Page 40 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

I can hear Maury barking orders at his sous chef and the dishwasher while Cherry and I wipe down the tables, preparing for the chill afternoon ahead. The coffee machine gurgles as it fills a fresh pot with Columbian roast.

“How did I do?” Cherry asks me.

“You did great. You were way calmer than I was on my first day. Have you worked as a server before?”

“Just at my dad’s restaurant in Cabo,” she replies, “during the summers.”

“How’d you end up way up here?”

“Same as most out-of-towners, I guess,” Cherry shrugs. “Looking for a fresh start.”

“I can understand that” I mumble.

The front door opens and as I look up, I feel a sense of warm relief wash over me. James, Oliver, and Roman walk in, all three breaking into huge smiles upon seeing me.

“Hey, guys,” I say, making an attempt at my best professional expression, lips curled up in a welcoming smile. “What brings you out here at this hour?”

“We’re going to pick the girls up in a little bit and take them to the park,” James says. “There’s a fall-themed fair going on over there.”

“But we realized we’re hungry,” Oliver chimes in. “We’ve been knee-deep in business calls and skipped lunch.”

“Pick a table, then, and I’ll bring menus over,” I reply.

Cherry gives me a curious look. “They’re your friends?”

“Yes.”

“I can serve them, if you want to sit and join them for a bit,” Cherry suggests. “I mean, the diner’s practically empty right now.”

“You would do that for me?”

“You had my back during the lunch rush. Of course I will. Go on, rest. I got you.”

“You’re a sweetheart.”

I grab menus and bring them over to the guys’ table, then swiftly slide into the booth, right next to James. His body heat immediately invades me, the scent of his cologne making me the best kind of dizzy.

“I kind of skipped lunch, too,” I quip.

“The more, the merrier,” Roman replies with a grin.

“You look tired,” Oliver remarks, giving me a worried look.

“Way to compliment a lady,” I laugh.

James’s hand travels under the table and gives my thigh a good squeeze. It sends my blood rushing and simmering as I keep a straight face. This is still my workplace, and this is as naughty as we can ever get here.

“We’re worried about you,” James says, leaning in close.

“Have I mentioned how dashing you look in this shade of green?” I reply, nodding at his flannel shirt. “It matches your eyes to perfection.”

“Flattery won’t get you out of this jam,” he chuckles, then quickly plants a kiss on my cheek before Cherry comes back to take their order.

“What can I get you gentlemen?” she asks, pad and pen ready.

Oliver goes through the menu. “Can we still order lunch?”

“Try the pastrami on rye. Maury has some pickles from last year’s batch, and they are fabulous on the sandwich. Add a little bit of honey mustard on top and you can’t miss.”

---