Page 6 of The Hot New Bachelor in Town

I pretend not to listen as I pick up the Henderson’s used plates and mugs and walk them to the kitchen.

“And how long will that take?” he asks. “Tomorrow?!”

I grab the coffeepot and brush Lottie and Tish on the shoulders to get them to stop staring. They glare at me, but move on to tend to their tables. I slowly make my way over.

“No, it’s not,” he says, his focus on his call. “Well, is there a car rental around here? A ride share service?” He furrows a brow. “Why is that funny?”

I bite my cheek, waiting patiently.

“Fine. Just...” He exhales hard. “Just call me when it’s done.”

He hangs up and drops the phone on the table.

I step forward to refill his mug. “Bad news?” I ask.

He leans back in the booth and looks at me. “Yeah,” he answers. “Sorry about that. That was… probably rude.”

“It’s okay,” I say with a shrug.

“The most important meeting of my career is — was — today in Big City, and I’m stuck here.”

“Car trouble?”

He blinks.

I smile. “Word gets around fast here.”

“Yeah,” he answers as he rubs his face, his long ring-less fingers running through his brown hair. “It needs a new part, which the mechanic apparently can’t get until tomorrow morning.”

“Well, that sucks.”

“It really does, Mika,” he says with a glance at my name tag. “It really does.”

“There’s a bus station east of town!”

His brows rise. “There is?”

“But…” I wince, “the last bus to Big City left at three. Sorry.”

He hangs his head. “Story of my life.”

I note his half-eaten cheeseburger. “Anything else I can get for you?”

“No, thank you. Uh...” He scratches his chiseled chin as he looks around the diner. “Actually, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

He shifts forward slightly. “Why is everyone staring at me?” he whispers.

I smile. ”First time in Kiss County?” I ask.

“Yes. Why?”

“People fall in love here.”

“I read that on the sign,” he says with a nod. “Still don’t understand what it means.”

“It’s just our thing,” I say. “Love at first sight and all that. We host a lot of weddings. Honeymooners. Big parade for Valentine’s.”

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