I nodded, instantly invested in anything she was willing to tell me. “Army?”
She shook her head, smiling. “He was a Marine.”
“Well, thank him for his service on my behalf,” I replied sincerely.
Her eyes held on to mine for a fraction of a second, and I didn’t look away immediately. I didn’t look away until Laura’s name screamed through my mind. Then I cleared my throat, she coughed, and we both stood.
“Thankyou,” she said, taking the last doughnut from the box.
I glanced down at her mouth as she took a bite, and lewd thoughts skittered across my mind.
Then, catching myself, I stammered awkwardly, “Oh, I, um … you don’t have to thank me. I only wanted one—"
She laughed, chewing. Powdered sugar clung to her lips, and after she swallowed, her tongue swiped out to lick it off.
I wouldn’t mind seeing her lick something else.
Fuck. Stop it.
“No, I meant, for your service. Thank you.”
“Oh,” I said, certain my cheeks were now as red as hers. I grabbed my nearly forgotten doughnut from the table and brought it to my mouth. “It’s all I know how to do.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Luke came into the shop about twenty minutes later, a backward cap on his head, and told me he had good and bad news.
“The good news is, I have the same truck and actually have a tire to replace yours on hand,” he said, scrubbing his hands on an already-filthy rag.
“Well, that’s a crazy coincidence,” I said, an odd emotion settling in. One I couldn’t quite put my finger on or find a name for.
He chuckled. “Right? That’s what I thought. Kinda wild. But …” He grimaced with an apology. “I can’t have the job finished until at least tomorrow evening at the earliest. Probably looking at closer to two days, but I can try to hurry.”
I had expected about as much, and I told him so without disappointment. It wasn’t his fault, and I could appreciate him prioritizing the job over what he already had on his plate.
So, I asked him if he had any recommendations for a place to stay in the area, and he gave me the directions to a “sort of okay, but honestly kinda shitty” motel. With a strangled laugh, I thanked him and the woman behind the desk, making sure my eyes didn’t linger on hers for long, and headed for the door.
“Do you want a ride?” Luke asked.
I shook my head. “No, but thanks. I think I could use some fresh air. But I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Then I bid them both a good night and made sure to grab my bag from my truck before I left.
The walk to the motel was a short one, and by the time I got there and rented a room, my stomach was reminding me that all I’d eaten in the last twenty-four hours was some airplane peanuts and a jelly doughnut.
As the balding man behind the desk passed over my key, I asked, “Hey, what’s good around here for food?”
He cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. “Well, what are you looking for?”
“I’m not picky.”
He laced his fingers over his round belly and pursed his lips in thought. Then he said, “Well, if you’re looking for Italian, Marino’s isn’t bad. And for some decent fried chicken, there’s Chester’s.” Then he paused, narrowing his eyes as he held up a finger. “But if you want a really great burger, Tony’s is your place. It’s this little hole-in-the-wall dive bar, but their burgers are …” He held up the okay gesture and nodded with approval.
I considered the options with a tip of my head. If the choice was between not bad Italian, decent fried chicken, or a really great burger…
“I guess Tony’s it is.”
***
