Page 4 of Crown of the Fae King

“Lennon!”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, but I didn’t get two steps before Jericho’s hand grabbed my arm. He wasn’t much of a talker, so he just shook his head, pulled me back, and headed into the office in my place. The door slammed on Pete’s protest.

I joined Rena out front. “Three just got their food.” I set both our order pads on the counter and gave Rena the same look she’d given me.In case I don’t make it back.

“He found out about the breakfast, didn’t he?”

Rena nodded. “I told him it was bought especially for you, but he called me a liar. I suggested he drive to Jerome and find those sisters, to ask them himself. I suggested a couple of other things too, but I doubt he’s got the flexibility. And I’m pretty sure he’ll can me after the lunch rush. I’d walk out now, but I won’t leave you juggling it all. Janice will be here in a minute, but she’s more trouble than she’s worth.”

The front bell rang and eventually, I turned to greet the new customer. Unfortunately, it was Lynette Weaver, a sixty-something woman who still spent her spare time arguing with her little brother, Andy. She just pretended to like the food at Twila’s and only came to keep Andy away from his favorite restaurant.

They’d both filed restraining orders and couldn’t come within 500 feet of each other, and in a town the size of Hazelton, population 813, that required a constant dance. Two gas stations, one grocery store, one café, two bars.

The inhabitants of our little town only welcomed the sight of Lynette because it meant her bully-brother had to stay away. And the only two things I could think of that might rank less popular than Andy Weaver, were Voldemort and Velociraptors.

Maybe.

“I’ll take care of her,” Rena said, then headed for Lynette.

The office door opened, a reminder that my life was about to take a serious turn for the worse. Jericho stepped out, gave me a wink, then went back to his kitchen. Pete filled the doorway, looking pissed, but politely asked, “Will you come in here, please?”

It was almost mean—that little grain of hope.

The morning’s eggs and bacon still felt heavy in my stomach, but I wasn’t about to puke them up. Those calories and carbs were staying right where they were.

Already, I was wondering if I had enough change in my purse to buy a newspaper. Maybe I could sneak the wanted section out of Twila’s copy. If I had to drive to another town for a job, the gas alone would cost me another year. Another year of Hazelton. Another year of watching Lynette and Andy Weaver square off in the street over an inheritance of one lonely house that had produced two hateful people…

It wasn’t worth it. I had to suck up to Pete. I couldn’t take an extra year added onto my sentence.

The bell rang again, and I paused at the office door to see who had come in. My heart stopped when I recognized Mr. Tall, Dark and Brutally Handsome. He’d been in for lunch a week ago and disappeared as soon as he’d walked outside. Rena had literally run out the door to follow, but he was already gone. No tail lights. Nothing.

And now he was back.

Well, good for Rena. I was sure that this time, she’d have all her questions answered by the time his food was ready.

“I’m disappointed,”Pete began. “I thought you understood the way things work around here.”

Was he kidding? Of course I knew! He’d wanted a doormat, so I’d been a doormat. I’d simpered and bit my tongue, tip-toed around his moods on freaking toe-shoes, and he thought I didn’t know the job?

The Weavers be damned, I just couldn’t summon a pucker.

I looked at the empty chair against the wall, but he didn’t invite me to sit. I pulled it into the tiny space in front of his messy desk. “I work on my feet,” I reminded him. “In fact, I work pretty damned hard. You’re lucky to have me.” My heart was beating a hundred miles an hour, but I frowned and tapped my lips. “You know, you might be able to keep a steady staff here if you offered, say, a free meal for every full shift.”

His eyes bulged a little—not so much at my suggestion, but from surprise. He never expected me to talk back. He knew as well as the others how bare my cupboards were. It had given him the upper hand from the beginning. But Rena and Jericho had inspired me. As had the gift of breakfast.

Everyone stuck up for me because I was too spineless to stick up for myself. It was time to relieve them of that burden.

Pete was still gaping, so I went on, my future snowballing downhill.

“I guess you heard those gals from Jerome bought me breakfast for my birthday. But don’t worry. I didn’t punch in until after I’d eaten.”

Pete’s gaze fell to his desktop where two foil packets sat on a stack of papers. One had been ripped open. I finally noticed the greasy smear on his lips, the shine on his fingers.

“You ate my bacon? And the hashbrowns?” I forced another deep breath and summoned a smile. “You owe me the price of a full breakfast. Obviously, I’ll take it now. Cash. Like we have to pay you when you accuse us of stealing food.”

He wiped his arm across his guilty mouth. “You know the rules—”

“The one about saving leftover protein for your dog? Looks like even you failed there. But it doesn’t matter. That food wasn’t leftover. I’m sure if you’ll consult your dozen cameras—”

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