Page 52 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

Kelley sputtered. “What have you told them?”

“Oh, me?” Laura-Beth pointed at herself and smiled at Kelley. “I invited them to the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, of course. I figured it’s a really good showcase of your food since you are cooking.”

Catering inquiries were news to Kelley. Surprising and welcome and intriguing all at the same time. But catering was supposed to be a temporary side hustle. It was not the statement-making exclamation mark Kelley warned her ex-husband to watch out for. Kelley hugged the napkins against her chest.

“We will need to update the menu now,” Laura-Beth stated, entirely unfazed. She waved her hand about the tiny room. “But not until we discuss the issue with the flowers. That’s why I’m here.”

“Well, we are not growing the diner business by offering catering services,” Pauline announced. “Given that we are selling the place.”

“On account of your whole cut-and-run-to-the-city exit plan,” Eric drawled. “I believe we’ve got that part.”

Pauline silently fumed. Kelley could spot the tell.

“What city, Pauline?” Laura-Beth perked up and added, “I’ve heard Charleston is lovely. I’ve always wanted to visit. But perhaps you were thinking someplace even larger.”

Eric shook his head. “Don’t get her started.”

Kelley did not know where to begin. Until another familiar face stepped into her view.Hello, cowboy. Kelley exhaled. Her good cheer began to expand again.

Asher shook Eric’s hand. He scanned the crowded room and asked mildly, “Am I interrupting something?”

“Asher. Perfect timing,” Pauline piped up and grinned. “Can you please tell Eric why people like us belong in the city and not here?”

Asher cast a perplexed look at Kelley.

“Pauline, you already roped Kelley into this,” Eric said, caution in his words. “Don’t go roping Kelley’s cowboy into it, too.”

Kelley’s cowboy. She should set the bar owner straight. And yet, Kelley liked the sound of that. Her gaze collided with Asher’s and stuck.

Asher raised his arms and held his palms out. “I’m just here about a possible special sandwich request. A blackberry bacon grilled cheese for Big E.”

He was not there for her. Because Asher was not Kelley’s answer. Besides, this time around, Kelley intended to find her own reasons to leave and expand her career the way she wanted, or even to stick around, possibly. Either way, she was not following someone else’s dreams, believing they were her own. She already knew that was a recipe for failure. Kelley cleared her throat and said loudly, “Out! Everyone needs to get out. Now!”

Pauline’s foot continued its chaotic beat. Her words were cool. “You can’t order me to get out. I own this place.”

Not for much longer if Pauline had her way. “I just did,” Kelley countered. “And I am.”

“But we are not finished,” Pauline argued.

“I have work to do. Customers to see to and food to cook.” Kelley guided Pauline closer to Eric and nudged her boss none too gently. Yet, that put Kelley within hugging distance of Asher. Kelly pretended not to notice and concentrated on her boss instead. “Pauline, you and Eric clearly have things to figure out. But out there. Not in here.”

“About that grilled cheese,” Eric said in the hallway.

“I could use something to eat, too,” Laura-Beth chimed in.

Kelley rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine, fine. Grilled cheese all around, if you all just sit down at the lunch counter.” And give Kelley a moment to gather herself. She was much too close to gathering her cowboy to her and holding on.

“That grilled cheese is off-menu,” Pauline muttered, although her pique seemed to have leveled off.

“Well, it should beonthe menu. When you taste it, Pauline, you will know why,” Kelley retorted. She propped the swinging door open and motioned everyone through. “I’ve been told my grilled cheese is a mood buster and problem solver.”

Kelley waited until the quartet was seated at the lunch counter with Big E and the Arbor sisters before she returned to the kitchen to a round of applause from Frannie and Hayes.

Hayes drummed out a celebratory beat on the stainless-steel counter and grinned from cheek to cheek. “About time you found your voice around here.”

Now Kelley just had to keep using it.

“And Kelley actually thinks this is not about a cowboy.” Frannie huffed good-naturedly and scooted back out to check on her customers.