Sophie Oak: Three to Ride

“They only do that a couple of times a year. It’s the live-action role-playing that I take exception to,” Max said with a frown. “Those kids scare my horses. Other than that, we’re perfectly normal.”

Rye decided not to bring up the nudist colony on the outskirts of town or mention the performance art done in the square every Friday at noon. He smiled to himself. Bliss, Colorado was a weird little town, and he liked it that way. One day some gorgeous woman was going to come through Bliss and like it, too.

He couldn’t wait for that day.

One Year Later

It was the weirdest little town.

“Rachel, you have an order up,” Hal barked from the kitchen.

“Coming.” She was finally getting used to answering to Rachel. She liked her new name. Rachel Swift seemed to suit her in a way that Mandy Cooper hadn’t. She was even starting to like it more than Elizabeth Courtney.

Rachel turned from the large windows of the diner where she had been watching Nell and Henry Flanders make their statement about monarchial rule in England. They were making the point through mime, of course. It was Friday, and apparently every Friday Nell and Henry made a political statement. Rachel had only been in Bliss, Colorado for two weeks, but she already looked forward to the Friday lunch show.

Rachel grabbed the burger and fries and looked down at the table number. It was Stella’s order, but Stella had walked outside for a quick smoke break. As Stella was the owner of the diner, Rachel didn’t complain. She smiled and turned to take the order to table fourteen.

She bit her bottom lip when she saw who was sitting at the small table, looking intently at his papers. Maxwell Harper. Her crazy stupid heart started thudding in her chest. Max Harper was just about the best-looking thing she’d ever seen. He’d walked into the diner the morning after she’d gotten the job, and his stark blue eyes were all she thought about since. Well, she also thought about his broad shoulders and how amazing his butt looked in a pair of jeans.

Men are bad . She began the silent litany she went through every time she thought she would break down and throw herself into the cowboy’s arms. She was never going to learn. She was on the run from one man. She did not need to beg another to take her. Even if she really, really wanted to.

Besides, she thought as she started toward the table, she wouldn’t be here for very long. She hadn’t meant to stop in Bliss. She’d run out of money in Alamosa and had just enough gas to get to Bliss. The waitressing gig was a good way to build up some cash, but she couldn’t stay in the same place for too long. She hadn’t forgotten how close she’d come to getting caught and how fast she’d had to bury Mandy Cooper. She was on the second of three IDs. Rachel didn’t like to think what would happen when she ran out of those.

She carefully put the plate down and tried not to sigh when Max’s baby blues looked up at her. Men shouldn’t have eyelashes like that. He was a work of art. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

He smiled shyly. That got to her, too. He was so polite around her. “I’d like some more Coke, please.”

“Of course,” Rachel said, her voice way more breathy than she’d intended. She picked up his empty glass. “I’ll be right back with it.”

Rachel turned and walked toward the drink station. Stella walked in from the back, smoothing the apron over her jeans and white T-shirt.

“How you doing, doll?” The forty-something force of nature winked at Rachel.

“It’s going well. The lunch rush seems to have started.” Rachel liked Stella Benoit. Stella was in the long slide to fifty, but she was fighting it with everything she had. She was a broad in the best sense of the word. She was loud and assertive, funny and kind. “Table fourteen came up, but I took it out for you.”

Stella shoved her lighter in the pocket of her too tight jeans. “Thanks. I swear I’m going to quit one of these days…Wait, oh no, hon, was that Max Harper’s order?”

Rachel nodded. She hoped her face hadn’t gone gooey at the sound of his name.

Stella’s face had gone a little white. “Damn it. I forgot to tell Hal that was for Max. He likes his burgers cooked to an inch of their life. Why he wants to eat a hockey puck, I have no idea, but he’ll shout the place down until we get it right.” Stella started marching toward the dining room. Rachel gamely followed, carrying Max’s refreshed Coke.

“I don’t think he’ll get upset. He seems perfectly reasonable to me. He’s just a little shy.” Rachel wasn’t sure why, but Stella seemed to think that Max was a time bomb waiting to explode. Now that she thought about it, everyone gave Max a wide berth.

Stella turned on a dime, and Rachel had to stop quickly to avoid running into her. “You’re kidding, right? Honey, that man is the bear of the county. Seriously, I have often hoped that someone will shoot him and bring him trussed up to the Big Game dinner we have at the end of the summer. He would probably be too tough to eat. That man is only gentle with horses. If you don’t have a long tail attached to your ass, he’ll tear you apart when you cross him.”

Rachel took a deep breath and continued following her boss. The dining room was filling up. She saw Jen’s ponytail bob as she bounced through to shove her orders at the cook. The younger waitress looked over with a questioning glance. Her eyes followed the track of Rachel’s movements and grew wide. Rachel watched her shrink back and knew there would be no help from that corner.

“Now, Max, this was my fault and not Rachel’s.” Stella acted as though she was approaching a dangerous animal who might pounce at the first given sign of attack. She held her hands out. “I got busy and took two orders after yours and forgot to note your preferences.”

Max looked from his burger to Stella and then to Rachel. He seemed to make a decision. “It’s perfectly fine, Stella. Rachel brought me just what I wanted.”

Stella’s brows came together to form a perfect V on her forehead. “Max, that damn thing is practically still mooing.”

Max waved off her worry. He picked up the burger. “I’m sure it’s perfect.” He took a big bite. Rachel couldn’t help but notice him wince as he bit into the medium-rare burger. He smiled through it. “It’s great,” he said, choking it down. “And it’s got pickles.” He coughed. “Love those pickles.”

“Have you gone insane?” Stella asked, hands on her hips.

Max discreetly used his napkin to rid himself of the offending pickle. When he looked back at Stella, his face was serene once more. “Nope, I’m perfectly sane. Can’t a man change his mind?”

“I’ll take it back to the kitchen, and Hal will burn it just the way you like it.” Stella reached out to grab the plate.

Max pulled it back defensively. “No. Rachel brought it, and I’m going to eat it.”

Stella went still for a moment, then threw back her football-helmet hair. She laughed long and loud. “Damn me, I never thought I’d see the day. I look forward to this, Harper. Paybacks can be hell, you know. Enjoy your undercooked burger, my friend. I’ll be sure to note your newfound appreciation for pickles.”

Stella turned on her stark white-and-red embroidered cowboy boots and walked off. Rachel felt the weight of just about everyone in the diner staring at her. She set the Coke down on the table.

“I can take it back if you like,” Rachel offered with a small grin. He looked a little pale as he tried to eat the burger. Rachel had learned Hal would just lightly sear it if you didn’t give him explicit instructions.