The rumbling motor alerted me that we had company.

“Duck your head, sweetie.”

Paton flopped down against the backseat. She looked good. Well fed and well rested. Her clothes were clean and all the little holes and rips were mended.

All our clothes were like that, but it didn’t matter.

Things were finally turning around for us.

I even had money left over from my shift last night. Today I was working a double. I hated leaving her in the car, but it was almost over. I’d find a place to live.

This nightmare would be over at last.

After the last town ended with a black eye, I’d panicked. I’d cut and run, leaving behind a somewhat stable job and our security deposit.

But when your landlord got rough after you turned down sex with him, there really wasn’t another option. He’d been pestering me since we moved in, despite being married. I felt sick every time I thought about how persistent he had been.

And how angry he’d gotten.

It wasn’t safe. So we’d left, hit the road and looked for a new job.

But I hadn’t found one. We tried town after town. Our funds dwindled rapidly. And then we’d ended up with nothing. Nothing except the car and just enough money for one more tank of gas.

Gas to take us down the coast towards warmer weather. We’d been living on soup and crackers and sleeping in the car for almost two weeks.

And then we’d found this place. I’d seen the ad in one of the free newspapers they left outside grocery stores. Mason had literally saved our lives. I’d gotten good at reading people and I could tell he was a decent human being, on top of being so damn sexy it was hard to ignore.

A little rough around the edges but a good man. I blushed a bit. It didn’t hurt that he had beautiful, kind eyes and muscles bulging out of his leather jacket and worn in jeans.

And Lordy, did he look good on that bike of his.

So I was smiling when I waved to him and walked up to wait while he unlocked the door. He gave me a distracted look and a curt smile. I tried not to stare as he messed around with the keys.

“Good morning.”

Shut up, Shell. You sounds like an idiot.

He grunted good morning and swung the door open.

“It’s such a nice day.”

Shut up shut up shut up.

I bit my lip to keep myself from blathering like a fool. Even though I clearly was a fool, for even thinking about him as anything other than the boss and the man who was saving our lives.

He held the door open for me. I skittered past him, feeling suddenly self-conscious. I caught a whiff of something as I went past.

Mason smelled like the woods. No, it was better than that. He smelled like a campfire in the middle of a huge forest of pines. Rugged and warm and manly. I sighed to myself, realizing I definitely had a crush on my boss.

Not smart, Shell. Not smart at all.

I got busy setting up. I took down the chairs, startled when Mason started doing it with me. He shrugged at my inquisitive glance.

“Best part of the day.”

I smiled at his answer. I knew what he meant.

“It’s so quiet.”

“If only it didn’t smell like mop water.”

“Candles.”

“Huh?”

“Beeswax candles. They emit negative ions. It cleans up the air.”

He was staring at me, a chair in his big hands. No wonder he was staring. I was babbling. And I sounded like an idiot.

Again.

But since my kid had mild asthma, I knew a lot about cheap ways of improving air quality.

“Candles would be dangerous in a place like this.”

“Not if you put them away before everyone came.”

“Huh. Interesting.” He finally put the chair down, moving to the next. “Beeswax, huh? Isn’t that pricey?”

“Not as much as you think. It really helps. They last a lot longer than paraffin too.”

He shook his head, taking down the last of the chairs.

“You learn something new every day.”

I shrugged and went to get a rag to wipe everything down.

“Didn’t you do that last night?”

“Oh.” I fidgeted nervously. “I guess I did. It’s no bother though.”

He was staring at me while I squeezed the rag nervously in my hands.

“Suit yourself.”

Shorty and Jaken came in while I was wiping down the bar. Mason had disappeared into his office. He poked his head out of the back and called to me.

“You can eat something now if you want. Lunch can get kind of busy. Shorty makes great eggs”

I nodded. That would be perfect. Paton had ate well last night but getting her something now would really take the edge off.

“Thank you. That would be great.”

I hurried to the back. Shorty smiled at me.

“Glad we didn’t scare you off. What’ll you have?”

“Mason said something about eggs…”

“You got it. I make killer hash browns too. You want?”

I nodded eagerly and again when he mentioned toast. I opened my mouth to tell him I wanted it to go but he beat me to it.

“Let me guess, you want to eat in your car, right?”

“Thanks Shorty.”

* * *

Mason was right. Lunch did get busy. And the crowd was different than it had been last night. Locals and bikers yes, but also a group of businessmen and a couple of families with small kids.

I was motoring, not starving for once, even though I’d given Paton most of the food again. I had so much to make up for. But I would do it, dammit.

All I needed was a few bites anyway.

Paton was happy as a clam with her belly full of food and her favorite book on her lap. It was even warm enough to keep the windows open. And she said she liked looking at the field that opened up just past the line of trees out back.

I still worried, of course. I’d been worrying about her since the moment that little line turned blue. But things were looking up.

For the first time in a long time, I was happy.

Until she walked in.

A gorgeous brunette with glowing skin, luxurious hair and a huge belly. A huge, pregnant belly. How she looked so good so late in the game was beyond me. I’d been swollen and miserable in the last trimester.

But this girl looked like she was a model. Not the gawky odd looking fashion model type. The kind that sold shampoo or expensive jewelry. She was stunning.

And she walked right into Mason’s arms. He held her tight and pressed a kiss to her forehead. I couldn’t help it. I might have only known him for two days, but I felt something fierce and unwelcome in my belly.

Jealousy.

He showed her to a table and started waiting on her hand and foot. I knew it was none of my damn business that Mason had a woman and was about to become a daddy. That was nice. That was how it should be.

But I didn’t like it, all the same.

And then he waved me over.

I grit my teeth and walked towards the smiling young woman. Wouldn’t you know it? She hugged me too.

“You are a lifesaver!”

“I am?”

She sat down, smiling conspiratorially at me.

“Mason was going to lose his mind. His waitresses kept up and quitting on him!”

I shot a worried glance to Mason.

“No, it’s not his fault. Look, I’ve scared her! I’m Cassie. I used to be you!”

I was having trouble following her, but she was so effervescent I couldn’t help but like her. The woman talked fast. I tried to keep up.

“Okay…”

“Cass.”

Mason’s tone was amused but something else. He sounded… almost parental.

“Actually a lot of people around here still call me Casey. That was the name I used when I ran away from foster care. Mason took me in and raised me.”

I glanced at Mason. He was her guardian? I felt relief wash through me.

“Great job, I did. Until he swooped in and defiled you.”

Cassandra giggled. I almost did too. I wasn’t sure I should be laughing at my boss though, even though he looked adorably disgruntled.

“Connor did not defile me. Well, I mean, he did. He handcuffed me to a bed! But he married me too.”

I nodded, realizing that I was getting the gist of what was happening, even though her style of storytelling was… unique.

“It’s slowing down if you want to get some grub.”

I glanced around.

“You can eat with us if you want!”

Mason looked at me. He must have caught my panicked expression, even though I tried to hide it. It was hard to hide anything with my face. I was so fair that if I blushed, I looked like I was holding apples in front of my cheeks.

“She prefers eating in her car.”

“But why?”

“I’m reading a book.”

She nodded sagely.

“That’s a wild animal thing. You don’t like people staring while you eat, right?” She gave Mason a pointed look. “And I’m sure lots of people do.”

He stood up abruptly.

“I’ll put your order in, Michelle. What do you want?”

“Grilled cheese with tomato?”

“Anything else?”

“I really like the chili.”

He gave me the thumbs up. I realized chili might be a bad idea. If Paton had to do more than pee, we were going to have a problem.

He walked brusquely away.

“You fit right in. And you’re the prettiest waitress he’s ever had.”

I shook my head.

“I doubt that.”

“No, you are. Everyone is looking over here.”

“I’m pretty sure they are looking at you.”

She shook her head, beaming at me. She rubbed her belly.

“Ugh, why did I eat so much?”

Mason came back and handed me the to-go bag. Cassie stood up and hugged me again.

“Just in case I don’t see you again. Today, I mean. I hope to see a lot more of you.”

“That’s… so nice of you.” I was a little choked up at all the affection she was giving me. I hadn’t felt so welcomed since I was a kid. “Thank you.”

I smiled and snuck a glance at Mason. He was frowning about something, just like he usually did around me. I hurried to the back door and out into the sunshine.