Page 3 of Paco
“Didn’t Bobby pay it?” she asked in a small voice.
“Nope. And since you don’t have any money and can’t order anything, you gotta get outta here. You’re taking a booth away from paying customers.”
The woman glanced around. “There’s hardly anyone here. I don’t feel so good right now. Can I have a glass of water?”
Holly shook her head. “Carl doesn’t want your kind taking up space unless you’re gonna pay. You need to move on.”
Paco watched as the woman’s chin trembled, her lashes blinked, and her hand clutched at her throat. “Put whatever she wants on my tab,” he said.
Holly spun around, her mouth gaping, her brown eyes flashing. “What?”
The woman cleared her throat. “I don’t want any charity,” she said as pride shone in her eyes.
A smile twitched on his lips. “I’m not giving any.”
Holly came over to him. “Are you sure about this? She’s a lot lizard.”
Anger burned inside him as the waitress smiled smugly. “I don’t like repeating myself. Put her order on my tab.” He turned away and pulled the bowl of chili closer to him.
Mumbling something incomprehensible under her breath, she stormed away. “Remember the bowl of chicken soup, and bring me a cup of tea, please,” the woman said as Holly passed her table.
“Unbelievable,” Holly said, looking behind her shoulder at Paco.
When she’d gone to the kitchen, the woman stared at him. He kept eating, acting like he didn’t know she was watching him, but he was acutely aware of her. A woman had never had such an effect on him after only a few minutes. Even when he’d met Cassie, he hadn’t been immediately drawn to her.
What the hell’s going on? I must be tired or something.
Holly slammed the soup and tea down and rushed away. The woman grabbed several crackers, and the crinkling sound as she opened them made him smile. He looked at her.
“Thanks for this,” she said. “I’ll pay you back tomorrow. I promise.”
“You don’t have to. You sound like you’re sick.”
“I am. I feel like shit. I’m sure once I finish the soup and tea, I’ll feel a lot better.” Steam rose from the bowl. She looked up. “I’ve never seen you around here before. You new to the road?” With the spoon near her mouth, she blew.
“I’m not sure I know what you’re asking.”
“I mean are you new to long-haul driving?”
“I’m not a trucker. I’m just passing through. I got caught up in the storm.”
Holly came back over. She darted her eyes from him to the woman, then back to him. “I thought you weren’t the friendly type,” she said as she picked up his empty bowl.
Ignoring her, he said, “Give me a piece of apple pie and warm it up.”
“Fucking unbelievable,” she muttered as she walked away.
The woman’s phone rang and she grimaced. Slowly she picked it up. “I’m having some hot tea before I go back out there.” A long pause. “I know. I understand. I’ll have the money.” She placed the phone on the table, then wrapped her hands around her cup.
From where he sat, Paco saw tracks of fear streak her face. Something about the way she sat, her eyes watering and her hands clinging around the mug, hit a chord inside him.She’s scared to death. I bet this Bobby fuck is her pimp.Sensing she was in trouble, he wanted to help her.I should just pay my bill and forget about her.But he couldn’t. There was something about her that grounded him. He didn’t know what it was, but he wanted to make sure she was okay.
“Here’s your piece of pie. Did you decide to stay at the motel? The rain’s still coming down pretty good.” Holly leaned in closer.
He glanced out the window. “Yeah, it’s still raining. You can bring the bill.” He jerked his head toward the small woman in the booth. “Make sure she doesn’t want anything more.”
When Holly went up to her table, he saw the woman shake her head and then take out a mirror from her purse. She wiped her face and took out what looked like lipstick and a pencil.
The waitress walked over to his table. “Here you go. You pay up front. I wrote my number on the back, just in case you want some company tonight.” Holly smiled widely.
