Page 5 of Hard Rain Coming

Dallas glanced up from his phone and smiled. “Thanks.”

“Cook has the grill fired up, and he’s ready to go,” the woman said, reaching for a menu, which she plopped onto the counter. “I’m Janelle, by the way.”

“Dal.”

He didn’t have to peruse the menu, because all these places served the same stuff. Bacon, eggs, home fries, and a side of grease, which was exactly what he ordered.

A few men wandered in. Some of them had clearly slept in their trucks after partying in the bar the night before. They glanced over to Dallas, but left him alone. And that was fine by Dal. He wasn’t in the mood to socialize. He was thinking ahead to the ninety-minute drive back to the Triple B with nothing but open roads and Vivian Bridgestone to keep him company.

He emptied his coffee mug and sat back, staring at the coffee grinds at the bottom of the cup for so long, his vision blurred. When Janelle grabbed it for a refill, he lifted his chin in thanks.

“You look fluxed,” she said with a smile.

“Yeah?” Dallas raised his eyebrows. “Don’t know what that means.”

“You know, like you don’t know if what’s on your mind is a good or a bad thing.”

“You mean perplexed?”

She laughed, a sound that filled the diner up like a bowling ball thundering down the lane. “Yes, that’s it.” She winked. “It’s too damn early, isn’t it?” She studied him for a few moments. “What is it that’s got you so perplexed?”

“I don’t think I’m perplexed so much as…” He winked. “Vexed.”

“Ah, I see. A woman, then.” Janelle took a step back.

There was no point in denying it, so he said nothing. A bell pinged sharply, and she turned. “That should be your eats. Be back in a jiffy.”

Janelle returned with a large plate of food, and Dallas dug in, hungrier than he’d realized. The eggs and bacon were above average for a diner, and the home fries weren’t too bad either. Dallas made his way through the pile of food in no time and glanced at his cell. It was nearly eight a.m. He had a shit load of stuff to do back home, and if Little Miss Ass Kicker didn’t show up soon, he’d have to wake her up.

He pushed his plate aside and rested his elbows on the counter. He had to admit, watching her take down the asshole from the night before had been entertaining. His grin widened. He bet poor old Gary was still icing his balls. He was about to ask for one more cup of coffee when the doorbell jingled. Dallas became aware that all conversation had stopped, just as Janelle filled his cup and winked.

“I’m guessing the reason for your smile just walked through the door.” She tossed him a few more packets of sugar.

He glanced up at Janelle. “Tall brunette who’s just noticed me, so she’s got a look on her face that’s halfway between sour milk and a cat’s ass?”

“Sounds about right.” Janelle paused and leaned closer. “She looks like trouble.”

“You got that right.”

The server backed away with a chuckle. “But then, so do you, darlin’.”

Dallas swiveled his seat and turned around. Vivian stood just inside the door, frosty eyes on him with a look he couldn’t read. He thought she might bolt; in the past, it had been her MO. But then she smoothed down the front of her coat and walked over to the counter, where she took a seat a few down from him. She was still in her blue dress and come-fuck-me heels. Still smelled good. Like wild flowers and summer rain. Two things he shouldn’t be noticing.

“What can I get you, sugar?” Janelle asked Vivian. She ordered a coffee and nothing else, then turned to him.

“You stayed.” Her voice was dry, a bit raspy.

“The truck’s being towed to a garage in a town not far from here.” There were bruises under her eyes, and he figured he might have gotten more sleep than she had, which wasn’t saying much.

“I told you I would look after it.”

“Well, now you don’t have to.”

She made a sound and mumbled a bunch of words he couldn’t hear.

“You want to share?” he asked, more than a little irritated himself. If not for her, he’d be home, buried balls-deep in Lenora and well on his way to the kind of morning he deserved. An hour of extra sleep and the kind of meaningless sex that kept his gears oiled.

“I don’t need your help, is all.” She kept her gaze fixed straight ahead.