I wasn’t sure how Bev would react to Brody and me walking in together, but she barely had more than a pause when she saw us. “I was just about to come find you since you missed lunch. Are you here for food or just grabbing more coffee?”

“Lunch, please.” Taking a booth instead of sitting at the counter as I normally did received more of a reaction out of her. Maybe it was the fact Brody followed and sat across from me.

“I’m not sure she likes me very well.”

“Nah, she is just confused because I’m not usually nice to people.” I smiled before directing my attention to the menu.

Brody picked up a menu, too. “So, what’s good here?”

“Everything.” Bev had waved off her other waitress, Mona, to take our order herself. She came up behind Brody and placed her hand on the booth he was sitting on. I wondered if she was trying to intimidate him or at least let him know she wasn’t afraid of him. After his attempt to dine and dash a couple of days ago, I probably should’ve taken him somewhere else.

“What do you feel like, Brody?”

Bev raised her eyebrows at me and took a couple of steps to take our order as if we were real customers. “So, you’re buddies now?”

“Brody helped me install the floor in the yoga room.”

“Almost.” He smiled and looked at Bev. “We’ll get it finished in no time after lunch.”

“And then what?”

“Bev, I appreciate the concern, but Brody is just earning some cash to get back on the road. You’re the best place in town to get some food.”

“I’m also the closest to you.” She grabbed her notebook out of her apron and pencil out of her hair. “What can I get you, kids?”

“Just bring us a couple of turkey clubs and some fries, please.” I looked to Brody. Maybe I shouldn’t have ordered for him. “We’ll keep it a little light to see if your stomach is really okay or not.”

He scoffed as he put the menu down. “You’d better hope my stomach is okay, or you’re going to be finishing that floor yourself.”

Bev bounced her gaze between the two of us for a moment before she settled on me. “Maggie, come get your tea.”

“Okay.” I knew she wanted to talk, but I wouldn’t argue. “Brody, do you like tea?”

He shrugged. “If it has caffeine, I’ll take it.”

I nodded and followed Bev to the kitchen. “Hi, Keith.” I barely got out the wave to her full-time cook before she yanked my arm and dragged me to her office.

She shut the door after pulling me in. “What is wrong with you, girl?”

“Nothing. What crawled up your ass?”

“Don’t you talk to me that way. You don’t know anything about this man and you’re spending time with him alone? He could rape and murder you. It would be days before anyone found your body.”

“First, it wouldn’t be days because if I ever missed a meal, you’d come looking for me. You said you were about to do just that when we walked in. And, second, he really helped me out yesterday when those assholes left the new equipment I bought on the sidewalk, fully assembled.”

“How did you get it through the door?”

I pointed my thumb behind me. “Brody took it apart, helped me lug it inside, and then he put it back together. It would’ve taken me forever to do that by myself.”

“Okay.” She crossed her arms. “That was yesterday. What’s he doing with you today?”

I sighed. “He ate a few apples from Fritz’s apple tree and spent the night on my men’s room floor. When his body was finished rejecting everything he ever ate in his entire life, he fell asleep. I couldn’t wake him up and send him to his truck. Although, it might have been more comfortable than the floor.”

“What do you mean you ‘couldn’t send him to his truck?’”

“Someone stole his money. He didn’t know he didn’t have any until he tried to pay you.”

“I saw him try his card a few times at the ATM. It’s why I didn’t call the cops on him. He didn’t intend to stiff me, or at least he was a good enough actor that I believed it.”

“So, when I heard him talking to whoever had his money and that they not only were happy to have taken it, but weren’t going to give him another dime, I thought we both could benefit from his situation. I need the gym completed, and he needs cash.”

“One room isn’t going to do you a lot of good.”

“It’s a start.” I crossed my arms and looked down. “I’d like to ask his help on the rest of it, but I’m not sure he wants to stick around that long.”

“Where’s he going to stay, Maggie?”

“I have a spare room.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

“He probably wants his money and will hit the road anyway, but there isn’t any harm in asking.”

“Yes, there is.”

“What’s that?”

“He could say yes and stay.” She placed her hands on my shoulders and looked at me. “I know I’m not supposed to act like your mother, but I need you to be safe. I’m not sure you can be from him.”

“I trust my gut on this. I don’t think he’ll hurt me.”

“Yeah, I remember saying that to my mother before, too.” She walked to the door and turned to look at me. “Just be careful, and please come to me if you need anything. Let me be here for you.”

I knew she meant well, but I couldn’t get over the past. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

She glanced to the floor before nodding her head and going back out to the kitchen. I closed my eyes and sighed. I had work to do. I couldn’t get caught up in the past again. I needed to move forward. We all did.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to Brody, but he hadn’t pried too much into my life yet. Maybe he wouldn’t ask what that was about. I was about to leave when Bev called me back.

“Maggie.” She waited until I turned. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” She held up the two glasses of tea I was supposedly getting.

“Oh, yeah.” I walked over and took the glasses from her but held her gaze instead of turning around. “Thank you. You do a lot for me, and I’m grateful for it.”

She reached out to touch me but pulled her hand back and nodded instead. She turned to Keith. “These fries aren’t going to fry themselves.”

When I walked out to the dining area, I was relieved to see Brody still sitting where I left him. It wasn’t as if he had any reason to stay or any money to be able to take off since I hadn’t paid him yet, but I was happy to see him.

“I was beginning to wonder if you ditched me and were sticking me with the bill for the clubs.” He reached up and grabbed a glass. “Thanks.”

“Nope. Bev had a few words she wanted to share with me.”

“You don’t say.” He took a drink. “I was thinking. It’s going to be too late for me to head out on the road when we get finished with the floor. Did you have anything else you needed done? I could work all evening if it will help you out.”

“You just want more money before heading on the road.” I smiled.

“I could always use more money, but I don’t want to drive for a few hours only to stop and sleep as soon as I get started. I’d like to drive all day and really get some distance behind me.”

“We’ll go over the list that needs done and see if there’s anything you think you can do this evening. I don’t want to start a project I can’t finish.”

“Fair enough.”

Bev set the plates in front of us and looked at Brody. “She’s got a whole list of things to do. If you really want to help out, you could stay a few days and knock out quite a bit of them.”

Brody shrugged. “I don’t have anything else going on.” He took a bite of his sandwich.

I looked at Bev, unsure of the game she was playing. She scolded me for having him stay one night, and she’s got him staying for more. I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes.

She smiled and shrugged as if it was an innocent suggestion. There was nothing innocent about Bev. She was up to something.

“If you aren’t hungry, I’ll eat it for you.” Brody was already finished with half of his sandwich before I even started.

I pulled my plate closer to me. “Not on your life, pal.”

“Then hurry up. It sounds like we have a lot to do.”

“Yeah. Listen, you don’t have to stick around if you need to get somewhere.”

His chewing slowed down as he looked at me. He took a drink, never taking his eyes off me. “Are you trying to get rid of me so soon?”

“No, actually, I’d love the help, but I don’t want you to feel obligated to help.”

“Oh.” He popped a fry into his mouth. “I don’t ever feel obligated.” He shrugged. “Ever.”

“You’ll have to teach me that trick.” I looked at Bev who was taking an order across the room.

“You feel obligated to her for some reason? I’m sure she’d understand if you went to a different place to eat every now and then.”

“Are we going to eat or talk?” I took a bite of my sandwich.

He chuckled and took the rest of his sandwich in one bite. “This was really good. I see why you come here a lot.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Bev patted him on the shoulder. “Let me get you a refill and a slice of pie. Don’t worry. It won’t be apple.” She took his glass and laughed as she walked away.

“I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

“You will. As soon as someone else comes along and does it and takes your place.” I smiled as I took another bite.