JENNIFER LABRECQUE - Northern Escape

Dalton nodded a greeting. “Nick.”

“Good morning,” Nick said, aiming the greeting at both of them. The two older men by the potbellied stove were busy arguing. Nick had a feeling they were nearly permanent fixtures in the airstrip office. “I slept like a log. That’s one comfortable bed.”

“I’m glad to hear it. How about a cup of coffee? Fresh brewed?”

She seemed a little warmer toward him today but he was sure he hadn’t misread her reserve yesterday after Teddy had come over. It was yet another oddity, he noted. And coffee sounded good.

“I’d love a cup. Straight-up black, if you would.”

Merrilee poured the brew into a thick ceramic mug and handed it over. “Thanks,” he said, cupping his hands around the warm cup. “Did I hear you say Teddy’s got the flu?”

Wrinkling her nose, she nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. After the restaurant closed last night, Teddy went home with the upchucks and a fever.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” Nick sipped at the aromatic coffee. Strong and dark, it packed a wallop, just the way he liked it. “So, that leaves Gus shorthanded?”

Merrilee shook her head. “And then some.”

An idea took hold. Actually, it was perfect. He wanted to find out more about her. Gus was shorthanded. He had grown up working in a restaurant. Gus had backed him into a corner last night with her power play. Fine. It was his turn to make her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Nick said to Merrilee and Dalton. “I’ll be right back. I’ve always wanted the chance to be a knight in shining armor.”

Before they could ask any questions, he turned on his heel and headed across the room. “Morning,” he greeted the couple in the room next to his who had just come downstairs. He was pretty sure it took every ounce of Merrilee Weatherspoon’s self-control not to follow him to see what he was up to. He might’ve just met her but he knew Merrilee liked being in the know.

When he entered the restaurant, Gus was in the kitchen talking to the cook. Lucky? Yeah, that was the guy’s name. The place wasn’t nearly as full as it had been last night, but about three-quarters of the tables were taken and about half the bar seats.

Nick leaned against the counter separating the kitchen from the rest of the room. Gus’s back was to the room as she talked to the cook. This morning she wore dark gray pants with a lighter gray sweater. Rather than being formfitting, her clothes merely hinted at the curves underneath. Nick, however, had no trouble running with that hint.

Lucky nodded his head in Nick’s direction and Gus turned. Faint dark circles were smudged beneath her eyes as if she hadn’t slept well. Once again, wariness glinted in her grey eyes but there was also a glimmer of attraction. Whether she liked it or not, she was drawn to him. And he damn sure was drawn to her. It seemed to stretch between them and bind them together in the restaurant full of people. She could have been the only one present.

“Hello,” she said. “Can I help you?”

“Morning,” he said, saluting both Gus and Lucky with his coffee mug. He plowed ahead without giving her a chance to respond. “I understand Teddy’s got the flu which leaves you shorthanded.”

The wariness increased tenfold, but she nodded nonetheless. Gus Tippens was no dummy. She knew he was up to something. “Yes.”

“I don’t know if you remember but I mentioned last night that my parents own a diner. I grew up working in a restaurant and I know my way around a kitchen and a bar. I’ll be glad to step in for Teddy.”

Lucky smiled, looking damn relieved. “There you go, Gus. Problem solved.”

For a second he caught a glimpse of panic before she banked it. “I can’t let you—”

“No, no, no. I insist. I know how to take orders. As long as I can work it around covering the Chrismoose events, I’m yours.”

She appeared less than thrilled at the prospect.

“I’ll be in the stockroom,” Gus told Lucky as the connecting door closed behind Nick.

“Sure thing, boss,” Lucky said, expertly flipping a pancake.

Gus closed the door behind her. She did some of her best thinking in here. She paced back and forth between the shelves stacked with jars and bottles. How could she refuse his help without looking like a total idiot for turning down assistance she desperately needed?

Then there was the not-so-inconsequential factor that all he had to do was walk in the room and she was all systems go.

She’d known he was behind her earlier, before Lucky had nodded. Gus had felt him as surely as if he had touched her. She’d simply hoped if she pretended she didn’t know he was there he’d go away. Just having him on the other side of the counter set her to simmering. How in the heck was she supposed to work with him in her kitchen?

Damn him. He knew she was desperate, but desperation aside if he’d had a private conversation with her she could’ve turned him down. But no, just as she’d made her request to him last night in front of witnesses, he’d done the same to her this morning. She would look totally unreasonable, especially after Lucky had piped up as to what a great idea it was.

The stockroom door opened and Merrilee poked her head inside. Merrilee knew this was one of her thinking spots. “Lucky said I could find you in here. Mind if I join you?”

“Of course not. Come on in.”

Merrilee stepped into what was becoming a very tight space with the two of them sandwiched in there between the shelves. Beaming, Merrilee announced, “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

And for the second time that morning Gus had an unexpected announcement lobbed her way.

“You’ve done what?” Gus asked, not exactly incredulous, but yes, it was quite a surprise.

“I’ve set you up with Jenna for a manicure/pedicure this morning,” Merrilee said, patting her on the shoulder. “With everything going on, I thought you needed a pick-me-up. And there just aren’t that many opportunities to spoil a woman here.”

It was on the tip of Gus’s tongue to say she didn’t have time and mani/pedis weren’t her thing but then she reconsidered. Merrilee was so excited to be able to do something. She was a woman of action who needed to fix things. There was nothing she could do to get rid of Nick being here. Presenting Gus with this gift was about the only option available to Merrilee and whether Gus had the time to spare or not and regardless if it wasn’t her thing, Gus wasn’t going to rob Merrilee of the one way she felt able to make a difference.

Plus, sometimes you had to go with the flow. Just yesterday Jenna was going on about Gus’s nails and now this. So she pasted on a smile and said, “Thanks, Merrilee. That’s very thoughtful. When is my appointment?”

“Well, that’s the thing. It’s now. So Lucky and Mavis can run the show while you’re gone.” To steal one of Merrilee’s expressions, she looked pleased as punch. “Luellen canceled so Jenna can work you in if you can be there in ten minutes.”

Gus smiled at how happy Merrilee looked, especially considering how miserable she’d been yesterday. “Then I’d better head her way since things are covered here.”

She snagged her gloves, hat and coat.

“I hear you’ve got yourself a helper this evening.” Merrilee snorted in disgust. “He overheard me talking to Dalton and he was over here in a flash and not a ding-dang thing I could do about it. He’s a sneaky snake, that one. I’m sorry, Gus.”

Shrugging into her coat, Gus said, “Don’t worry about it. There was no way to get out of it.” An idea presented itself and Gus offered an evil smile. “But he’ll be sorry.”

“Really?”

She made an executive chef decision. “Oh, yes. He’s got a ton of onions to chop this afternoon.”