Page 22 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

“But necessary. We must present this place in the best light to attract the best buyer.” Pauline fanned her arms out in a wide arc as if releasing her vision. “It has to be immaculate in here.”

“Perhaps we should close tomorrow,” Hayes suggested.

“What about our customers?” Pauline asked. “We can’t upset them.”

“Bringing in a buyer from the outside will upset the folks around here even more,” Hayes warned, then lifted his eyebrows. “Especially when you got a potential buyer right in your own backyard.”

“Hayes? I didn’t think you were interested. You didn’t mention anything when we spoke yesterday.” Pauline’s smile stretched and she snapped her fingers. “Please put something in writing and I would be delighted to discuss it with my team.”

“Not me,” Hayes replied and slipped his gaze toward Kelley.

Kelley gave him a small head shake.

“Oh, that’s too bad. It would have certainly streamlined things on my end,” Pauline said pleasantly. “But I get it. The kitchen is where you shine. Mama T always told me it’s best when we know our lanes and stay in them.”

Hayes rolled his eyes at Kelley and headed for the back door. “I’m going to step outside for my break.”

“Don’t forget to check the grill,” Pauline called after him, then she strolled the length of the kitchen and paused at the prep counter. “We don’t have cauliflower on the menu.”

“That’s not for the diner service,” Kelley said hastily. “It’s for the Blackwell menu.”

Pauline pursed her mouth and said, “Well, this can’t be here.”

“It will be put away before we open this morning,” Kelley said, her words reassuring. “The cleaners will not need to deal with it, either.”

“No, I mean it can’t be here at all,” Pauline stated flatly then she spun around and scanned the kitchen as if searching for more items that did not belong.

“I thought you were okay with the catering.” Kelley crossed her arms over her chest and said, “We talked about this last night.”

“I am.” Pauline aimed a brief smile at Kelley and then continued her inspection. “What you do on your own time in your own kitchen is your business.”

Her own kitchen. That had not been part of their conversation last night. There had been no mention of Kelley cooking at her own place between talk about Kelley’s supposed win-back-her-ex-husband plot and Pauline’s need to spread her wings beyond Gold Finch county lines.

“It’s just that your business can’t be in my business because then the rest of the staff might want to conduct their other side hustle businesses here, too.” Pauline met Kelley’s stare and continued, “I can’t have that. You understand, right?”

Kelley ran her hand over her mouth to keep from openly gaping at her boss.

Hayes returned, glanced between the women and hightailed it over to the walk-in refrigerator where he disappeared inside.

“Besides, if word gets out about your catering side hustle and you get more local customers, well, how will that look to your people in New York?” Pauline asked, her tone sounding perplexed. She gave her arms a slight flutter as if preparing to fly and continued, “Remember we agreed that we’re following Mama T’s sage advice from now on.”

Kelley was beginning to understand that her boss, it seemed, was holding firm to the belief that Kelley belonged somewhere else, too—in New York City to be exact. But Kelley wanted her next move to be a fresh start, not a rebound back to the place she’d left behind. After all, this time her ex was not calling the shots and Kelley was not deferring to him as if he knew best.

Pauline held Kelley’s stare as if expecting a response.

Finally, Kelley nodded in acknowledgment and said, “Right. Mama T did have lots of advice.”

Pauline grinned as Hayes reappeared carrying a jug of milk, then she said, “Okay. I think we are all on the same page.”

“We’re staying in our lanes,” Hayes muttered through his grin. “But I think she’s at a different track.”

Kelley swallowed her chuckle.

“Here’s the order of events. Cleaners today. Keep it pristine. Pictures tomorrow. Showings this weekend. And a sale soon.” Pauline brushed her palms together. Her expression was full of satisfaction. “We’ve manifested it. It shall be.” A hug for Hayes then Kelley, and Pauline swept out of the diner as swiftly as she arrived.

Hayes got to work finishing the French toast batter and asked, “What’s the plan, then?”

Good question. Kelley said, “We’ll close after the July Fourth committee meeting this afternoon.”