slumped. Then the most amazing thing happened. Austin watched as she mustered some grit from the bottom of her battered soul and tried a different tactic. “Actually, if you wouldn’t mind lending me that guitar up on stage, I play. I have a halfway decent voice. I think. It’s kind of hard to tell for sure since most of the people who clap for me are hammered, but I’ve never had a tomato thrown at me. I know a lot of country songs. I can take requests. I’d be happy to do a quick audition for you if you’ll take the time to listen.”

Charlie gawked at her, then said to Austin, “Where’d you find this one?”

“In my livestock trailer.” When Charlie blinked a few times in rapid succession, Austin shrugged. “Long story. But I did hear her singing earlier today. She’s great. At least as good as your usual lady. You’d be crazy not to take her up on her offer.”

“This is nuts.” Charlie raised his hands then dropped them so they clapped against his sides.

“You’re right. Sorry to be so pushy—” The fierceness drained from Hayden’s stance.

Austin swore he’d never come back to this shithole again if he was reading the situation wrong. He’d caught a glimpse of the woman Hayden really was beneath the lingering taint of her recent trouble. Enough rejection would eventually smother her fighter’s spirit for good.

So he intervened, determined to see that side of her again. To watch it flourish. “Hayden, I think Charlie’s wondering how he got so fucking lucky.”

Ironically, so was Austin.

He might have helped Hayden out of a bad situation, but spending time with her had showed him it was time to change his course again. Time to quit fooling around and find a companion who could stave off the loneliness creeping in on him lately.

It had taken meeting her to realize how isolated he’d become.

Though she wasn’t likely to stick around long enough to do more than awaken desires he’d thought long lost, he’d never forget her for kick-starting his seized heart.

“Is that true?” Hayden tipped her head and peeked from beneath her lashes at Charlie, making her seem like a curious kitten.

The guy laughed out loud. A rich boom Austin had never heard from the overworked bastard echoed around the restaurant. “Hell yes! Thank you for saving my ass.”

“Hang on.” Austin gripped Charlie’s upper arm hard enough to get the man’s undivided attention. “What will you pay her?”

“Hey, you’re not my pimp. I’ve got this.” Hayden shoved Austin. The force of her palms on his chest rocked him, though she couldn’t do any real damage. He loved when she put her hands on him, even if it was to push him away. How sick was that?

“Aim higher. You’re worth more than what you’ve asked for.” Fuck if he’d see her fleeced.

Hayden hesitated, then she said to Charlie, “If you could comp our meals and the shower, plus give me a reference in the future, I’d really appreciate that.”

Charlie glanced at Austin. The diner’s owner might have taken advantage of Hayden’s modest requests if Austin hadn’t crossed his arms. The heels of his boots thunked on the wooden floor when he widened his stance. Subtly, he shook his head no.

“Of course I’ll do that. But I insist you also take a cut of the bar receipts and put out a tip jar, too.”

That was more like it.

“I couldn’t…” Hayden gasped.

“She’ll take it,” Austin talked over her.

Even if she was pissed at him for interfering and would no longer need him quite as much with some cash in her pocket, she’d be better off when they finally parted ways. That was most important.

“So what can I get you for dinner?” Charlie asked them.

Austin ordered his usual open-faced roast beef sandwich with a pile of mashed potatoes. When Hayden didn’t answer as quickly, Charlie offered to get her a menu. She shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s probably not a good idea for me to eat before I perform. I’m kind of nervous and I get this thing in my side after I eat when I’m stressed out.”

She looked away and Austin frowned. Maybe last night had been something more serious than nearly indigestible greasy highway food.

“How about a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a bunch of crackers now, then whatever you like to go after we shut things down tonight?” Charlie suddenly morphed into some kind of paternal fairy godfather. Just like that, Hayden had wrapped the Biscuit’s owner around her pinky.

Hayden nodded but didn’t speak. Her throat flexed and her cheeks flushed. Her gorgeous eyes went glassy. Oh fuck. If she broke down, Austin would lose it. A woman’s tears had the power to rip him up. And he had a feeling hers would be twice as potent as any other woman’s besides his sister’s or cousins’.

So he took emergency measures and enfolded her in his arms.

She stiffened in his hold for a moment. Just when he was about to let her go and apologize, she melted against him, resting her cheek on his shoulder.

“You’re going to be great,” he whispered against her temple. With a feather-light kiss there and a few rubs of his palm across her back, he forced himself to release her.

“Thank you,” she murmured as she stared up at him with wide eyes.

When they separated, Austin realized Charlie had already taken off to feed her. Funny, when they’d been wrapped in each other, he hadn’t noticed anything happening around them.

His tunnel vision only got stronger throughout the night. How could he take his eyes off Hayden as she moved to the music she made, drawing in the entire crowd with her heartfelt delivery of lyrics and the uniquely modified covers of classics that suited her own chill, coffeehouse style? God, she was fantastic.

As she swayed in time to her strumming, she damn near hypnotized him. And when she sang, it sounded like she was delivering each lyric directly to him. Especially when she switched from an up tempo song to a ballad.

What the fuck was happening here?

He still hadn’t figured it out by the time she closed her set to thunderous applause, whistles, and more than a few cat calls from men hoping for a private encore.

Austin shoved his way through the crowd to catch her as she flung herself from the stage into his waiting arms. He confessed, “I was wrong. You were so much better than great.”

“You think so?” Her eyes sparkled, this time with joy instead of sadness or fear. It didn’t seem possible, but she was even more beautiful than before. Now her dazzling smile nearly split her face, teasing him with the parting of her lush lips. Her hands rested on his shoulders as he lowered her to the floor.

“Absolutely. In fact, I’ll be shocked if Charlie doesn’t offer you Diamond’s job permanently.” Though it would suck if she had already reached her final destination, Austin would be glad if that meant she had somewhere decent to stay and someone to look out for her until she got back on her feet.

“Oh, I would never screw somebody over like that.” Her enthusiasm dimmed, making him curse himself silently. “I hope he doesn’t think…”

“Nah. He’s not going to be pissed if you’re set on being a one-time act.” Austin collected her stuffed tip jar and tucked it into the crook of his arm, content to be her security detail. She grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the kitchen. “Although I have to say I’ve never seen it this packed in here before. I bet you’ll rake it in on the bar receipts.”

“Perfect.” She squeezed his fingers. “I can put a down payment on what I owe you.”

Austin recoiled, jerking her to a stop just outside the kitchen. “What? No.”

“You said you’d let me pay you back.” Hayden shook her hand out of his grasp and propped it on her hip. “I’m going to do it.”

“Easy, tiger.” He couldn’t help but admire her independent streak since he had one, too. “I don’t mean never. I just mean you should build up some funds first. Once you’re settled, that’s a different story. Okay?”

Though she hesitated, eventually she nodded.

Then she lunged forward and hugged him tight enough the poor tip jar was in danger of exploding. “I can’t believe how much my life has changed in less than two days. You have no idea. This is a dream come true.”

That something so simple could be everything she asked for humbled him. Like that time he’d dropped out of college, he had some serious thinking to do about his priorities and goals in life soon. Who knew what the outcome would be?

Hayden might not know it, but she’d impacted his life at least as much as he had hers.

Fuck, he wasn’t ready to say goodbye. “Why don’t you put in your order then take your shower? If you want some peace during supper, you can eat in my truck. We can use my laptop to find a decent place for you to stay and I’ll drop you off…if that’s what you really want.”

“What other choice do I have?” She backed up just enough to meet his stare with her questioning gaze.

Come with me. He thought the words but didn’t muster the courage to say them out loud. If he reached too far, too fast now, he could lose her to a kneejerk refusal. “Why don’t we talk about it somewhere quieter?”

He was shouting over the recorded music blaring in the background and the guys who kept trying to interrupt to tell her how amazing she was in the hopes of sweet-talking their way into a dance, a few drinks…or more.

Hayden bit her lip then nodded. Was his imagination playing hopeful tricks on him, or did she seem kind of disappointed?

They’d find out soon enough.