The Mechanics of Mistletoe - Liz Isaacson Page 0,36
been in Three Rivers about as long as the Glovers.
“We have enough to feed three hundred people.” He started shaking his head, and he looked around too. “That’s three thousand dollars. Minimum.”
“Done,” Bear said. “Feed anyone who comes today.” He started back toward his truck, the man stammering after him.
Bear went to the passenger side of the truck and opened the side compartment in the console. He kept an envelope of money there, and it easily had three thousand dollars in it. Probably three times that much. Bear could lose it and not miss it, but no one needed to know that. He’d rather play the part of the grizzly when he had to pay Marcy Walker an extra five grand to rid Shiloh Ridge of all the grasshoppers.
He counted out the money, thinking through the cost of the meals. Ten to fifteen dollars each. He added another thousand to the cash in his hand and stuffed it all in his pocket. He locked the rest away in the hidden compartment, closed the door, and locked the truck. He went back to the food truck and right up the steps.
One glance behind him, and he confirmed he was alone with the two men in the truck. “Here you go,” he said, removing the money from his pocket and sliding it under a metal box they likely used for a cash box. “Remember, you’ve just had a change of heart. No announcements until I get my meals.”
“We’ve got five or six done,” he said, smiling at Bear.
He nodded and went down the steps, tucking his hands in his pockets and standing out of the way. Several people watched him, and Bear ended up dropping his chin to his chest to avoid all of their eyes.
Several minutes passed, and Bear’s patience started to run thin. Finally, the man came down the steps, his meals all bagged up and ready. “Here you go, sir,” he said.
“Thanks,” Bear said, taking all the bags. He turned away, desperate to get back to his truck and leave this parking lot.
“Hey, what’s your name?” the man asked, hurrying after him.
“Why?” Bear asked. He didn’t slow down but kept moving.
“Just so I can thank the Lord for you in my prayers.”
Bear met his eye, and the man did have a good spirit about him. “Bear,” he said. “Bear Glover.”
“Thank you, Mister Glover.” The man fell back as Bear kept striding away. He reached his truck and loaded all the food in the back of it. His family would be thrilled to have meat and macaroni for lunch, and he got behind the wheel and sent a quick text to Ranger.
I got meat, rolls, and sides from a food truck for lunch. Enough for everyone. Spread the word.
A cheer rose up beyond the glass of Bear’s window, and he jerked his attention in the direction of the food truck. He distinctly saw the man pointing to him, a wide smile on his face. Several people started toward the truck, and Bear got out of there as quickly as he could.
At the shop, he parked on the side and entered through the back garage, as Sammy had texted him to do. “Hello?” he called, carrying only one bag with five meals in it.
“Bear,” Lincoln said, popping up from behind a dark blue sedan. A smile split the boy’s face, and Bear found himself grinning back at Lincoln. “Sammy, Bear’s here.”
“Tell ‘im I’m coming,” Sammy said. “And that something smells good, and it’s a good thing he got here when he did so I don’t have to eat off my arm.”
Bear chuckled and tousled Lincoln’s hair as the boy stopped in front of him. “I got one with mac and cheese or one with mashed potatoes. Which do you want?”
“Mac and cheese, please,” Lincoln said.
“Mashed potatoes for me,” Sammy said, standing. She wiped her hands on a dirty rag and beamed at Bear. Her dark hair had some static in it, and she wore a grease-smeared T-shirt with a faded rainbow on it, jeans ripped through the knees, and the dirtiest pair of boots Bear had ever seen.
She was easily the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
“Mac and cheese,” Bear said, his voice barely coming out of his throat. Sammy went to wash her hands, and Bear was infinitely grateful humans couldn’t read thoughts. His were still spinning and still conjuring up fantasies of kissing her until they both couldn’t breathe.