Page 38 of The Fixer and the Fugitive

“I think he walks like that because something in his head is too small,” Celeste returned.

He snorted. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Was Osama bin Laden really your cousin?” she asked.

“No, I was quoting my cousin Osama Robinson. He has a job at a butcher, biting the heads off chickens. He gets an extra dime for every beak that remains intact.”

She did the giggle-laugh thing that inexplicably made him smile.

“Do you think we have time to get lunch before the pinhead cowboy returns with reinforcements?” Sam asked hopefully.

“Maybe, but if we have to take down the reinforcements, we’re definitely going to need extra calories,” she said, leading the way to her SUV.

Chapter 20

“Celeste, hi!” Avery called as soon as they stepped into the diner. Today she held a different baby on her hip. “Sit wherever, we’re strangely un-busy at the moment.”

Celeste and Sam chose a booth near the back. She situated herself so she could see the door, still edgy over the uncomfortable encounter.

“What’s good here?” Sam asked, studying his menu.

“I’d go with the beef,” Celeste suggested, not bothering to glance down.

“Which one? Most of the menu is beef,” Sam said.

“I don’t think it matters,” Celeste returned.

Avery arrived with their waters, which she was somehow able to carry with one hand.

“Do you keep a supply of babies readily on hand?” Celeste asked.

“I wish, but no. This one’s mine. The best perk of a family business is that I get to bring my family along,” Avery said, kissing the top of the baby’s head. “As we speak, my three year old is grilling burgers.”

Celeste laughed. “Quite a talented lineup you have there.”

Avery smiled and bestowed her attention on Sam. “You must be the boyfriend I’ve heard so much about.”

Sam looked quizzically at Celeste.

“Not from her,” Avery clarified. “No less than eight different customers in the last hour dropped by to give me the particulars. If the rumors are to be believed, you run a rug import business and have bought the ring but aren’t certain you’re ready to propose. This trip will be the bellwether.”

“It depends on how many rugs she buys,” Sam said.

Avery laughed and her baby waved its arms in delight, squealing as it reached for the string of her apron to chew. “Do you two know what you want or will you need more time?”

“We’ll have the beef,” Celeste said, gathering their menus.

“Which one?” Avery asked.

“Surprise us.”

“Tongue and liver it is then,” Avery said, tossing them a mischievous wink as she took the menus and turned away.

“It smells amazing in here,” Sam said, inhaling deeply.

“It is amazing, or at least what I had the other night was.” She stared toward the back, wondering how the magic happened. How were people able to cook things and have them taste delicious? Celeste hadn’t had a lot of time to cook between world travels, but everything she’d ever attempted ended in flaming failure.

“Where’d you go?” Sam asked, stroking a gentle finger down the back of her hand.

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