Page 16 of Smokey's Distraction
He watched as Ryan swayed down the aisle to join Tonya. Memories of his childhood that Smokey vigilantly sheltered in the darkest corners of his mind threatened to creep out, but he willed them to stay put. He shoved a bite of food into his mouth and chewed slowly, his appetite no longer there. Smokey wadded up the napkin and put it on his plate, then motioned Maddie for the check.
“No pie tonight? How ’bout a slice of coconut cake? One just came out of the oven,” Maddie said, a hand on her hip.
“No, thanks.”
She glanced down at the half-full plate. “You lost your appetite or something?” she said as she picked up the dish.
“Yeah—something like that.”
The waitress handed him the check. “I know I’ll be seeing you again real soon. Ruthie really appreciates you bringing in your crew during the week for lunch.”
Smokey nodded, then pulled out his wallet and took out a ten-dollar bill. “Thanks, Maddie,” he said, handing her the tip.
She shook her head. “That’s too much.”
“Take it—you work hard and deserve it.”
“You and the others spoil me,” she said, hesitating before shoving the bill into her pocket.
“Shit, Maddie, wages never match the cost of living.” Smokey slid off the stool.
“Isn’t that the truth.” She stacked his empty coffee cup and water glass on top of the plate. “Thanks, sweetie.”
Smokey nodded then headed toward the register. When he came up to the booth that his mother and brother were sitting in, his mom immediately looked down at the menu and Ryan bent over, pretending to look for something on the floor. Smokey walked by without a word, anger pricking his skin and disappointment clawing at his belly.
The cold wind wrapped around him, stinging his cheeks and nostrils. Still falling, the snow was now deeper and denser than when he’d first gone into Ruthie’s. It blanketed the diner’s parking lot and the rooftops of Pinewood Springs, making the town glow in its blinding whiteness.
Smokey cleaned off the car, then slipped inside and cranked up the defroster. He turned out of the lot and the streetlights, storefronts, and houses slowly began to disappear behind a white curtain as he made his way to the clubhouse—his refuge.
3
The minute Ashleystepped out of the shower, the ceiling tiles came thundering down and chips of white ceramic flew everywhere. She rushed out of the bathroom, cussing up a storm while the tiles continued to rain down.
“This is ridiculous!” she yelled, watching from the doorway. Dripping wet hair, goosebumps racing across her skin, and chattering teeth werenota good way to start off the morning, especially since she had to be at her new job in less than an hour.
Ashley stomped into the bedroom, slipped on a pair of clogs, and walked back into the bathroom. Shards of porcelain crunched beneath the soles of her shoes as she gathered up essential toiletries and hurried toward the second bathroom. Keeping a cautious eyeatthatceiling, she finished getting ready.
A half hour later, Ashley stood before a full-length mirror in the master bedroom scrutinizing her black top tucked into a dark plum skater skirt. The formfitting top was low-key sexy, and normally she wouldn’t have had second thoughts, but Zach had warned her about his friend being a womanizer and didn’t want to give this guy the wrong impression. Ashley groaned as she pulled the top over her head and tossed it on the bed alongside an ivory lace blouse and a black fitted shirt; then she walked over to the closet and stared. Grabbing a long-sleeved black top with lace cuffs, she hurriedly pulled it on and tucked it into her skirt.
After applying a sheer pink lipstick, Ashley glanced at herself again in the mirror:Skirt just above the knee—check; top not emphasizing my boobs and wide belt drawing attention away from them—double check; black tights instead of bare legs—check, and low-heeled boots—check.She exhaled slowly.Okay then. All’s good.Ashley shrugged on a black wool coat, slung a large tote bag over a delicate shoulder, and walked out of the room.
When the garage door didn’t open, Ashley didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, scream, or pack it in and go back to bed and pull the covers over her head. She had absolutely no clue what to do since she’d never lived in a place that had an attached garage. Taking out her phone, she accessed Lyft and cursed for the umpteenth time that morning when the app told her a driver would be at her house in twenty minutes.
“I’m totally late,” she said aloud while shoving the phone into her purse.
Thirty minutes later, Ashley walked into a five-story building and pressed the button for the elevator, her right foot tapping on the glossy vinyl floor.So far, today is a damn disaster, but the bright side is that it can’t get much worse.She stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the fifth floor.
The brass doors swished open, and Ashley quickly walked over to a large wooden door emblazoned with the nameA+ Constructionin gold lettering. Pulling the door open, the first thing she saw was a glass curtain wall that looked out over the town and jagged mountain peaks. The rest of the lobby was done in shades of brown, rust, and crimson. Several brown leather chairs dotted the area in front of a sleek brown and granite counter, and oil and watercolor paintings of the great outdoors decorated softly textured walls. Vases with Native American designs and several bronze and pewter sculptures of the Old West rested on pedestals around the room. In several corners, hand-woven baskets and planters held floral arrangements and greenery.
“May I help you?” a woman asked, a tinge of irritation in her voice.
Ashley looked over at the counter and smiled. “Hello,” she said, walking toward the receptionist. “I’m Ashley Callahan. I’ll be working here for the next few months.” She held out her hand.
The ginger-haired woman narrowed her eyes. “We don’t need you here.”
Taken aback, Ashley stared at the receptionist, wondering if she’d heard the woman correctly.
“I place the ads and things are going just fine.”
