Page 60 of Heart & Hope

“I’ll be a little while. Did you want to grab a coffee in the restaurant while we work?” Ruby says.

“Sure, you know where I am if you need me, beautiful.” I dot a kiss to her cheek and head for the restaurant entrance to the right of reception.

The two women wander off to Mary-Sue’s office as I sink into the small café chair. I open up my emails. I actually do have work email to respond to, despite it being Sunday and the fact that I’ve never run a business before.

I like having something important to do. Something that matters, that I want to bring to fruition. Like I’m building something from nothing, with my mind and my hands. Maybe that’s what Harry was trying so hard for me to understand?

An email for a quote for holiday cabin construction sits in the inbox. I want at least three to be ready for the opening. And the kitchen will have to be expanded to accommodate all those people, not to mention the upgrade on the big barn. Hudson and Addy volunteered to help with that. Having a carpenter for an older brother sure helps.

Scanning the email for the figures in the quote, I decide it’s whiskey I’m needing, not coffee. Holy hounds in hell. That option is not in my budget.

I place the phone down and lean back in the chair, hands knitted behind my neck, letting my eyes close.

“What can I get y’all?” a sugary voice drawls.

I open my eyes to a somewhat familiar face. A brunette waitress stands, pad and pen in hand, in a black top and short skirt, black apron tied too tight around her waist.

“Coffee, one sugar. Please.”

“You don’t remember me, do you?”

“Um . . . No?”

“The name’s Starr, we met a few months back at the bar down the street.”

Frowning, I sit forward and fold my arms over my chest. “Sorry, I meet a lot of people at the bar.”

“Yeah, I know.” She snaps a hand to her hip. “You can tell your vicious guard dog bitch to back off, by the way. This is asmall town, and if you want to keep that reputation of yours, Rawlins, I suggest you tell her to take it down a notch.”

“You’ve lost me. My what?”

The waitress saunters away. But she tosses a scowl over her shoulders as she says, “Oh, and she owes me a new top.”

My eyes widen as I rack my brain for what on earth this girl is talking about.

When my coffee arrives, it’s brought out by another waitress. She’s much older and barely bothers with a smile. I scroll through more emails and reply to some that are in budget and seem okay to go ahead with. And an hour passes quickly as I tap out notes and random ideas for the holiday ranch.

“You look enthralled.”

I glance up to find a smiling Ruby with her bag over her shoulder. “Ready? I’m starving.”

“Yup, let’s get out of here.” I push out of the seat and drop my tip by the drained coffee mug. With my hand on the small of her back, I lead Ruby out to the valet space with harried steps.

“You must be really hungry,” she says, shooting me a narrowed glance.

“Nope, tell you about it in the truck.”

“Okay.”

When I hear the sweet purr of my black beauty, she rolls into the driveway and the tension in my gut releases a smidge. I open Ruby’s door, and she climbs on up. Running a hand through my hair, I reapply the cap before jumping into the truck and putting it into drive.

Clear of the inn, I turn to face Ruby. “I have to tell you something.”

“Shoot.”

“The waitress at the restaurant recognized me.”

“Crap,” she breathes.

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