Page 113 of Tumbleweed Temptation
She couldn’t let herself drift down this path, not tonight when half the women from town were here watching.
But she found herself focusing on those timers, wishing them to move faster so this night could end.
*****
“MAYBE WE SHOULD CANCELthe third competition,” Ginny said as they carted the last of the trash bags to the enormous trash bin behind the bar.
“Why?” Austin hefted his bag over the rim of the container and reached for hers. “Everyone seems to love it, and we already have contestants signed up for that one.”
She knew her exhaustion was getting the better of her, but she couldn’t keep quiet. “Do you really think it’s helping? Do you really think people are changing the way they’re cooking? I don’t. And it’s a lot of work putting these things together.”
“Ginny, I don’t know how many ways I can apologize for you for not being able to help.”
“I don’t want you to apologize,” she said, pulling the trash bag out of his reach. “I get it, something came up and you can’t tell me, or whatever. But you’re tired. I’m tired, and I think it’s not making any difference in the way people are thinking.”
He leaned in and took the bag from her, then heaved it over the rim, dusting his hands off together, then wiping them on his jeans. “Well, we can check with Mrs. Lopez at the end of the week, how’s that? See if the ingredients are selling. And if they’re not, we’ll cancel the last competition.”
Her stomach sank. She didn’t know what she’d wanted him to say, but to be all practical about it—that was usually her way of doing things. She wanted to be emotional when it came to him. She wished she knew how to do it. She’d opened herself to him in a way she never had before, to anyone, and he’d broken her trust.
“Look, Janine and I, we’re on the path to making peace, and I’m thinking—I’m thinking maybe I should go back and take over the diner. I can add some of these kinds of healthy choices, you know, make sure the town is eating better, while still having some of the same comfort foods on the menu. But I’m thinking, maybe you should start looking for someone to take my spot.”
He stood still, staring at her. “You don’t want to work with me anymore?”
The stark shock in her voice squeezed her heart, but she pressed forward. “I am glad I tried it out, but I think my spot is with Janine. I think you should be able to find someone. Probably even someone with experience.”
“Youhave experience. I mean, now you do. And it isn’t that hard, is it? The hours are good. No weekends.”
“I’m used to working weekends. It doesn’t matter.”
“If you take over the diner, you’ll be working seven days a week. Is that what you want? You won’t have any time to hang out with us.”
She didn’t know why she was hoping he could read between the lines without her saying something. She really didn’t want to say something, especially not when they were both tired, standing out here surrounded by the smell of trash. And why was he talking about how the others would be concerned, instead of how he would be affected?
“I’m okay. And like I said, we can make a bigger difference this way than with the contests, I think. I’ll put an ad online and see who we can get to come in and take my place. I’ll spread the word around town, too.” She started walking back to the yard, just to give it one last look to make sure they weren’t leaving a mess for Hailey.
He followed, reached out, but let his hand fall to his side before he touched her. Her skin ached at the loss.
“Ginny, the point is, I don’t want anyone to take your place. I like working with you. I think we make a good team.”
Team. Not the words she was really looking for. None of this was in any of the romances she edited.
Their last competition had ended in their first kiss.
This one was ending in their good-bye.
*****
GINNY WAS SURPRISEDat how many people applied for the job almost as soon as she posted it online. She supposed putting Austin’s picture in the ad had been a good idea. She started scheduling interviews on Mondays, since he was out of the office and no patients were scheduled. He’d given her these days off, but if she wanted out of this job, she needed to find someone to take her place.
She’d talked to Janine about transitioning back over to the diner, so she was looking at seven-day work weeks already. But the move was the right thing to do, for Janine, for the town, for herself. The diner wasn’t her dream job, but she didn’t want to work with Austin anymore, didn’t want to see him every day, when he looked right through her, his mind always on something else.
And every day he left as soon as their last patient did, got in his Jeep and drove off. No word about where he was going.
Today she would interview Vivian Lopez, Maria Talamantez, Yasmine Mendez, and Destiny Nazareth. Apparently all of them had been interviewed before Melissa and hadn’t gotten the job, for whatever reason. She supposed she’d find out.
“Austin’s not here?” Yasmine asked when she came in, dressed in her Sunday best as she sat across Ginny, who took Austin’s desk.
“No, on Mondays he has other commitments. Today we’re going to just see if you’re a good fit for the town.”
