Page 17 of Dashing for Love

Nah?! Rude.

Hey, you offered that second photo.

Only to prove that I wasn’t catfishing you.

All the same…

Fair enough. I do need to get back to what I’m doing.

Is it your job? Are horses your job?

…

HORSES ARE YOUR JOB?!?!

Maybe, maybe not.

Ughhhh James you’re killing me

Just keeping the mystery alive, Dawn

Something like that. But yeah, we should probably act like we have jobs to do.

Can I text you later tonight?

Sure. Give Peppermint a kiss for me.

Will do.

Chapter 7

Matty

ON MONDAY, I go to the Dash In Diner for lunch. Not a week goes by that I’m not here at least once, but if I’m being honest, it’s more like three or four times.

What can I say? When the cook is your best friend,andshe’s talented as hell, you belly up to the counter a little more than might be good for you.

Besides, if I come during the work week, I always bring Liv something back. That counts…for something.

As always, Tom and Jerry are still there. Those guys are here every day, nearly open to close, without fail. They’re as much a part of the diner as Willa, Barbara, Dean, and Goldie. Although now that Goldie’s got her job at the paper, I see her less than before. I can’t stop myself from looking for her, though.

Reid and Ox are also at the counter, and as fate would have it, there’s an empty stool between the two sets of men.

“Happy Monday, guys.”

“Is it, though?” Ox groans.

Reid chuckles. “He’s just mad because this whole Chief thing is a lot harder than Uncle Jack made it out to be.”

Jerry snorts. “Chief Mac never said it was a cakewalk.”

“Just made it look that way,” Tom finishes with a smirk.

Ox leans over to glare at them. “You two are the rabble rousers that are causing me all the trouble, so I’d appreciate it if you simmered down.”

I smile gratefully at Barbara as she pours me a cup of coffee, then tip the cup at Ox. “Do tell us of all your troubles, Great Chief Hall.”

Reid laughs, and Ox grumbles. “They want a new clock tower.”

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