Chapter 4
COMPOSURE IS SOMETHING I PRIDE myself on. I am the go-to girl for “fake it till you make it.” I’m always able to put a smile on my face and blend in with a crowd. It’s probably why I take to life as a waitress. I can hop from table to table and make small talk with my customers, conforming to the situation.
I was a cocktail waitress in a large bar in a small town for almost two years. I spent a lot of time laughing and flirting with good-looking men more times than I can count. But, right now? Standing here with this damn “Help Wanted” sign in my hand, I’m speechless. Well, except for the “wow” I just whispered.
Although, by the snickers from the gentleman at the counter, it wasn’t much of a whisper. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome tips the brim of his cowboy hat in my direction before removing it and making his way to a group of men in a corner booth. I follow his movements with my eyes, and because I love to tease myself, I allow my eyes to drop to the way his ass fills out a pair of jeans.
Glorious.
“Sweetie, I could use some help with this crowd. Feel like grabbing an apron?”
I turn to Vera standing to my side with a pot of coffee in her hand and a large smile lighting up her face. My eyes blink repeatedly, and I have yet to respond when she simply shakes her head and walks away from me. I must have left my composure in Gerty’s trunk because this is so not me.
After getting my act together and putting on an apron, I manage to help Vera through the morning rush and into the pre-lunch preparations. I introduce myself to Sam, the cook, and I know within minutes he and I are going to be fast friends. I also think he’s a little sweet on Miss Vera, but she’ll neither confirm nor deny. Thankfully, I don’t have to serve the handsome cowboy and his table of friends—yes, also handsome cowboys—and he leaves before the awkward version of myself reappears.
Once the breakfast crowd disperses, Vera forces me to take a break before the lunch rush starts, completely against my will, yet here I sit. I check my phone for missed calls and messages and don’t have any. That says a lot about how I’ve lived my life the last few years. I’ve had friendships, but none that are close enough for anyone to check on me. That’s a sad realization. My mom and I talk once a week on Thursdays, which is when I’ll catch her up on my plans to move to Austin. Well, my planned move to Austin and my stop in Mason.
After finishing my early lunch of a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of Sam’s homemade tomato soup, I freshen up in the restroom before another shift with Vera. I will work all shifts to make sure I know how to open in the morning and close in the afternoons. I’ve offered to work evenings if she wants to extend hours for a while, but she says dinner time is for families, and she won’t stay open. Personally, I think Vera simply wants to have more Twilight marathons and drink tequila in the evenings.
Looking into the mirror in the poorly lit restroom, I take in my appearance. My long blonde hair is still in a semi-braid down my back with the fallen pieces curling around my face from perspiration. I had foregone much makeup this morning and just applied a smidge of mascara and some gloss. No wonder hot cowboy just smiled and went about his business, I look like I just rolled out of bed. The volume of voices begins to filter through the walls, and I know break time is over. I’ll have to make do with this half-assed version of myself for another day. Tomorrow I’ll put forth my usual efforts.
“Wow, I wasn’t gone very long; what’s with the crowd?” I ask Sam as I’m walking past the kitchen.
“It’s my tomato soup.” Sam’s tone leaves no room for discussion, and I turn to him with a look of confusion when he starts laughing. “I’m kidding. Nah, at least twice a week we have a huge lunch rush, and today must be one of those days. Usually, it’s a dull roar but the Mathews crew is here. It’s odd, they don’t normally hit us twice in one day.”
“Mathews crew?” I ask while reaching for my apron.
“One of the ranches outside of town. Great family, been in the area for decades. I think some of the guys were here this morning. Kind of a rowdy bunch but nice kids.” Sam’s cut short in our conversation when Vera taps the order bell a few times and tosses a glare our way. I promise to catch up with Sam again later for more background on the town and the surrounding ranches before rushing out to help Vera with the growing lunch crowd.
“Looks like the town heard of your arrival, sweets.” I pause mid-tie of my apron to look at Vera. “There’s no other reason for this lunch crowd. Plus, the Mathews boys don’t often come into town twice in the same day. I’d say the young men of Mason are interested in the new lady in town. I’ll let you greet them while I take care of the Bingo crowd over there,” she says, nodding toward the other side of the room.
I turn on my heel, facing the crowd of cowboys filling the corner booth for the second time today. All have their hats off, so hat hair is prevalent on those with longer locks. A few of the men are roughhousing in the booth and another keeps shushing them. But it’s one man in particular who catches my attention.
Sitting with an arm casually strewn across the back of the booth, his dark brown hair is tussled from where he’s likely run his hand through it. He’s laughing with the other men, and that damn dimple I saw earlier is dancing on his cheek just beneath a light scruff. As I approach the booth, he looks up and I momentarily pause when our eyes connect. His deep chocolate eyes widen before his smile grows and small lines blanket the side of each eye.
I blink double time in response because, obviously, I’ve lost my composure. Clearing my throat, I turn my attention to the other side of the booth and plaster on the biggest, and fakest, smile I’m able to muster.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. What can I grab y’all to drink?” I’m all business. I’m not going to let sexy cowboy deter me from my work. I’m a professional, dammit. A professional liar because my heart is racing, my palms are a little sweaty, and I’m pretty sure he just smacked his buddy on the back of the head when he called me “sweetheart.”
“Show some respect to the lady. We’ll all just have waters, thank you.”
Tucking my pathetic and hypothetical tail between my legs, I rush away from the table to secure five waters before returning. I continue to pay more attention to the other men than the chocolate-eyed hottie as I take their orders. When it’s his turn to order, he pauses and smiles, his hands clasped on the menu in front of him.
“I don’t think I caught your name.”
“Probably not since I didn’t give it.” Okay, that was a little snarky but what can I say, this guy has me flustered.
“Boys, this here is Mercy. Mercy, these are a few of the Mathews crew. And this young man using his manners, unlike these others, is Shane Abbott. Don’t let Shane give you a hard time; he’ll have a double cheeseburger with grilled onions, no pickles, and double order of fries. He orders the same thing every week. I’ll take the order to Sam so you can better acquaint yourself.” Vera doesn’t offer me an opportunity to argue and snatches the order slip from my hand before walking toward the kitchen’s window.
“Mercy. I like it. Tell me, Mercy, what brings you to Mason?”
“Well, Shane, I had a little car trouble, and Earl said it’ll be at least a week until he will have Gerty up and runnin’ again so Vera and I have worked out a little arrangement.”
“Well, sweetheart, if you’d like someone to show you around town I’m free tonight.” The invitation comes from the young kid sitting next to Shane. I’d say he’s barely out of high school. Cute enough but a little young for me. I smile and shake my head in response.
“Stop bothering Mercy, Cory. Sorry about that. What is a “Gerty” anyway?”
I laugh at his reference to Gerty being “a Gerty”.
“Gerty is my lifelong friend and most trusted possession. She’s my car, and she’s taken a turn for the worse.” The men all nod in understanding as I excuse myself and get back to work. The busyness of the lunch crowd has the next forty minutes flying by in a flash, a welcome distraction to the hot cowboy sitting a few feet away. Once the crowd thins a little, and Vera and I are able to breathe, I fill a glass of water and lean against the counter waiting for her to comment on Shane. I know it’s coming.
“So, Shane seems to have taken a liking to you.”
I ignore the statement and become engrossed in my glass of water. Although I’ve only known Vera a few days, I already know she’s not going to let this go. Turning to place the glass in the dish bin, I silently walk to the sink and wash my hands before turning to face my new friend.
“All of those guys seemed nice. The entire town has been very welcoming. The Bingo ladies even invited me to join them this Friday.” Deflect. That’s my game plan.
“And Shane Abbott? A girl could do a lot worse than that man. I mean, did you see the way he fills out a pair of jeans. Woowee, girl. And the way he was looking at you? Heck, I thought we were going to have to close the diner and let you two get to know each other a little better.”
I turn forty different shades of red and throw a towel at Vera, who chuckles before walking away laughing loudly. As attractive as I find Shane, and Lord knows he’s amazingly sexy in those tight jeans and perfect cowboy hat, I have no business being interested in anyone here in Mason. My time here is limited, and my eye is on the bigger prize and bigger city.