Page 7 of Griz's Edge

I do my best to figure something out for dinner on the drive through town. I’m not the best cook, but I do alright. It’s just me most nights, so I prefer to eat out a lot of the time. Passing through town, nothing appeals to me. It’s all pretty much the same thing.

The town consists of the garage, several fast-food chain restaurants, the diner, two Mexican restaurants, a couple bars–one of them a biker bar, then there’s a coffee shop, and then there are two other restaurants that I ex’d off immediately. The food was not my cup of tea.

I finally settle on just swinging into the diner. They always have something good. I love their loaded cheese fries. I could fill up on those alone. Turning into the parking lot, I find a parking spot and park my car. Snagging my purse, I throw my keys inside the open compartment and get out. I make my way to the front doors and stop at the sound of the heavy, thundering rumbles of motorcycles coming down the road.

My heart skips a beat, and my stomach clenches. I force myself to step into the diner. I don’t need to stand there like a fool looking to see who the bikers are. I definitely don’t need to look to see if it’s a particular biker.

Last night, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. Every time I stopped doing one thing or another, my mind wandered to him . . . to Graham Holland. I won’t even deny thatI had some pretty naughty thoughts where he’s concerned while lying in bed.

“Don’t go down that road, Marley.”My mind all but screams at me.

I find a table easily and wave to Deloris, one of the waitresses. She’s an older woman who has had me cracking up a time or two while she waited for me to order.

“I’ll be right with ya, suga,” Deloris tells me and goes back to taking the order of one of the other customers.

“Take your time,” I tell her and slide into the booth. I knew what I was at least going to start off with. A sweet tea and those fries.

Maybe tonight I’ll try one of the burgers. I’d eaten the chicken tenders and the pasta plenty of times. Chicken is one of my go-to foods. You can never go wrong with chicken. Well, you can, but it’s harder to screw up. The cook here, he knew how to fry up anything, it seemed. One of my favorites was the tender sandwich on the menu. Best part of it is the ranch and BBQ sauce it’s served with. Both were homemade and can’t be found anywhere else.

A few minutes pass before Deloris comes to stand next to the table and sets down a sweet tea. “Already put an order in for the fries, suga,” she says, grinning.

“Am I that predictable?” I snort out a laugh.

“Only when it comes to those fries and your drink.” Deloris cackles. “What can I get you for dinner?”

“I’m thinking of going with a burger tonight. Any suggestions?”

I always take her suggestions. Deloris hasn’t steered me wrong when it comes to food here.

“My opinion?”

I nod.

“I’d go with the hamburger steak burger. Comes smothered in caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, gravy, and comes on a brioche bun.”

Now, that did sound good.

“That’s not on the menu,” I tell her, nodding to the menu.

Deloris grins and plants a hand on one hip. “Darlin’, that insufferable old coot back there, he don’t always like goin’ off a menu. He makes his own specials for those that are locals. Menu’s mostly for the tourists comin’ through town.”

“Ahhh, that’s understandable.” I like the reasoning. “Then I’ll get me the hamburger steak burger.”

Deloris laughs, nods, and writes it down. “I knew you’d like that. Trust me, you like his tenders, you’ll definitely enjoy this.”

“Can’t wait to try it,” I tell her as she starts away.

“I’ll have them fries out in a jiffy,” she says as the bell over the door rings.

We both look in the direction, and my heart nearly leaps out of my chest. It’s him. Graham Holland and he’s got his eyes directed right on me.

CHAPTER FOUR

GRIZ

“Well, if it isn’t my handsome nephew. You coming to see me, darlin’?”

Grinning at my aunt, I make my way in her direction. But it wasn’t because of her that I was walking that way. It was the woman sitting in the booth. Regardless, I greet the old woman.

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