Jonas blew out the deep breath he’d been holding ever since Elle Harrington breezed back into his life.  Elle.  She was still achingly gorgeous.  In her sleeveless white shirt and candy red shorts, she had looked adorable.  Even though it was a scorching June morning in Virginia, she had looked as cool as a Popsicle.

He couldn’t count the number of times he’d thought about the flaxen-haired beauty over the years.  He’d had a massive crush on her in high school. 

She had barely known he was alive.  But he had been acutely aware of her.  Every flip of her blonde hair.  Every sigh and sagging shoulders as he sat behind her in math class. 

Elle had been beautiful and popular.  And amazingly talented as a ballerina.  Everyone had loved her.  And when she’d moved to New York to fulfill her destiny as a ballerina, everyone had known instinctively that she would become wildly famous. 

There had always been something about Elle.  Something almost magical.  It had been silly, but he’d actually thought at one point of asking Elle out on a date.  But before he’d gotten up his nerve, she had started going steady with Bobby Fulton.  Jonas had known better than to think he could compete with Bobby’s popularity and good looks. 

Life had a way of working things out sometimes.  Jonas had grown out of his awkward phase, while Bobby was serving time in prison for receiving stolen goods.  He wasn’t happy about Bobby’s downfall.  Or at least he tried not to be.  Jonas knew it wasn’t a good thing to gloat.  As a man of faith, he knew better.  He had actually prayed for Bobby on several occasions in the hopes he could get his life back on track.

“Hey.  Is she working here now?” Zeb asked.  Zeb was twenty-years-old and one of the diner’s most faithful employees.  He’d shown up in Sugar Hollow two years ago, looking for a place to stay and a steady job.  With his tattoos and Mohawk hairstyle, Zeb was often judged by first impressions.  In Jonas’s experience, Zeb was the most loyal, down to earth person he’d ever met.  He currently lived in the apartment above the diner. 

Jonas nodded.  “She’s doing a trial run starting tomorrow.”

“She’s pretty,” Zeb said.  “Really pretty.”

Jonas shrugged.  “I guess so.  I mean…yes, of course she is.”  Why was he trying to play it cool?  Elle’s beauty was indisputable.

“Do the two of you have history?” Zeb asked. 

“Other than the fact that we went through school together, no.  Absolutely not.  Elle ran in different circles than I did.  She was the golden girl.”

Zeb raised a brow.  “Do I detect a little bitterness there?”

“Nope,” he said in a flippant tone.  “I’ve gotten over being the high school nerd who never quite made it to prom or even had a single date all through high school.”

Zeb winced. “Ouch.  To be honest, it’s hard to imagine.  Especially since you’ve got the ladies here in Sugar Hollow chasing after you on a regular basis.”

He let out a laugh at Zeb’s turn of phrase.  Although it was true that he was sought after in town, his love life wasn’t exactly rocking and rolling.

Jonas was still searching for his other half. 

He was looking for something that continued to elude him.  Jonas wanted a woman who loved the Lord and who enjoyed helping people as much as helping herself.  He wanted a woman who dreamed of filling up a house with kids and making it a home filled with love and kindness.  He dreamed of being with someone who had a wide open heart.

“I don’t want to be chased, Zeb.  Call me corny, but I want someone to walk through life with.”  After dating several women in town, Jonas had gotten frustrated.  Sadly, none of them had much substance.

Zeb patted him on the shoulder.  “It’s not corny at all.  It’s deep.  And meaningful.  I hope you find it soon.  As for me, I’m only twenty.  The idea of women chasing me is pretty awesome.”

Jonas threw his head back and chuckled heartily.  “I don’t blame you one bit.”

As they readied themselves for the lunch crowd, Jonas couldn’t stop thinking about Elle Harrington.  He couldn’t imagine what it must be like to lose your life’s dream in one fell swoop.  All of Sugar Hollow had cheered when Elle’s ballet career began to take shape a few years ago.  Elle had been the success story of their small town. 

He had to admit, working at the diner was a step down from being a world class ballerina.  Elle had traveled all over the world and met Princes and Prime Ministers.  Although he loved Sugar Hollow, it was a far cry from New York City.  He couldn’t help but wonder how Elle would fare being back home.

Time would tell what happened to Elle.  Would she stay in town or head back to the Big Apple?  For now, he was happy to give her a job.  Even though it was hard for him to admit, there was still something about Elle that drew him toward her like a moth to a flame.  Even after all these years, she still tugged at his heartstrings.

He would keep things professional between them though.  He was the boss and she would be his employee.  Crossing the invisible line in the sand wasn’t smart for his business.  And it might not be wise for his heart either.

***

When Elle’s alarm clock went off at six a.m. she automatically hit the snooze button.  She did this three more times until she sat up in bed, her heart racing at the idea of being late for her first day at the diner.  A quick glance at the clock showed she had exactly fifteen minutes to get there.  She jumped out of bed, dragged a comb through her hair, then raced to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face and give her teeth a quick brushing.

She dragged on leggings and a T-shirt, then slid some loafers on.  A quick rummaging in the kitchen didn’t yield anything she could take as an on the go meal.  Elle grabbed her purse and her keys, then jogged to her white Jeep.  It had been an eighteenth birthday present for her and had been sitting at her parents’ house since she’d left for New York City.  Owning a car in New York had been impossible, so the vehicle had been sitting unused for way too long.

Elle made it to the diner in nine minutes flat.  A quick look at her watch showed the time as 7:03.  Drat.  She was three minutes late.  She locked up her car and vaulted toward the entrance.  She flew through the doors like a whirlwind, her hair swirling about her shoulders. 

The moment she stepped inside, a tall woman with jet black hair, russet colored skin and striking brown eyes stood watching her.  Her nametag read Trina.  Somewhere in the back of her mind Elle thought the name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place her.  Maybe she just had one of those faces!

Out of breath, Elle could barely speak.  Somehow she managed to squeak out the words, “Hi.  I-I’m Elle.  I’m here to work.”

The woman smirked.  “Jonas told me to expect you, but I didn’t think you’d show.”

“What? Why not?” Elle asked, not sure whether Trina was kidding or not.

“Because I’ve heard of you.  The great Elle Harrington.  Local girl makes good in the Big Apple.  Blah blah blah.  I’ve been hearing it ever since I arrived in town.”

Elle didn’t miss the edge in Trina’s voice.  She sounded angry, but Elle didn’t have a clue as to why she would be upset with her.  She didn’t even know the woman.

“I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot,” Elle said.  “I really need this job.  I’m not sure what you think you know about me, but I’m not looking for trouble.”

Trina made a tutting sound and pushed a piece of clothing at her.  “Here.  Go put this T-shirt on.  It’s the official Sugar Hollow Diner uniform.  Tomorrow you can wear a pair of Khaki shorts or pants along with the shirt.”

“Thank you,” Elle said, looking around for a place to change.

Trina let out a sigh.  “Let me show you the employees’ lounge.  There’s a place to put your things. We each get a locker.”  She led the way toward the back.  Trina pointed to the bathroom then turned away. 

Once Elle had changed into the T-shirt—a cute pink and white one with the words Sugar Hollow Diner etched on it—Trina brought her back out front.  Jonas was standing by the front counter, looking handsome and relaxed.  With his slightly damp hair and a baby blue short-sleeved polo shirt paired with khaki-colored pants, he looked very appealing.

Elle really needed to stop noticing Jonas’s good looks.  It would only be a distraction to the matter at hand—her new job.  Getting back on her feet. 

“Morning, Elle.  Nice to see you,” Jonas said, treating her to a friendly smile.

“Hey, Jonas.  I’m happy to be here,” Elle said.  And strangely enough, she meant it.  Being a waitress had been the very last thing on her to-do list, but given her circumstances, it served as a blessing.

For the next two hours Trina showed her the ropes.  She shadowed Trina as she took orders and put them through to the kitchen. 

“If you want, you can take a break now.  We have a little lull,” Trina said, her tone softer than when Elle had first arrived.  “There’s a break area in the back in case you want to take a load off your feet.” 

Elle thought she was seeing things when Trina gifted her with a hint of a smile.  “Good job, Elle.”

“Thanks,” Elle said to Trina’s back as she turned and went to greet a customer at their table.   Perhaps, Elle realized, Trina’s bark was worse than her bite.  These days Elle was determined to believe in people, even though most of her New York friends had dropped her like a hot potato.  It still stung. 

Elle walked toward the back room, passing Jonas on the way. 

“Hey.  Are you hungry?” Jonas asked.  “What did you eat for breakfast?”

“I had a big plate of nothing,” Elle said with a laugh.  “I overslept so I had to race to get here on time.”  She rubbed her stomach.  “I have to admit, I’m pretty much starving.”

“Come on in the kitchen,” he said, waving her toward the back.  Elle trailed behind him, sniffing her nose in the air as soon as she entered the kitchen.  The smell emanating from the grill was heavenly. 

“Have you met Luis?” Jonas asked as he approached the cook standing by the stove.  Luis turned around and raised his hand in greeting to Elle.  He was a short, dark-haired man no older than mid-thirties.  He had a kind face. 

“Nice to meet you, Luis,” Elle said.  “It smells terrific in here.”

“Welcome,” Luis said.  “I heard you’re going to be working here.”

“On a trial basis,” she explained.

“According to Trina you’re a natural,” Jonas said, looking at her with an all-knowing expression.  Elle found herself staring at Jonas with deep appreciation.  He radiated warmth and light. 

The compliment made her feel great.  She didn’t know a thing about being a waitress, but she knew people. Treating people with dignity and respect and kindness came naturally to her.  She intended to treat each and every customer in that fashion.

“Elle hasn’t eaten today,” Jonas explained, making a face. 

Luis looked at her with wide eyes.  “Elle! That’s terrible.  Didn’t anyone ever tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?”

She shrugged, feeling sheepish.  Lately her diet hadn’t been all that great.  As a ballerina, Elle had been forced to take care of her body meticulously.  She had needed energy in order to dance and to compete at a top level against other ballerinas.  Making sure her body was nourished had been a big part of her profession.  In the last few months Elle hadn’t done too well in that regard. 

“My mother used to tell me that every single day growing up, but somewhere along the way I stopped listening to her sage advice.”  Bunny Harrington and sage advice didn’t necessarily go hand in hand, although her mother had given her a few pearls of wisdom during her upbringing.  To say her mother was flighty was a huge understatement. 

“So, Luis.  What can you make for Elle to fix that grumbling noise emanating from her stomach?”

“Hey! My stomach isn’t rumbling,” she said with a laugh.

Jonas was chuckling, clearly enjoying riling her up.

“How about some mouth-watering apple and cinnamon pancakes with a spinach and cheese omelet?” Luis asked.  His eyes were dancing with excitement as he talked about food.  Elle could tell he greatly enjoyed his job.

“That sounds delicious.”  She bit her lip.  “If it’s not too much trouble.  I know there are some customers who just came in.”

“No problem,” Luis reassured her.  “I can fix this in a jiffy.  You can go sit in the lounge. I’ll bring it to you when it’s ready.”

“You’re going to spoil me,” Elle said, warmed by their kindness.  It had been a long time since anyone had taken her under their wing.  Being at the diner felt like shelter from the storm. 

“That’s the plan,” Jonas teased.  “We like to inject a sense of belonging into the work place.  It makes it feel like it’s not drudgery to be here.  It’s also a place of community.  Make sense?”

“It does,” Elle said with a nod. 

Jonas shooed her out of the kitchen.  “Go enjoy your break.  Your food will be coming right up.”

Elle walked to the lounge and settled down in one of the comfy leather loveseats.  Although the room was fairly small it had a cozy vibe to it.  A flat screen television had been hung on the wall in front of the seats.  A small sofa was located next to the loveseats.  A beautiful, oatmeal-colored rug sat on the floor.  Magazines were scattered on top of a mahogany-colored coffee table.  It was the type of room where you wanted to sit for a spell and unwind. 

Less than five minutes later, Jonas appeared in the room, his arms holding a tray filled with food.  He placed it down in front of her on the coffee table. 

Elle sputtered.  “Seriously?  I can’t eat all of this food.”  Along with the sumptuous looking pancakes and the omelet were a fruit cup, hash browns, a mouth-watering biscuit and a side of grits.

“Give it a whirl.  Maybe taste a little bit of each item.  Luis is going to be insulted if you don’t make a dent in this meal.”

“I’m going to waddle back to work if I do,” she said with a giggle. 

Jonas looked at her.  “That’s highly doubtful,” he said, sending her a glance that seemed to be full of male appreciation.

For a moment something hovered in the air between them.  Jonas backed away and shuttered his expression.  “I should get back to work.  Enjoy the food.”

In a matter of seconds, Jonas was gone.  Elle had no idea what had caused him to stiffen up and act so awkward.   She hoped it wasn’t anything she had done.  At the moment, Elle needed all the friends she could get.  And something told her Jonas would be a loyal, faithful friend. 

She had no business even thinking about his handsome features, his rugged frame or the way his face lit up when he smiled. 

It was for the best, she realized.  Jonas Landry was her boss.  She needed this job to give her life a jump start.  It would be a nice position to get her settled and on her feet.  Not to mention the fact that she had promised herself to stay away from good-looking men who were too charming for their own good.  So far, those situations hadn’t ended well for her.

As she dug into the food Luis had prepared for her, Elle tossed all thoughts of Jonas aside.  It was important to focus on improving her life and making strides toward the future.  Jonas was nothing more than a sweet distraction.