Page 79 of Unbreakable Love

Man, it’d take a minute to get used to everyone knowing who I was. I checked her nametag. “Thanks, Eloise. Any chance I can have a booth again?”

“Of course,” she chirped and grabbed a menu. “Right this way.”

She took me to the same booth I sat in last time, but this time, I didn’t take the seat facing away from the diner for privacy and quiet. I sat on the other side, giving me a view of the front door so I could see when Josie and Gavin arrived.

It’d be a bummer for her to miss me and throw off Gavin’s diabolically sneaky plan.

As soon as Eloise went over the specials and said she’d be back with a water for me, I scanned the diner. It was relatively empty, not surprising given it was the first day back to work after a holiday, but there were enough customers, a parent with a student in Faye’s class I recognized and gave a wave to when our eyes met.

“Fancy running into you here.”

A deep voice came from next to me, and I glanced up. It took me a second to place the face, the deep tenor in his tone, and when I finally did, a friendly smile broke out. “Hi, Ryken. How was your Thanksgiving?”

“Quiet. How’s the car?”

“It’s good. Thanks again for getting it done so quickly. And the cleaning.” My eyes narrowed as I said it.

He chuckled. “Friends get the free car wash discount.”

We weren’t friends. We didn’t even have a professional dealing considering Gavin had covered my cost.

“Miss Pesco!” Josie’s cry bounced around the whole diner, snagging everyone’s attention, including Ryken’s. “You’re here!”

Ryken smiled at Josie as she bounced straight toward my table. “Hello there, Miss Josie.”

“Hi, Mr. Ry. How are you?”

“Good, good. Are you joining Miss Pesco for dinner?”

His lips twisted into a smirk, and I caught the reason for it as Gavin trailed slowly behind Josie, but he wasn’t showing irritation at me this time.

Nope. That look stamped all over his face, hardening his features, was solely directed at Ryken.

“Gavin,” he said. “Surprised you’re out tonight.”

“Didn’t feel like getting back to cooking.” He glanced between the two of us, while Josie had already slid into the booth, making herself at home like this was to be expected.

Something Ryken found funny based on the noise he made.

“Do you need something?” Gavin asked, and I swear he choked the words out.

“Saw Penny sitting here alone. Was thinking of asking if I could join her, but it looks like she’s taken.”

Oh… well, this was awkward.

“You can sit with us,” Josie cried.

“Josie,” Gavin said. The irritation was still in his eyes but dimmed when he glanced at me. “We haven’t even asked Miss Pesco if we can join her.”

“She doesn’t mind.” Josie bounced on her seat.

So glad I could be a part of this conversation. I covered my mouth with a laugh.

“And besides,” Josie sang, so happy, so beautifully unaware I wanted to squeeze her, “Grandma Kelley always says the more the merrier, right?”

If Gavin could have slapped his hand over his daughter’s mouth, I had no doubt he would.

“I think that’s up to Miss Pesco since we’ve invaded her dinner.”

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