“Okay,” I replied. I’d worked at a boutique back home and my savings was starting to dwindle. I wanted my own car soon so I didn’t have to rely on Nathan all the time.
“Then we’ll go check out your boyfriend’s boat repair shop,” he said with a smirk.
“You’re just full of jokes today.”
Just then, mom, who’d been checking her voicemail, started smiling. She hung up the phone and stared at us. “Guess who asked me to dinner?”
I groaned. “Sheriff Snaggletooth?”
She frowned. “That’s not fair, Nikki. Like I said before, he seems like a very nice man.”
“You going for it?” asked Nathan, with a shit-eating grin.
She tapped her fingers on the banister. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not looking for anything right now, obviously, but it never hurts to get in good with a town’s sheriff. Maybe I’ll just invite him over to our house tonight for dinner. Can you pick up a couple of steaks in town, Nathan?”
He nodded. “But if you want wine, you’ll have to get that yourself.”
She snorted. “That’s the last thing I need, to get tipsy in front of the town’s sheriff.”
Nathan smiled wickedly. “It might be fun. He can handcuff you if you get too out of hand.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, I never thought of that.”
“You’re sick,” I said, climbing the staircase. “Both of you.”
“Oh, Nikki, I can’t wait until the love bug nips you in the butt. I am going to tease the crap out of you,” she said.
“Don’t hold your breath. That’s not happening anytime soon,” I said.
“We’ll see,” she said.
“Be ready in thirty minutes, twerp,” called Nathan. “We’ll go cruising.”
Chapter Five
I took a quick shower and changed into a dark blue halter sundress and white sandals. I pulled my hair into a loose up-do and applied a smidgeon of lip gloss.
“You look pretty,” smiled mom as I entered the kitchen, looking for Nathan.
I looked down at my dress and shrugged. “Oh, it was one of the few things already unpacked.”
She gave me a knowing smile and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t break too many hearts in town.”
“Ha-ha, mom. Very funny,” I said, although I did feel sort of pretty in the new dress. It also wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression on any kids who were hanging out in town.
Nathan was polishing up his Mustang when I found him outside. The red paint gleamed in the sun when he was finished.
“Now I’ll definitely be a chic magnet,” he teased, flexing his muscles. “Don’t take offense if I ask you to duck down when the ladies are scoping me out.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right.”
“You’ll see.”
I got into the car and we took our time driving back into town.
“Hear from Deanna yet today?” I asked.
He grimaced. “Yeah. She called freaking out, again. I just don’t know what to do about her. I mean, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I’m tired of the drama. Then I look at this town we’ve moved to and I think about all of the possibilities.”
I smiled. “You mean all of the chicks?”
“Hell yeah,” he laughed.
I shook my head at my brother, who was so predictable.
“Okay, keep your eyes peeled for something interesting,” said Nathan, brushing his bangs away from his eyes. “Both of us need jobs.”
As we entered the town I pointed right away to a diner called ‘Ruth’s.’ “Let’s stop in there and see if they’re hiring.”
“Good idea. I’m hungry again, anyway.”
We were seated by a frazzled-looking waitress who appeared to be one of only two working. It was only three in the afternoon, but the place was packed.
“You wouldn’t be hiring, would you?” I asked the other waitress, Amy, a blond with light blue eyes and an easy smile.
“Actually, funny you should ask, we’re hiring for the nightshift,” she said. “We’re always hiring for that shift, so I guess it really isn’t funny.”
“That’s fine. I’m desperately broke and need a job. Could you please get me an application?” I asked. “Oh, and,” I handed her back the menu. “A Caesar salad?” I pointed to Nathan. “He’s buying.”
She laughed. “Okay, so anything to drink?”
“Just water,” I replied.
“How are the burgers here, Amy?” asked Nathan.
“Oh, they’re very good. That’s why this place is always so busy. That and the fact that we’re the only diner open twenty-four hours.”