Page 3 of Rainbows Over Cedarwood

Chapter Two

Colton Harrison eyed the customers in the dining room and leaned against the half-wall separating the coffee station from the rest of the room. He’d heard his friend Steve talking to him, but he needed a moment to soak in the view. He loved owning the diner, and a packed room always made his day. He’d taken over the eatery because he loved food—not to get rich. He snorted. He wasn’t going to make tons of money serving food to the small town of Cedarwood. Oh, the town wanted to be upscale and could’ve done with a fine dining establishment, but he hated the uppity types and really disliked wearing neckties.

He nodded to Steve. “I’ll be right there.” He counted the people at the table…eight. Who were the new ones? He knew Steve, Farin and Genie. Colin, Jordan and Gage had been coming in for the last handful of months, but this new person and child weren’t familiar. Maybe they would be once he got closer. He filled five large glasses with iced water and three smaller ones for the kids.

“I’ll get those.” Cora, one of the servers, took the tray from him.

He didn’t say anything as she walked away. At least someone had their head in the game. He didn’t. Usually he knew exactly what was going on at the diner. Not tonight. He couldn’t get his mind off the people at the main table.

He liked Colin and Farin. They’d served on the chamber of commerce board with him a few times and were nice enough guys. Steve, although generally quiet, was a cool man and Jordan…well, he refused to piss off lawmen. He liked how Jordan and Colin had gotten together after so many years apart and how Steve and Farin had found they weren’t so different after all. Cedarwood, for all its negatives toward the gay community, seemed to be the right place for gays to find happy endings.

Well, everyone except me.His happy ending wasn’t going to come with a five-inch dick and a ripped set of abs.No, my future’s the diner.He snorted. He could almost hear his ex snapping at him.

‘You love the diner more than you could ever love me.’

At the time, he’d hated his ex, Jay, but now he knew his ex had been right all along. Colt had known early on that Jay would never be his forever. Jay hadn’t been dedicated to the diner or anything else, really. Jay had wanted to stay at home all day and watch television. He’d preferred the tanning bed to an office and had only cleaned up for a night of clubbing. Once he’d hit twenty-seven, Colt had lost his appetite for the clubs. He’d wanted to settle down.

When Colt had refused to follow Jay’s lead, Jay had walked. The insults about the diner had been extra barbs for the hell of being mean. Jay had hated the weather in Ohio, hated the town of Cedarwood—although he might have been on to something there—and had needed the clubs.

He shook his head and tried to forget his ex. He needed to stop living in the past. Yeah, he’d loved the diner more than he’d loved Jay. He’d gotten the job as a host at the diner, moved up to server, then manager, and three years later, he’d moved from host to owner. Getting the keys to the restaurant had been the best day of his life.

Colt crossed the room to the main table. He noticed the booths had been filled by couples and one lady with her computer. He didn’t care if people used the free Wi-Fi to do work. Whatever brought in customers worked for him. Conversation caught his attention and he tipped his head.

“You’re gonna put that whole thing in your mouth?”

Colt stopped short. Who had said that? And what thing were they referring to?

“Yes, I am,” a small voice replied.

“You’ll choke on that. Slow down.”

Colt blushed.Dear God.This conversation was happening at the diner? He located the speakers and sighed. A guy and a kid…who were with Colin and Farin’s clan.Whew.“Gentlemen.” He grabbed a chair and turned it around then sat at the end of the table. “Isn’t this one heck of a boys’ night out?” He put up one hand. “Sorry, Genie. Girls, too.”

“We just had the support group meeting and thought we’d stop here to get a bite to eat.” Colin wiped his mouth with his napkin. “You know Jordan and Steve and the kids. This is Ashley Willis and his son, Wyatt.”

Colt nodded. He’d met everyone but the man beside him. “Ashley, I’m Colton, but everyone calls me Colt.” He stuck out his hand. Ashley wasn’t physically what he wanted in a guy—black hair cut short on the sides and a little longer on top, pale greenish-blue eyes and that smile. Even in his simple button-down shirt and dress slacks, the guy looked so well put together, but Colt liked his guys rugged and blond. Then there was his voice. He focused on Ashley. He’d seen the man before, but where? In the diner? Around town?Huh.

“Hi,” Ashley said. He shook hands with Colt. “We’ve been in here a few times but never with this big of a group.” His ears were tinged red and he glanced down.

“No problem.” Colt let go of Ashley’s hand but wished he didn’t have to stop touching him. Maybe he was crazy, but he could’ve sworn there were sparks. Something deep in his gut tickled and his tongue felt sixteen sizes too big for his mouth.

“Dad, I want to go home.” Wyatt squirmed in his seat. “I’m tired.”

The little boy didn’t look a thing like Ashley. Was he adopted? Why did that matter? Colt wasn’t sure. He’d never considered himself a kid person and tried to steer clear of dating people with children.So much for the attraction.

“Finish your hot dog but eat it in smaller bites.” Ashley blushed darker red. “I’m sure you don’t want anyone to choke here at the diner.”

“No, but we’re trained to help if it happens.” Colt gripped the back of the chair. “Take your time.” Because he certainly wanted to. In his head, he said he wasn’t going to try for someone with a kid, but Ashley made him reconsider his rule against kids.

“Thanks.” Ashley rapped his knuckles on the table and turned his attention to Wyatt. “If you’re going to fall asleep at the table, then get moving.”

“Sorry, sir.” Wyatt munched on the remainder of his fries. He glanced over at Colt then at his father.

“I’ll leave you to your dinner. Enjoy.” He had to walk away from the table. If he lingered much longer, his friends would wonder about him. He knew Colin and Farin well enough, but it wasn’t like they were all best friends. He was supposed to be acting like a businessman, not fawning over a hot guy at the diner.Remember your job here, Colt.

“Hey, Colt,” Farin called. “We were thinking of having a party. Something like one of those fests they have to support different causes. Ours would be a celebration of diversity and to tell the coalition to stuff it—but not quite in those words. Want to help plan?”

“Where are you thinking of having this fest?” Colt stayed by the table but turned his chair back to the other table. “You’ll need a public gathering permit and will have to get it all approved by the council.”

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