Page 5 of His Fate


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"Har, har, har." Smiling, I roll my eyes then gimp over and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for the heads up."

Dad erases his words then starts writing again.How was your day?

"Long." I sigh as I head toward the kitchen. "I've never been so busy. There was a short lull about mid-afternoon, but aside from that it was non-stop drink orders and pastry samples."

I rummage around in the fridge, looking for something to eat and decide on grilled cheese with tomato sandwiches. Pulling out what I'll need, I go back in and grab us each a beer, pop the tops and walk one over to my dad.

"What did you do today?" I set his bottle in his cup holder then head back to start on a late dinner.

Dad grabs a straw from his side saddle bag, unwrapping it before he sticks it in his Miller Lite and takes a long sip. Then he replaces it and scribbles on his board.Listened to the scanner for a bit. Janet stopped by and we had a visit. Surfed the community page for a while. Watched the Giants. Same old.

I nod and start slicing tomatoes, my mind wandering briefly to that beautiful, yet super intimidating man.

He was so hot, way too hot to be from anywhere around Ashland, Oregon and he confirmed that theory when he spoke in the deepest, most sensual accent. It sounded like maybe he was from Russia or the Ukraine or somewhere like that.

And if his voice wasn't enough, fuck he was so hot. Long, silky jet-black hair with drastic shocks of blood red throughout. Piercing eyes the color of warm-amber brandy after it's been sitting on the rocks for a few hours. His body was chiseled from stone and covered in intricate, unusual tattoos. He had to be pushing seven feet tall and was as wide as a bus. His stretched-to-the-max jeans and simple black T-shirt were barely able to contain the ungodly amount of muscle over those big bones.

He was a thing of beauty but in a very dangerous way, like there was something deadly or other worldly brewing right under the surface, and the tiniest thing would bring it crashing through his outer layer to explode around him.

I've never seen him before, and judging by the way poor little Ronny Caldwell was about ready to shit his drawers while waiting on him, I'd say he hadn't either.

Which is why I casually ask my dad, "Anything good on Ashland's gossip line today?"

He shakes his head as he takes another sip of beer then stops short and starts writing.Janet said the grocery store got a huge shipment of some exotic shit today, stuff from out of town. And she said Ron Caldwell told her he got a big order on his next slaughter. Fifteen head of cattle, a dozen lambs, half a dozen pigs, and about thirty chickens for meat and eggs.

My brows fly to my hairline and I almost lose a finger. "Shit, that's a lot of food."

Dad nods.Didn't say who placed the order but she had a feeling it was whoever bought up the old Jenkins' place out by the mountain range.

"Huh." I put together our sandwiches and throw them on the griddle, trying to play it cool. "Didn't know anyone bought that old farmhouse disguised as a mansion."

After a few minutes dad taps his marker to the board so I turn.Sold about two and a half months ago and whoever it was hired Jed Walker's company to do a complete remodel and addition that backs right up to the mountain. Said it's at least double the size now and the fanciest damn thing he's ever seen. In a rugged, mountain lodge sorta way.

"But he doesn't know who bought it?"

Nope. Never met the new owner while they were working on it, paid all in cash. I'd imagine the only one who knows anything about the owner is Tippy Ward since she'da been the one to draw up the deed. And you know how she is...

I chuckle and nod while plating our food. "Yep. Her lips are tighter than a nun's asshole."

Dad laughs silently, though very hard by the looks of it before writingexactly.

We take our seats at the small table by the front window and eat in silence, not that it isn't the norm but it feels heavier for some reason. I got used to having to fill the void with the sound of my voice or music or whatever game was on at a very young age but it also never bothered me to sit quietly.

Dad lost his ability to speak when I was just a girl, and mom left shortly after that so there has always been silence to fill and I never minded doing that either. Today though, the quiet feels heavy, weighted, palpable, and almost suffocating.

I've been like this ever since this morning, this need vibrating through me, this restlessness I can't quite pinpoint. It's almost like being addicted to something and going without your next fix longer than you should.

And I can't help but feel like it has something to do with that man.

By the time we finish dinner and I clean up the kitchen it's eight-thirty and I'm so ready to call it a night I could cry. Unfortunately for me, my night isn't even close to over.

"I'll be on doubles the next few days." Yawning, I grab dad's pill box from the cabinet and pour his evening meds into a small cup. "Kady said Allie went into labor this morning then Grace called in sick. Some kinda stomach bug or something." I watch him knock back the pills then I hand over a glass of water. "It'll just be me and Ronny on front tomorrow, which'll be interesting since today was his official first day and he got stuck on one customer right away. After that, if Grace is still out, it'll just be me on front until Ronny gets out of school but that doesn't exactly help me with the morning rush."

Dad taps his board.You'll be fine, Josey Posey. Quickest barista Ashland's ever seen.

I roll my eyes but give him a smile. "Let's just hope Mr. Newman doesn't come in to buy breakfast for the whole high school teaching staff again. Even my fast fingers can't knock out that many drinks at once. Plus, Kady will shit kittens if something like that were to happen. It'd make her a good payday but without anyone helping her in the back there's no way she could keep up."

We head down the hall together and when my dad disappears into his bedroom, I bellow, "T-minus thirty minutes, old man! Get your ass in that sling!"