Page 34 of Cherry Picked
“You look like you just had sex in the orchard,” I accused, reaching my give-a-shit limit. I whirled around and found Jack standing two tables away, delivering a check to a customer. “Everyonein this town is having sex except me! I’m going to be a virgin until I die old and alone. I’m living with a damned cherry that will never be picked!”
I yanked off my apron and, in the sudden, pulsing silence that filled the restaurant, threw it at his feet. “I quit.”
And then I turned and stormed out of Panini Jack’s.
ChapterSeven
JACK
“There are very few who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.”
~ Charlotte Lucas
I straightened up slowly from the table where I’d been delivering Betty Ann Wolff’s bill. Everyone in the restaurant was shocked into silence at Hawk’s outburst, but I barely noticed anyone other than Hawk himself. His anger radiated off him so much so that he reminded me of the prickly pinecones we’d fallen into on the trail to Balderdash Peak…
Only this particular pinecone had been launched fast-pitch-style at my heart.
He shot me a glare and stormed out of the restaurant, setting the bells on the door jangling, and disappeared down the street.
What the fuck had just happened?
If I’d hoped that Hawk’s outburst on the trail yesterday was a onetime thing or that his knife-throwing adventure might calm him down and get him back on track, today had shown me how naive that was. He’d been simmering all morning, and now…
Hawk Sunday didn’t make big dramatic exits. He didn’t lose his temper. And he most certainly didn’t tell the whole world he was a virgin in search of a… devirginator.
Webb’s eyes snapped to me.
I held up my hands. “I didn’t do anything. I promise!”
Instead of being angry like I assumed he would be, he looked confused. “Do anything about what? What was that all about?”
The reality of the situation pressed down on me until I felt like I could barely breathe. Hawk was going to be mortified by his public display as soon as he calmed down and realized what he’d said in front of half the town.
I also remembered him saying one of the things he was angry about was that everyone was making a big deal about his anger. I figured most people were surprised and worried like I was, but I wanted to put the other Hollowans on notice just in case.
“Nothing to see here, people,” I announced to the restaurant in a firm voice. “Please respect Hawk’s privacy and allow him to have a bad day without spreading it around town. Understood?”
A few people nodded half-heartedly.
I looked longingly toward the front door again, my heart urging me to go after Hawk and comfort him. But the look he’d given me suggested that Hawk wouldn’t find my presence comforting, and I couldn’t leave the rest of my employees and my business in the middle of the lunch rush.
I picked up Hawk’s apron and bolted for the kitchen. “Back to work,” I snapped at Crys as I passed her.
I headed for an empty prep table in the back corner of the room and started measuring out ingredients for cinnamon rolls. I could make this recipe on autopilot, and working the dough was the perfect way to keep my hands busy while I figured out what the hell I was supposed to do now.
I should have anticipated that I wouldn’t be alone for long.
“What the hell was that about?” Webb demanded, following me to the kitchen. He still looked confused and maybe a little outraged. “I’ve never in my life seen Hawk blow up like that, much less in public.”
Since a good offense was often the best defense, I crossed my arms and glared at him. “If I recall, he was angry at you for flaunting your new,energeticrelationship with everyone.”
Webb’s eyes flared, but his neck turned red with embarrassment, which was confession enough. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean? And don’t think for one minute that I’m going to feel guilty for loving my husband whenever and wherever he’ll let me because that man is the greatest gift of my life and—”
I held up a hand to stop him. “Yes, yes. Spare me, okay? We know you got drunk and tripped into the perfect life partner. Good for you. Not all of us are lucky enough toblow the buglewith a handsome stranger who just so happens to be our soul mate—”
“You make it sound dirty,” he muttered.
“—so forgive Hawk for having a moment of envy. He’s obviously ready for a relationship, and it’s not exactly easy to find one here in this tiny town.”
