"Well, well, look who's back!" Elaine's voice bellowed over the diner.
Denim couldn't resist a grin at the round woman who stepped from behind the counter. Quickly, she walked over and curled her arms around Elaine's neck, kissing her dark rosy cheek.
"Look at you. We need to fatten you up." Her dark eyes narrowed as she drew back and gave Denim's thin frame a thorough scanning. "What were you doing at school, starving?"
She smiled. "I eat. I'm just health conscious."
Elaine gave a dismissive wave. "You can't keep up your strength eating nothing but salads."
"Says who?" Denim laughed and took in her thick, voluptuous frame. She had known Elaine almost her entire life and she couldn't remember her ever fixing a meal that didn't include her homemade biscuits.
Lips quirked, Elaine gazed at her and said, "I'm so glad you're here to help Pappy. Summer's a busy time, so I feel bad leaving him."
Dismissively, Denim replied, "No problem. I'm glad I could come down and help. How's your Mama doing?"
"It's her hip again," she hastened to explain. "This is the second time she has fallen. I'm really thinking it's time I pack her up and convince her to move in with me. But I'm afraid that's going to take some time."
"Take all the time you need. I've got the entire summer." Did I just say that? Stupid. Stupid. It was the proper thing to say, but the look in Elaine's eyes said she might just take her up on the offer. God, I hoped not!
"Pappy told me you snagged yourself a rich kid. Lucky you." Elaine clearly looked impressed.
Her cheeks warmed and instead of telling her she was officially single again, Denim simply nodded.
"Pappy will be so happy to see you! Go ahead, he's in back and when you get done, I'm making you a hamburger."
As if her stomach remembered how juicy Elaine's burgers were, it rumbled.
The shift supervisor went over to refill water glasses while Denim wove her way through the tables and moved behind the counter. Customers were sitting on red vinyl barstools, watching the evening news that was playing on a century-old television, mounted near the window. The diner was badly in need of a makeover. Maybe she could convince her grandfather to consider some new design ideas.
One of the other waitresses greeted Denim with a wary smile. It had no doubt been a long stressful day, dealing with customers. She introduced herself, then pushed open the swinging door and stepped into the kitchen.
There were three staff members in back, loading customers' orders on trays at a rapid speed. Denim spotted her grandfather stirring a pot on the stove with one hand, and scratching a bald spot at the back of his head with the other.
"I'm home!" she announced, merrily. Pappy turned, looked over and grinned.
"And it's about time. I was getting worried," he greeted, his arms outstretched as she walked over and hugged his frail middle. She noticed he'd lost weight since she'd seen him over Christmas. As usual he smelled like Old Spice.
"Well, well, let Pappy take a look at you." He finally released her and pushed his glasses further onto his nose as his eyes traveled from head to toe. She ruffled his hair. All gray but still thick except for the bald area in the middle. "Were they feeding you at that campus?" he asked.
Denim laughed. The way his clothes were hanging loosely on his body, he was one to talk. "I eat three meals a day. I promise."
Pappy pierced her with his chocolate gaze and looked like he didn't believe her before a smile curled his lips. "We'll have plenty of time to catch up. Right now let me introduce you to the rest of my crew. Then I need you to grab an apron and take these carry-out orders to the front."
That was Pappy for you. All about business.
Denim met the two men working at the grill and then a woman with a spiked hairdo, working at the preparation table. While they exchanged cordial greetings and handshakes, she kept thinking, this was going to be her family for the next three months. We are definitely an odd bunch.
Denim reached for an apron hanging from a hook near the door and slipped it over her clothes. Kitty, the female, looked down at her feet, then brought a hand to her hip, frowning. "Those shoes are not safe in here."
Denim nodded. "You're right. I'll take the orders up front and as soon as it slows down, I'll run out to my car." It appeared she'd be wearing sneakers after all.
After washing her hands, Denim carried the orders out and set the bags down behind the counter. A customer signaled for a refill. She reached for the coffee pot and filled his mug and then a water glass for another. While she wiped down the counter, she listened as the weatherman talked about scorching temperatures for the next few days. Hopefully, the air condition units at Pappy's house were working.
The bell chimed. Denim looked over toward the door and the breath left her lungs in a rush.
OMG!
He was definitely a hottie. From the top of his head, down to the bottoms of his black boots. Twenty, maybe twenty-two, with eyes that were a strange color-the pupils were dark, the irises gold and so intense she felt a flutter rise from her stomach and into her throat. Oh my, he was yummy. And then there was that long, ash-blonde hair that he wore pulled back with a black elastic band. It was wavy enough to make a girl yearn to run her fingers through it.
As he strode over to the counter, Denim took in his attire, faded jeans that rode low on his hips and a sleeveless leather vest, showing off tattoos on both of his arms. Plates clattering in back caused her to startle, and she realized she'd been staring at him with her mouth hanging open. Quickly, Denim clamped her lips shut and fluttered her eyelashes a few times just to make sure she really wasn't seeing things.
Nope. Mr. Hottie was still standing there, eyes roaming over her face.
Denim's breasts tingled and her breathing quickened. She drew in a slow breath, hoping to calm her frantic heart. "May I … " She paused to clear the frog. "May I help you?" she repeated and still heard her voice crack. Denim, you are such a loser!
After several breathtaking moments, he spoke, "I'm picking up a double cheeseburger and fries." He had a wicked voice that made her stomach clench. She felt flushed and intoxicated at levels she had never reached from drinking beer.
Her mouth went dry and she swallowed hard, trying not to stare and yet everyone else in the diner had been forgotten.
While holding her gaze, he gestured toward the bags. "Is that my food?"
Denim looked down at the counter, then made the mistake of meeting his eyes again. He was smiling, flashing irresistible dimples.
"Oh! Sure! This is probably yours." She fumbled over her words like a complete idiot as she swung around, grabbed the bag with a receipt attached that matched the items he had mentioned, and then slid it across the counter. "Uh … that will be six-ninety-nine."
She was practically salivating while he reached into his pocket, removed a ten and held it out. Denim made the mistake of touching his hand and nearly gasped when she felt his hot, rough skin against her own. Goodness, it was like sticking her hand in a roaring fire! With a harsh intake of air, she ripped her hand away.
"Keep the change," he murmured, as a smirk lifted one corner of his perfect mouth, and without another glance, he turned and walked back out the door.
Denim stood there feeling like a complete idiot. She had made an absolute fool of herself. Staring out the large storefront window, she watched him hop onto a motorcycle and roar out into the street. A thrill of pleasure ran through her. There was no way in hell someone that gorgeous lived in Justice, Texas.
For once, Denim hoped she was wrong.
2
Denim was back.
Hell, Jax had known she was back in Justice long before he'd walked into the diner. He'd smelled her in the parking lot and the scent had only gotten stronger and more intense as he had drawn closer. And as soon as he'd stepped inside Pappy's Diner, there she was. Long, dark wavy hair, skin like caramels melting in a saucepan, mesmerizing brown eyes, and then there were all those curves. Holy shit! Denim had more curves than he'd find driving his bike along Deadman's Lane. And when she had reached over for his food, the sight of her round ass shot right down his body and lodged into a hard, tight knot at his groin area. Even now, he throbbed with burning need.
Jax growled inwardly. How was it even possible that after all these years, he was still attracted to her? He'd thought, hoped even, that over time those feelings would have died and yet even after eight years the emotions were stronger than ever. He had needs and wants, and despite every reason why Denim was all wrong for him, his body was aroused, yearning for her. But the most powerful of all, was her scent. God, her smell wrapped around him like a fist, driving him insane.