We got to work, and I watched her with the customers, forgetting things, getting orders wrong, until I finally approached Ruth for some drink refills and asked, “Have you been watching Lula?”

“Like a hawk,” she said with scorn on her face.

“Does she usually make this many mistakes?”

“No, this is excessive, even for her.”

“Do you think she’s nervous because Max kept me on?” Before she could answer, I added, “She didn’t seem to grasp that she and I are going to make less money now that there’s two of us for one job.”

Ruth leveled her gaze on mine. “You are not going to make less money, do you hear me? I’m sure as hell not going to risk losing you over that nitwit.” Her expression softened. “I don’t dislike Lula. She’s a sweet girl and that clueless act is genuine. But you’re right about the mistakes. Something’s up with her. Let’s just keep an eye on her.”

“Okay.”

She handed me the soft drinks and I took them to the table. At around seven, Wyatt walked through the door, and my stomach fluttered at the sight of him.

He’d come early.

Wyatt Drummond was the epitome of tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious. Even though he still wore his coat, I knew what his strong arms looked and felt like. And his hard chest. And his lips. I’d been thinking about him a sight more than I’d expected considering everything else that was going on in my life.

We’d only been together for a few weeks, but the intensity of my feelings had scared me, and Wyatt had sensed it. While my head knew that Wyatt was different than all the previous men in my life, there was something so closed-off about him, even now, and I wasn’t sure I could ever break through his walls. I didn’t like feeling so vulnerable. But I hoped things would change tonight.

I flashed him a smile, and the look he gave me made the fluttering turn into an all-out somersault. He started toward an empty table in my usual section, then did a double take when he saw Lula standing next to a table with her notepad in hand.

I motioned for him to come over to a table in Ruth’s section, and he spanned the distance between us, stopping just in front of me. Close, but not close enough.

“You’re early.” My cheeks flushed. I knew I should play this cool, but I couldn’t seem to pull it off.

The look on Wyatt’s face suggested he felt the same way. “I know we agreed we’d meet at Hank’s tonight, but I got back earlier than expected, and I couldn’t stay away.”

I smiled up at him. “I’m glad you came.”

He cast a glance to the other side of the room and a worried frown covered his face. “Lula’s back?”

“Yep,” I said, forcing a cheerfulness I didn’t feel about the situation. “Just got back today.”

“Max’s keepin’ you both on?”

“That’s what he says, although Ruth’s fit to be tied. She got Max to agree to pay us minimum wage in addition to our tips.”

His frown deepened, and I wondered if he worried that I’d be leaving Drum after all.

“I’ll be okay, Wyatt. I haven’t changed my mind. I’m not going anywhere.”

Relief filled his eyes. “I’m glad to hear it.”

I gave him a little push toward the chair. “Do you know what you want? Tiny’s special is chili cheese dogs.”

He grinned. “Don’t be telling Hank that. I stopped by his place first and made sure he ate the cauliflower mac and cheese you left for him in the fridge.”

My brows shot up. “Did he like it?”

Hank would live off junk food if left to his own devices, but he was diabetic and his right leg had recently been amputated due to his condition. I’d been slipping some diabetic-friendly recipes into my meal planning. I’d even served quinoa stuffing with our Thanksgiving turkey. Since I worked most nights, Wyatt went over to check on him after he got off work to make sure he ate.

“He didn’t dislike it. He had two helpings. I ate the rest, so don’t be planning on havin’ any leftovers when you get home.”

I laughed. “I’ll consider that a win.”

“Expect to hear some complaining anyway.”

I shook my head, still grinning. “I can live with it. But if you already ate…”

He moved closer, resting his hand on my hip. Tingles shot through my body at his touch, and I drew in a breath. I’d missed him in more ways than one. I craved him like no other man before him, although I wondered if part of his allure was his promise to help me. He’d painted a future in which I could stop running…and every single part of me wanted that. Still, there was no doubt I was physically attracted to him. Any woman would be.

His eyes darkened and he lowered his voice. “I already told you. I didn’t want to wait four more hours to see you.”

This man was capable of turning me upside down and inside out, but this wasn’t the time or place. “Fine,” I said with a hint of a grin. “But sit down and behave. Don’t touch me again until I get off.”

He grinned back. “I’m not sure I can agree to that.”

“I just might kick you out if you become too big of a distraction.”

He sat down and leaned back in his seat, wearing a lazy smile. “I’ll take my chances.”

“You’ll have to order something, but I have to warn you. Tiny’s new cook, Sugar, gets more orders wrong than right, so you’re taking your chances.”

“Get me a chili cheese dog and a draft beer.” He shot a glance toward the bar. “And make sure Ruth doesn’t spit in it. That seems like the bigger risk.”

I laughed as I wrote his order on the ticket. Ruth detested him, although no one would tell me why, the two involved parties included. My best assumption was that it had something to do with the fact that they’d dated briefly years ago, although neither of them had confirmed or denied that.

The front door opened before I could head back to the service counter, and a quick glance told me Jerry had arrived. Wyatt saw him too and motioned for the elderly man to come sit with him. Both of us owed a debt of gratitude to Jerry given the way he’d helped us face down Carson.

“Would you like something for dinner?” I asked as he sat down.

“A burger, fries, and a Coke,” Jerry said, slipping off his threadbare coat. I made a mental note to stop by Goodwill when I took Hank to Greeneville the next day for his doctor’s appointment.

It occurred to me that Jerry wasn’t eating any healthier than Hank used to, and I made another note to bring him some of Hank’s extras.

I started to write down his order on a separate sheet, but Wyatt pointed to his chest, letting me know to put it on his tab. Jerry would likely protest, but Wyatt could charm him into agreeing.

A couple of days earlier, Tiny had asked why he hadn’t seen Wyatt hanging around. I’d reassured him that Wyatt would likely be in soon enough. Tiny had said good with surprising vehemence and then shocked me into silence by calling me an enchantress who’d woken Wyatt up from a long sleep. According to him, Wyatt used to be happy and carefree before his arrest, something he seemed to have lost after his nearly two-year incarceration. He’d come home a loner—quiet, reserved, and serious. A lot like the Wyatt I’d met on the overlook above Drum. I’d laughed and told Tiny that I hadn’t known him to be so fanciful, but he’d grinned back. “There’s a whole lot you don’t know about me, but that doesn’t discount the fact that you seem to be bringing Wyatt Drummond back to life.”