The waitress came back over with our food. Her hands were so large she didn’t have to bother with a tray. She carried everything in two hands and set it all down in front of usgently.
“Need anything else?” she asked, her bored muddy brown eyes flicking over to glance behindher.
“No, thank you. This is perfect,” I said as I reached for the greasefest on myplate.
She grunted and headed off to the next table in need ofservice.
“I have this friend…” Parkerbegan.
I hadn’t even finished my bite before I started shaking my head vehemently. “No!” I mumbled through a mouthful of burger. “Absolutelynot.”
“Not everyone is Jeff,” shegrumbled.
I took a moment to chew and swallow. “This wasn’t like we split amicably, Parker. He dumped me because he was using me and when I wouldn’t play along anymore, he decided to put me out topasture.”
“Unlike that massive disaster on your plate,” Parker said, “you are not a cow and cannot be ‘put out to pasture,’ as you so eloquentlystated.”
“Dumped me. Whatever. Kind of the same thing. I’m gettingold.”
Melody snorted. “You’re not even 30 yet. You have plenty oftime.”
I shut my eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. “I don’t think either of you fully understand how little interest I have in the opposite sex right now. I don’t want to date. I don’t want to get married. I don’t even want to havesex.”
Parker let out a loud laugh. “Everyone wants to have sex,” sheargued.
“Try getting dumped and humiliated in front of all your family and friends three times then come speak to me about what everyone wants todo.”
Silence fell around the table and I took the opportunity to focus on my food. Dating sounded about as appetizing as eating tree bark rightnow.
Melody picked up the check and we filed out of the restaurant silently. When they dropped me at the door, they both mumbled a quiet apology. I shook my head, sighed, and shut the car door behindme.
They didn’t understand. How could they? If they hadn’t walked in my shoes, they never would. I ran up the steps of the porch, unlocked my door, tossed my purse and keys on the hall table and headed over to the couch where I collapsed for most of the rest of theday.
The next morning,Martin showed up with a small crew. I’d been up since 6am, had traveled to the 24 hour grocery store just a few minutes away and bought a coffee pot, showered, dressed and managed to sweep the floor. Bully forme.
I still felt like I was on autopilot, but at least I wasn’t hungover and I was being somewhat productive. I’d just fixed myself a cup of coffee when the doorbell rang. I slipped on my flip flops and headed over to the front door to let themin.
Martin mumbled a quick good morning, though from the quick flash of emotion in his gaze, I could tell he was surprised to see me up and about. Considering how he’d found me yesterday, I probably would have been surprised,too.
Three young men followed him in, each murmuring a quiet good morning to me. I offered them all a cup of coffee, but Martin held up a largethermos.
“We’re good,thanks.”
I nodded, sipped my coffee, and waited for them to get situated so I could talk to Martin about what he was doing today. Hopefully that was my kitchen considering Midnight Cove was scheduled for rain later during theweek.
It took him the better part of an hour to get everything situated - drop cloths, ladders, tools I couldn’t recognize and everything else they needed. When he was finally finished, he turned tome.
Martin Roma was a good looking man. Every time I looked at him it took me by surprise. He had the dark good looks of one of those pirates in the novels I sometimes read in secret. Dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin and a powerful, yet not overly muscled build. But the thing about Martin was, so far, he was very quiet. Never intrusive. And, the fact that he was here after my personal meltdown told me he was probably kind,too.
He held a clipboard with several sheets of paper on it and an ink pen. “Rain is scheduled to come in soon, so we’re going to work on your ceiling first.” He rattled off a bunch of stuff I didn’tunderstand.
“How long is that going to take?” I asked as I sipped on my overly sweetcoffee.
“As long as there are no complications, I’d say within three days, we should have it patched up well enough so water won’t get in here. A full five days before it’s completelydone.”
“What’s afterthat?”
A smirk formed on the side of his mouth. “Considering the state of your kitchen, I figured we’d finish that next. I’ve heard you liked tobake?”
