Page 4 of A Cowboy Christmas

“What was that all about?” Joy asks.

“I really don’t know.” Now I’ve got more questions I want to ask him, but when he told me to go back inside, I obeyed. “He gave me a giant tip. Does he always do that?”

“He doesn’t come in here, but he’s generous with things around town. Even though he’s standoffish.”

That must be it. He’s just generous. I guess I’d rather think that than him seeing me as pathetic.

“How much was it?”

“Two hundred.”

Joy lets out a whistle. “That’s more than generous, girl.” She shakes her head. “Be careful. Men tossing money around like that are usually after one thing.”

* * *

“What?”

“You’re too sweet for your own good.” Joy laughs. “I’m talking about sex, honey.”

“Oh.” I’m so stupid. Of course that’s what she means. “Right.” I nod in agreement. “Wait. Sex with me?” That only makes Joy laugh harder, and I shift on my feet. I’m not sure how I feel about that. "Does he do that with other girls in town?"

“Nah, not that I’ve heard.” If anyone would have heard it, it would be Joy.

“We need to talk,” George cuts in.

“Don’t be a dick, George,” Joy says, and I have to cover my laugh with a cough. Only she can get away with talking to him that way.

“Stay out of it,” he says to Joy and points at me. “You. My office when your shift is done.”

Great. Now I’ll have to wait to find out why I’m in trouble and it’s going to eat at me all day. I try not to focus on my upcoming doom and work. Meanwhile, my mind drifts back to Booker and the things he’d said.

The offer he made me sounds fun, but he didn’t leave me a card so I could contact him. What I really want to know is what he meant when he said, "I want you real bad." For the job? It hadn’t felt that way when he said the words.

Joy might be right about what he’s after. Aren’t all men after sex? My father would go through women like crazy and didn’t try to hide it either. My grandparents were different. They were so in love, and they adored each other. How the two of them created my father, I’ll never know.

I’m wiping down one of my last tables when a hand comes down on my ass. I yelp as I jump away, taking a chair with me in the process. With a loud thud, the chair and I hit the floor, and it knocks the air out of my lungs. I roll to my back, and that’s when I see Parson. I hadn’t seen him come in, and I don’t know why he is always freaking here.

"Are you ever going to learn to watch where you're going?" He towers over me but only because I’m laid out flat like a pancake.

“Hey!” Joy shouts as she comes rushing from the back of the diner. “What the hell happened?”

“Think she tripped over the chair,” Parson lies. Joy quickly comes to my side as I start to get up and offers me her hand. I wince when I put my weight down on both my feet. My hip is throbbing from the pain.

“You okay, honey?” Joy asks.

"Yeah.” If Parson can lie, then so can I.

“You sure you’re okay?” Parson asks and then gives me a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. Now that Joy is here, he’s pretending to be nice.

“I’m fine.” It’s a fight to keep the quiver out of my voice.

I’m not sure if I want to burst into tears because of the pain in my hip or because of my dreaded meeting with George. I think it’s all piling up, but I hold it back. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

“Move it along, Par, we’re closing up.” Joy doesn’t leave room for argument.

“See you ladies later.” He winks at me. My father must have really pissed him off, but I’m not sure how since Parson is closer to my age.

“I’ll finish up out here,” Joy says.

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