Page 44 of Tumbleweed Temptation
Chapter Ten
The rest of the afternoonwas busy, since it was Friday, and since the stomach virus was still making the rounds. Even Poppy, the third grade teacher, came in, gray as death, pleading for something to make it better.
“This is my second round, and I don't want to use up all my sick days this early in the school year.” She looked at him from beneath her lashes. “I always save a couple of days so I can go to San Antonio for Fiesta in the spring. But I won’t have any left if you can’t take care of this for me.”
So he and Sofia got out late, but as he was locking up, he got a text. He checked his phone.
“It’s Ginny. She wants to work on the plan.”
“Tonight?” Sofia asked with a groan. “I don't think I have any brain cells left.”
He didn't know if he did, either, but he wanted to see Ginny. “We’re going to meet up at The Wheel House if you want to join us,” he said, texting the same information to Ginny.
“No, I don't care. It’s Friday night and I’m going home to get in my pjs and watch a movie.” She stepped outside, and her shoulders slumped. “You’re going to want my notes, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I think it would be better if we had everything we thought about in one place. Then we can make our pitch to Janine and Mr. Delgado, give them all the same information.”
She motioned for him to unlock the door, so she could retrieve her notes from beside the computer. She handed them over.
“Melissa better be back on Monday,” she said, and tuned to stagger toward the motel.
Austin, however, found renewed energy as he headed toward The Wheel House. He didn't know why the idea of seeing Ginny again got to him, but he was excited about this project, one he might not have followed through on, except for her enthusiasm.
Ginny waited at the bar, and he wondered if she’d already been here when she texted him, or did she live close enough that she could have beaten him here. He had to admit he didn't know where she lived.
The sight of her, all slim and long legged, one leg propped on the rung of the bar, the other braced against the floor, her hair loose around her shoulders, gave him more of a punch than he expected. He tried to bring to mind what she’d looked like in high school. Her face was the same, a little more angular now, and she didn't wear glasses anymore, but he didn't think she’d been as willowy. He was kind of mad at himself for not remembering, to be honest. He’d never thought much about her looks, then, he supposed. He’d been challenged by her brain. He didn't even think he’d thought of her as a girl.
To be fair, he didn’t think many girls had thought of him back then, either. He hadn’t been much to look at, nor had he been particularly good at conversation. And then he’d just been so hellbent to get out of town.
He pushed those thoughts aside as Hailey motioned to him and Ginny turned and smiled, not a bright smile, bubbly like Poppy and Sofia. But one that made him feel warm and welcome and....
Whoa. He better think twice about this. Staying in Broken Wheel was not a longterm goal. They got seven years from him, then he was heading back to greener—literally—pastures. He wasn't staying here for anyone.
He’d only been here a month and he was already forgetting that. He tightened his grip on Sofia’s notebook and headed over.
“I have some new ideas,” Ginny greeted him, instead of saying hello, and his tensions eased a bit. She wanted something to work on, too, something that would challenge her brain. Her interest in the cooking competition had nothing to do with a particular interest in him. He just had to remind himself he was not particularly interested in her.
Ginny was not surprised that Austin came with a notebook of his own, which was actually Sofia’s notes. This was getting to be quite the group effort. She took the notebook from him without preamble as Hailey set a beer on the bar in front of him.
“Why don't you guys go out front and listen to the band? It’s not as hot as it has been,” Hailey suggested. “And you’re going to have a lot of interruptions up here.”
Ginny looked at the crowd forming, waiting to get drinks, and yeah, they’d be—not in the way, exactly, but in traffic, so conversation would be challenging. She picked up the notebooks and her drink without consulting with Austin, and led the way out of the bar to one of the picnic tables between the bar and the stage. The light was kind of dim, but better than at one of the tables near the fence.
She settled in and inspected the growing crowd in the yard. She didn't often come here on a Friday night. Sunday the group of them usually gathered to play washers, but Fridays she was usually toast after waking up so early to work in the diner.
But tonight her brain was firing, and, okay, to be honest, she’d really liked working for Austin, and she’d kind of missed him today. He’d come in for lunch, sat in her section, but Janine had gotten to him before she could. Ginny had been disheartened by that all day.
Where had he gone? Probably talking to someone in line at the bar. She opened up Sofia’s notebook and squinted at the handwriting.
“I can barely read this,” she said when Austin finally appeared, carrying his beer and a plate of nachos.
“I asked Sofia to join us, but she was beat. Hailey was giving me a bad time about my life choices again.” He gestured to the plate of nachos as he sat beside her, not across from her.
