Savage in a Stetson (Crossroads #4) - Em Petrova Page 0,41
the opposite. Well, they did work toward the same goal in business, but for personal ends. She didn’t come up with ideas about new sign logos to improve his business, and he didn’t think up good ideas like having live entertainment to bring customers to hers.
Yet, in an odd way, they were pushing each other, weren’t they? Maybe that was what he meant by partners.
As she slowly began walking to her restaurant, she thought about how they had been partners in doing what was best for his grandpa too—they’d bonded in that common goal to make him happy.
She suddenly wanted to spend time with his grandpa. Today would be the day to spend time with the elderly man and focus on someone besides herself.
After sales slowed for the evening, she packaged some food into a bag and took off for Crossroads Manor. Coming here since she quit gave her a pang of nostalgia, especially when all the nurses and other workers piled out of rooms and offices in order to greet her.
She hugged some of her old friends and stood talking to several others before she finally made her way to Grandpa Cole’s room. When she saw his name, she grinned and rapped on the door.
“Who’s that?” he growled out.
She pressed the door open and poked her head inside. “It’s me, Jada. Do you want some company?”
His grumpy expression fell away, and he waved her in. She approached his armchair and leaned over the man to give him a hug. “How are you?”
“Fine. Better now. I smell food.”
She laughed and brought the bag out from behind her back. She set it on his lap and then sank to the other chair. “You sure do smell food. I hope you’re hungry.”
“Always hungry. You know what they feed us in this place.”
She compressed her lips to keep from smiling. “I hope you like brisket.”
“I do. Is this from my grandson’s?”
Her spirits drooped a bit. Maybe she really should drop the brisket from her menu—if Savage’s was known for the brisket, then maybe she should stick with the chicken. But she was proud of her brisket’s complex flavors and thought it added something to her offerings.
“This is my brisket. Give it a try.” She watched as he opened the takeout lid and pulled off a bit of the meat with his fingers. He placed it in his mouth and chewed.
She watched him closely, and when he closed his eyes, she straightened in her seat. He popped open his eyes and pierced her in his stare. “That’s darn good, girl. Darn good.” He forked up another bite.
She beamed. “Thank you. I’m glad you like it.”
“Have you been seeing my grandson?”
Each time she visited, his grandpa asked about the status of their relationship. It was one of those facts she wished he didn’t remember with such clarity. Last time, he got her talking openly about her family’s visit and how Dom had come up as a topic during dinner.
She tread lightly. “I saw Dom just today. Our mail got mixed up, and he delivered it to me.”
He gave her another piercing look. “Has he shaved?”
She blinked in surprise. “Um…not that I noticed. Why? Did you tell him to?”
He shook his head as if his grandson’s hygiene habits were disappointing. “Yes, I did. Can’t even shave,” he mumbled and took another bite of his brisket.
She sat with him talking about some of her employees and their regular customers who he might know while he polished off his meal.
“Did you bring me peach pie?” he asked.
“No, I brought pecan.”
“Mmm-mm.” He rubbed his stomach.
She took away his empty food container so he could cradle the pie one. She heard one of the nurses speaking in the corridor. “He’s doing just fine today!”
Jada went on high alert. She remembered that singsong, overexcited tone very well as one the nurse adopted when Dom came around.
She barely had time to think about that, when the door opened, and the man peeked in.
His smiling face gave her heart a heavy throb, and then his gaze fell on her.
He entered the room. “Jada. I didn’t know you were here.”
She got to her feet. “I was just visiting with your grandpa. But I’ll go.” She saw the bag of food in his hand. “Oh. I already brought him food. Sorry.”
“He can eat it for lunch tomorrow. Can’t ya, Grandpa?”
The man looked at Dom and went back to his pie as if neither of them were there.
Jada found herself holding back a chuckle, but Dom