the family ranch outside of town.â
She gave him her best Iâm-really-not-interested expression, but her heart was beating fast. âFascinating story, but Iâve never seen him before.â
Sam moved closer. âBut he looks like someone you know, doesnât he? Someone youâre worried might find you.â
He was too close, not only in his estimation of her situation, but physically. Close enough she could see the subtle but fierce striations of deep brown in his irises, the web of lines at the corners of his eyes, the thick fringe of lashes. His scent was pure male, and the female in her reluctantly responded.
âNo one is looking for me, Mr. Prescott.â For once, she could answer a question truthfully. At least, she prayed it was true. âNow if youâre going to fire me, then fire me. Otherwise, Iâd appreciate it if youâd let me get back to work.â
He stared at her for a long moment, then stepped back. âIâll speak to the chef. I know he can be difficult.â
She knew that Chef Phillipe would only dislike her all the more if Sam said even one word to him about her. âThank you, but thatâs really not necessary.â
Somehow she managed to walk away without stumbling or without looking back. In the employee restroom, she let out a long breath, shook off her jitters, then washed her hands and returned to her station. The spill had been cleaned up and Tyler had changed into a clean shirt and tie. His surly attitude, however, remained the same. He glared at her and gestured to a pitcher of iced tea.
âRefills at ten and twelve, miss grace, if you think you can manage without spilling anything.â
Enough was enough.
Narrowing her eyes, Kiera moved in close to the server, stuck her face nose to nose with his and pressed a fingertip against his bony chest. âMy name is Kiera. Got that? Kiera. Next time you call me anything else, next time you insult me, next time you even look at me with disrespect, youâre going to be wearing more than a few scraps of lettuce and barbecue sauce.â
Smiling, she smoothed a hand over the startled serverâs clean tie, then turned and picked up the iced tea. Red-faced, Tyler moved out of her way.
So much for keeping things low key, she thought while she refilled glasses. Rand Blackhawk. She glanced at the man now sitting in a booth with a pretty redhead, then quickly looked away before she did something stupid.
Too late, she thought with a sigh, then watched Sam walk back into the restaurant.
Way too late.
Three
With the Fourth of July only two weeks away, the town of Wolf River had already tuned up to celebrate. Red-white-and-blue bunting adorned the two-story brick storefronts down Main Street, patriotic slogans welcomed tourists, posters announced an upcoming rodeo and carnival. The holiday would bring in tourists from across the country and locals as far away as Houston.
It might be a small town, but it was a busy small town.
And growing every day, Sam noted as he strolled down the sidewalk. On Main Street, the city council had carefully kept Wolf Riverâs country charm through strict building ordinances, but off the main drag they had slowly allowed the big city in. Three-story office buildings, two fast-food restaurants, a small water park, a multiplex theater and the most recent addition, a country-western dinner house with live entertainment and nightly line dancing. Sam had heard the rib-eye steaks were as thick as a phone book and tender as warm butter. He made a mental note to check it out for himself soon.
âGonna be a hot one,â Fergus Crum said dryly. The old man had been pushing a broom across the sidewalk in front of the hardware store, but he stopped and rested his arthritic hands on the broom handle when he spotted Sam coming his way.
âCome by the bar after work,â Sam said as he passed. âHave a cold one on me.â
âIâll do that.â Fergus was never one to turn down a cold beer. Or any beer, for that matter. âHow âbout some of those onion thingies, too?â
âYou got it.â
Sam nodded at a local rancher coming out of the barbershop and the man touched the brim of his cowboy hat. Even though Sam knew most of the locals, he didnât come into town very often. He had no reason to. Most everything he needed he could get at the hotel. Food, clothes, even a car. He had few personal possessions, considered them a hindrance when it was time to pick up and move on. He kept his lifeâprofessional and personalâsimple.
Exactly how he liked it.
His two-year contract with the Four Winds had been up for two months now. Clair had been pressing him to sign a new one, but heâd put her off. He figured it was about time to start putting out feelers for his next job. His entire life, heâd never lived more than three years in one place. He had no intention of breaking that record any time soon.
âHey, handsome, where you headed?â
Sam smiled when Olivia Cameron pulled her sleek red Camaro up to the curb alongside him. The stunning redhead owned Vintage Rose, one of the antique stores in Wolf River and sheâd also done the interior design on the lobby in the Four Winds.
He leaned into her open car window and gave her a kiss on the cheek. âOn my way to the courthouse, gorgeous.â
Her green eyes sparkled. âYou finally going to apply for our marriage license?â
âJust say the word, Liv.â Theyâd gone out on a couple of dates, but the chemistry hadnât quite been there between them, so theyâd settled into a more comfortable, flirtatious friendship. âWe could buy one of those tract homes theyâre building in Oak Meadows. Have a half dozen kids and join the PTA.â
Olivia winced. âIâll get back to you one of these decades. Want a ride?â
He straightened and patted his stomach. âWalk will do me good.â
âAs if you need it. Every woman in this town knows you work out from five to six-thirty every morning in the Four Winds gym.â Olivia gunned her engine. âWhy do you think there are so many females in there at that ungodly hour?â
With a wink, Olivia shot away from the curb.
Grinning, Sam watched her disappear around the corner, wished there had been chemistry between them. Like him, the woman wasnât looking for a commitment or a picket fence. They could have simply enjoyed each other, without worrying about the theatrics or complications of a messy breakup. Olivia could have been an enjoyable distraction.
And Lord knew, right now he certainly needed one.
Heâd spent the past three days watching Kiera. Watched her effortlessly memorize the menu and wine list. Watched her skillfully serve a heavy tray of dishes without fumbling or getting an order wrong. Watched her astutely make recommendations, then offer suggestions for a complimentary wine. Already, she not only had people asking for her station but actually waiting for her.
Heâd
