would already be bright, considering I’m there.”
Bernice chuckles. “Oh, silly boy. Your aunt mentioned during Bingo just last week that you never bring friends over. There was that one.” She snaps her fingers. “What is his name?”
“Jameson,” I reply, completely amused.
“Yes, him. Good-looking boy, if you’re into that sort of thing. And if you are, your aunt would still love you.”
I can’t help it. I bark out a laugh. “Good to know, Bernice, but I’m not gay. I just don’t have a lot of time to date.”
“Well, you don’t have to date them. Back in my day, we would go out on Old Town Road and go parking. There’s no shame in a little nookie,” she informs me.
I blanch and try to keep those images out of my head. “Listen, Bernice, I gotta grab some stuff and get back home.”
“You bring someone with you to Edna’s soon. I know! The new Sunday school teacher is a cute young thing. I bet you could court her,” she hollers as I start to walk away. “And remember the nookie! It does wonders for your mood!”
Four old women in the produce aisle stop and turn in my direction.
Hell.
I grab the first bag of raw spinach, drop five avocados into a produce bag, and snatch some potatoes without even checking them before hightailing it out of there. It doesn’t take me long to fill my cart and head for the checkout. I’m lucky, when I get to the front, Bernice is busy chatting with one of the ladies from her church, so I load up my sacks in the cart, pay for my food, and slip out the door, throwing her a wave as I make my escape.
The late morning sun is high in the sky as I head toward home. There are some older worn-down houses on this end of town, nestled behind the water tower and a public park. A large brick structure stands tall at the edge of town. An apartment building that’s definitely seen better days. The front steps are sunken and broken, the bushes so overgrown you can barely see the first-floor windows, and trash strewn in the parking lot. Sad, because it used to be a great looking building, if only someone would put a little TLC into it again.
When I get home, I unload my groceries, put them away, and get back to laundry. I have three more loads to do, plus all the outside stuff. Time to crank back up the tunes and get to work.
Chapter Four
Mallory
My first shift yesterday at Burgers and Brew was amazing. Sure, I was nervous. I haven’t waited tables in a few years, but it all came back to me quickly. Gigi was patient and encouraging as she trained me and Angela. Plus, I went home with thirty dollars in tips, which was my cut of the tables we handled together.
Now, I’m ready for day two. As I slip in the back entrance and turn to the left, I run smack into a wall. No, not a wall, because big arms wrap around my shoulders and keep me from stumbling back. When I glance up, my eyes connect with those exotic blue ones that invaded my dreams the last two nights.
“Mallory.”
I shiver.
Why do I react this way when he says my name?
Shaking my head, I mentally chastise myself. This is one of my bosses. Drooling isn’t work appropriate. “Walker, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you. I’ll be more careful.”
He slowly grins. It’s a panty-melting smile, one I’m sure he has perfected over the years. “You’re fine,” he assures me.
We stare at each other for a few long seconds, neither of us speaking. I realize his arms are still around my shoulders, my hands gripping the T-shirt at his sides. Clearing my throat, I pull back, releasing my hold on his clothes and feeling sad when his arms fall away from my body.
“Oh, Mallory, you’re here,” Isaac says, coming down the stairs from his office. He offers me a smile before turning to his friend. “Have you talked to Jasper yet? He wants your opinion on a promotional idea he has.”
“I was heading that way when Mallory tried to tackle me,” he says, clearly teasing and making me blush three shades of fuchsia.
“It was an accident,” I assure Isaac, who doesn’t seem to notice my mortification.
“Well, I’ll see you both later,” Isaac says, turning and heading down the hallway.
“I, uh,” I stammer, throwing my thumb over my shoulder and pointing in that