Page 13 of Crossing the Line
"Kids," Bixby nodded, smiling, "how many do you and Stella have now? Two... three?"
Wallace smacked Grayson on the back with a look a pride on his face. "They'll have four by Christmas."
Bixby's eyes widened at his words. "Four? That's wonderful!"
Grayson sighed, but his smile was warm and brilliant. "Stella insists that we're going to have her Bed and Breakfast staffed by the kids soon."
"I'm still hoping that at least one will go into medicine."
Wallace nodded. "And the military, like you."
Bixby had forgotten that part of Grayson's past. He'd been part of a special forces team during his time in the military. Something that Bixby could never have dreamed of.
"Let me grab the other boxes for you."
Grayson leaned on the counter. "Do you want a hand with those? I can come and get them for you."
While he didn't doubt the other man's words, there was something else Bixby had to consider.
"Sorry. Health and Sanitary regulations. I can't have anyone behind the counter who isn't trained and certified."
Grayson's smile widened. "Then you're in luck. I get certified when my dad does. I've been working at the diner since I was old enough to carry a tray."
Bixby shook his head. He should have known that.
"Sounds great. You can save my old back." He waved at Grayson to follow him. "Follow me."
Bixby was going to let Grayson pick up one of the crates, but the younger man put one on top of the other and lifted it with an ease that had Bixby grimacing.
"Is this it?"
He raised an eyebrow at that. Those two crates at one time were likely to make him head home later and go straight to the medicine cabinet in his bathroom for the Icy Hot roll-on he kept there.
When he and Janice had been married, she'd used the creme on his back, rubbing it in for him.
She'd always joke about her fingers. 'They might just catch fire if I'm not careful.'
He'd roll his eyes at her joke while she always seemed to enjoy her jokes too much to pay any attention to his reaction.
At the time, it had been mildly irritating, but since then he found himself listening closely when she'd laugh at something a customer said.
He listened in even more when he heard Janice joking about something.
He didn't want to say anything about it where she could hear, but her sense of humor had grown on himafterthe divorce.
It was something he'd come to grips with in silence.
After all, who was he going to say that to?
It certainly wasn't something he could say to Janice.
If he did, he snorted at the idea, she'd likely never let him hear the end of it.
She'd probably pester him with more of her jokes just to get under his skin!
Bixby moved ahead of Grayson to open the door for him to take the order out to his SUV.
There were things better kept under wraps.
