I turn around and start making sandwiches again, laughing. "Sadie. You were so drunk or high most of the time." Another laugh and then a snort escapes me. Suddenly, her hands grip my arms and turn me to face her.
"Who had all the guys around her?"
"You." I snort again.
"And who could tell if they were good or bad?" I raise my brows high, thinking about that asshole who tried to kill her and Memphis. "Okay, scratch that. Who dated – a lot?"
"Uh, you." I keep my snorting inside this time but it only made me cough.
"Who loves you and would do anything for you?"
I let out a sigh. "You."
"Who learned from her mistakes, found her a great man, got married, had twins, and is the happiest she's ever been in her life?" Her smile grows with each word. I can almost feel the love from here.
"You did." I grin. I turn around and start on the sandwiches again. "That doesn't mean you know everything though." I feel her play smack my arm and smile harder. "But you are right about one thing." I sneak a look her way and see one of her eyebrows is raised. Her arms crossed over her chest. "Nash is a good man. I almost feel like I'm falling in love with him already, and we haven't even been out on a date, yet," I say as fast as I can.
"I knew it!" She jumps up and down, clapping her hands.
These sandwiches are never gonna get finished. I grab her shoulders, turning her toward the doorway. "Go home. Be with your man and babies." I start pushing her. We reach the doorway, and she starts to turn around to face me.
"Uh! A little help out here!" Loren's voice filters around me like fingernails on a chalkboard. I cringe.
"Give her a chance, Tina." I glare at her, trying not to roll my eyes. "She seems like a hard worker even though she's a little too – bubbly." A little? I give her a look. "Okay, she's a little hard to take but this morning, she was really good with the customers. They seemed to like her." Ugh, I find that hard to believe. "Give her a chance, please." I sigh and nod. "Good. I'm going home but I'll be back later tonight. I have another interview for more help. I'll get you some time off so you can go on a date...." I raise my brows. "Or just to be able to have some time off." She winks and turns around. I stand in the doorway and watch her walk through the crowd of customers, say goodbye to Loren, and walk out the front door.
"Uh, Tina? Some help here."
I look at Loren, put a smile on my face, reluctantly, turn around and grab a tray full of plated sandwiches and walk out into the shop. This is gonna be the longest day ever!
Chapter Five
Nash
I can't believe the night and mornin' I've had. Such a scare with Manuel and then findin' Tina asleep in the waitin' room gave me such a rush of somethin' I'd never felt before. Relief. Excitement. Love? Whatever it was, I couldn't believe she stayed here all night. For me. It just confirms my feelin's for her. I've never had that great of a love life before. The only girl I ever fell for ended up not wantin' me for any feelin's of love or anythin' else. I was young and it took me a while to realize it. Call me stupid or just blinded by lust. Pa had tried to warn me but with everythin' goin' on with him, I didn't listen. Then Manuel stepped in, once we'd taken care of buryin' Pa and goin' through everythin' with his lawyers. But the real moment I knew, was when I caught her cheatin' on me. Walked right into that one. Literally. Found her in our bed with another man – in our apartment. That really opened my eyes. She begged and pleaded with me but it made me sick. I couldn't even look at her. Who does that to someone after just losin' their pa? Who does that to anyone, anytime? Since then, I've been so leery of women. But then, I was so busy straightenin' out our ranch in Texas and then movin' here, I didn't have time to think much of anythin' else.
"Mr. Harris. Mr. Gonzales."
I look up from my chair next to Manuel's bed when the doctor walks in. I hadn't realized that Manuel was awake until the doctor said his name and I looked over at him. We both watch the doctor walk toward the foot of the bed and pick up the electronic chart.
"Your lab work is looking very good." He reads some more and then looks at Manuel. "If you keep improving and we can get some solid food in you, I might be able to send you home in a couple of days. Of course, once your cast comes off in about six weeks, you'll need some physical therapy. We can also arrange to have a therapist come to your home, if that would be preferred." He smiles. "We have some time to talk about that."
"Um...." I look at Manuel and give him a wink then look back at the doctor. "I'd prefer to have the therapist at my house, when the time comes." I grow serious. "Not that I'm not anxious to get Manuel home but are you sure that's not too soon?" It would kill me if he was released too early and had complications at home or even.... I stop myself. I refuse to think about that.
The doctor smiles. "I assure you, Mr. Harris, I will never release a patient prior to any tests telling me the contrary. I'm sure Mr. Gonzales will have much better rest at home than what he's likely to get here." He gives me a wink. "Now...." He sets the chart back on the foot board and looks at Manuel. "A more solid lunch has been ordered for you. I'll check on you a little later today. By tonight, I'll have more tests ordered and then check on you in the morning with the outcome. Have a good day."
We watch him walk out of the room, and I look back over at Manuel. "Mijo." He smiles. "Where you been all mornin'? Woke up several times and you weren't here, not that I expected you to stay." I give him a smile. He knows I'd never be anywhere else.
"I went down to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee while you were bein' checked out."
He smiles again. "Good. I don't want you worryin' 'bout me. Did you get yourself somethin' to eat?" I shake my head.
"Nah, I was too busy talkin' with Tina."
His brows raise, that all knowin' smile lingerin' on his face. "Tina from the coffee shop, eh?" He knows good and well who Tina is, but I'm grateful he's able to be playful.
Leanin' my arms down on my legs, I get comfortable. "Yeah, the very same."
The door opens and someone walks in carryin' a tray with his lunch. He struggles to sit up so I stand and raise the back of his bed until he nods. He gets settled and starts eatin' and I sit back down. "She sounds like a nice girl, from what you've told me." I haven't told him much. Much like a pa, he knows how to guilt trip me when I need it the most.
I look down and shake my head, puttin' my arms back down on my legs and gettin' comfortable again. "Yeah, she's somethin'." I look back up at him, and he raises his fork for me to continue. I point at his lunch, tellin' him I will if he keeps eatin'. He smiles and stabs somethin' that's tryin' to resemble a hamburger patty. I don't think it quite made the grade. "Anyway. She's half owner of the coffee shop in town and boy, howdy, can she cook." His brows raise, and I nod. "Yeah, I know. My cookin' is very limited but she even creates her own dishes." He nods lookin' very pleased. He starts eatin' again. I look up toward the ceilin' as I picture her. "She's gotta be the most beautiful gal I've ever seen. She has these eyes that are a pretty green, but they change to a blue dependin' on what she's wearin'. Her hair is brown with some lighter streaks in it, curly, but when straightened, it hangs down to her lower back. I love it though when it's curly – natural, ya know? Her figure is...." I shift my eyes over to him and let out a cough. "Well, I think you get the general idea."
"Sounds like she's quite the woman, Mijo." He wipes his mouth and leans back into the mattress.
"Yes, she is. Thing is, she's a strong woman, no doubt 'bout that, but around me, she gets all kinds of shy, flustered. She's adorable when she stammers and the most beautiful blush spreads across her cheeks." I remember holdin' her hand, soft, and warm. It was so small in mine. Made me feel like I wanted to protect her.
"Maybe she can give you some cookin' lessons," he says through a yawn. I look at him and laugh. "You should go over to her shop. Have a coffee and get somethin' to eat. I'm sure it's better than the food here and looks like I'm not goin' anywhere, at least for a while." He gives me a wink. Hmm, maybe he's got somethin' there.
"You sure ya don't mind?" I'm feelin' a bit strange and self-absorbed in leavin' him, even though he's the one who suggested it. I am hungry. Not sure I've eaten anythin' since before lunch yesterday. At that moment, my stomach decides to growl. Loudly.
He lets out a laugh and winces. "Go eat. Be with your woman. There isn't a better place that I could be right now but here, bein' well looked after. Then, go home and get some rest. You're lookin' a little haggard." He yawns again. His eyes close as I slowly get up. I lean down and pat his shoulder.
"I won't be gone long. Might just run home and take a shower and change my clothes." He nods but then lets out some soft snores. I smile. Still feelin' weird about leavin' but I guess he's right. He is in the best place where he'll be taken care of. Much better than I could.