Page 13 of Saved By the Lumberjack
"That works for me," Ivy says. "I'm not planning on going back into those woods."
Chapter Seven
Ivy
We slept most of the day away.
By the time we're done making love, the sky outside the windows has darkened to an inky, deep blue.
We're both exhausted, but starving, and in need of another shower-- this one, we take together in Jake's master bathroom.
And when we're done with our second shower of the day, we're even hungrier.
Jake finds me more clothes from his closet. A pair of his sweats and a flannel shirt. Both are too big for me, but Jake says they'll work for where he's taking me.
A short drive down the private, gravel driveway and onto Moonshine Ridge's main road later, we pull into a large parking lot and walk into the Moonshine Ridge Tavern and Grill-- through the door that faces the street that says "family dining" over it.
"The back doors are to the bar," Jake explains. "Same business, same kitchen. But the restaurant has a full menu."
It's after nine o'clock and our waitress tells us we made it just before the kitchen closes.
The place is almost empty when we arrive, just one table in the back where four old women sit arguing with each other,empty fry baskets piled on the end of their table along with an empty beer pitcher. A second, half-full pitcher sits in the middle of their table along with pint glasses in various levels of full for each of the women.
By the time our teenaged waitress delivers our burgers and a basket of chili-cheese fries to share, there's been a sudden rush. Tables are filling up near us, with several people stopping by to say hello to Jake.
"Alice has her phone out." Jake explains to me with a laugh as he introduces me to Current and Ginger Jones, who just closed up their pizza and brewpub across the street.
"And she's putting it to nefarious uses," Deputy Hawkins warns us as he stops by our table. "You're the town celebrity now, those women are going to milk your fifteen minutes for all the gold they can get out of that gossip. Be ready."
The local law man nods toward the table of old women, shooting a wary glance between them and the beer pitchers on their table.
"I'm off duty. Got relief sitting in for me for the next few days. Up from the valley." He takes the bags of food to-go that Toni hands him and gives her a folded bill in exchange, telling her to put it in her fund.
"I'm off to the family," he informs us with a tip of his hat with his free hand. "Glad you're doing well, miss. Welcome to the Ridge."
His eyes go to Jake and back to me like he already knows I'm not leaving. Then he glances at the table in the far corner again and shakes his head like those sweet old ladies are a bunch of teenage delinquents. I swear he shudders.
"They're not my problem for a few days," he mutters under his breath on his way out.
"I get the feeling there's a story there?" I lean into Jake's hard body beside me, and use one of the crispy, seasoned French fries to shovel the homemade chili into my mouth.
Jake reaches over to shake the hand of a man he introduces as Hayle.
"Just came down to get gran." The man tells us-- after the usual"glad you're okays"that I've been getting from everyone who has come by our table-- "Hawk said she was down here looking for trouble."
Hayle heads toward the old women like he's walking into a fire fight.
"My understanding is that there's a lot more than just one story there." Jake remarks with a nod toward their table.
After I think every resident of Moonshine Ridge has found an excuse to come down to the tavern and stop by to meet me, the place clears out again.
Our waitress, Toni, stands at the end of the diner style counter, talking to a boy about her age who's obviously smitten with the cute little brunette. She seems oblivious to his moony-eyed stare as he tracks her movements while she runs Jake's card for our meal and thanks him for the tip.
"He's got it bad," I whisper to Jake as we leave and walk back to his car.
"Who?" Jake follows my stare back at the teens inside, then laughs. "Jax? Oh yeah. She's going to break his heart. Everybody on the Ridge has seen that writing on the wall for the last couple of years now.
"You know who else has it bad?" Jake pulls me close, wrapping me in his strong arms where I feel so safe. "Me. For you."
