SimplyIrresistible (12 page)

“A cold sandwich would be perfect.” Tiana edged past the
strollers and sat. The pretty, plump waitress matched the décor in a checked
uniform and pristine white apron, her sleek auburn pageboy swung constantly and
her round body defied the rule of physics governing perpetual motion. She
topped off coffee cups, delivered flirty sallies, sass and sincere concern with
an uncanny knack for what each customer wanted. Tiana admired her effortless
multitasking.

“Got my bill, Marcia?” a man at the counter called around a
bobbing toothpick.

“Same as it was yesterday and the other two hundred times
you ordered the hot meatball sandwich, Lou. Leave the money on the counter and
don’t forget my tip jar or next time lunch is going to be served in your lap.”

Tips by coercion—a different customer service approach.
Tiana like it. She liked sunny, sassy Marcia. There was simply no alternative.

The dry-erase board listings for today’s special made
Tiana’s mouth water. The soup of the day was potato, the hot sandwich a choice
of meatball or grilled cheese, the cold sandwich egg salad or turkey, assorted
pastries. A dizzy array of coffees and other beverages made up the rest of the
menu.

After distributing lunch tabs, Marcia returned to Tiana.
“What can I fix you?”

“A turkey on rye with pepper jack, please.”

She scribbled on the pad. “Mayo and mustard?”

“Yes, please, but no tomatoes.”

Marcia stopped writing. “The tomatoes are spectacular. Fresh
this morning, organic Mortgage Lifters from Gert’s place.”

“No thank you, the only way I like them is in spaghetti
sauce.”

Marcia shook her shiny auburn bob regretfully. “Gotcha, no
heirloom tomatoes for you. How ’bout a drink?”

“Diet cola.”

“Coming right up.” Marcia hurried back to the front counter
to take money from the older woman with the silver ’do. “Everything okay,
Violet?”

“Fine, see you soon.” Violet carefully counted the change
from a twenty, stuffed a bill into the tip jar and shot a sideways look at the
big blonde. The door tinkled pleasantly behind her.

In between making change and conversation, Marcia brought
Tiana a can of diet cola, a glass filled with ice and a paper-sealed straw.

“Thank you.”

Marcia winked and crossed the room to wait on the young
mothers. The stroller brigade purchased pastries to go and paid their tab.
Marcia held the door while they juggled strollers, purses and diaper bags,
finally wheeling out of the café.

Right behind the mothers and babies, the smoldering hottie
handed Marcia his bill and pulled out cash.

“Hang on, Harvey. I want some biscotti.” His blonde
companion’s alto spilled across the café like thick syrup.

Marcia fished out a sack and slid open the bakery case. “How
many?”

“Are they fresh today?”

Tiana stiffened at the woman’s snarkiness, immediately
taking offense for the friendly waitress.

“Always.” Marcia’s mouth formed a tight smile.

“Three of the hazelnut and three of the cinnamon, I guess.”

Marcia filled her sack, folded the top and handed it to the
blonde before making change for Harvey, who shot a mute apology to Marcia and
stuffed a five into the tip jar.

The big blonde sniffed. “That’s way too big a tip.”

After the last customers left, a pretty teenager emerged
from the back of the café wearing sprayed-on jeans and a major martyr complex.
With a heavy sigh she flipped the sign on the front door to closed and slouched
past to bus the empty tables with ghost-like efficiency.

Tiana checked her watch, amazed it was already after three.
She crossed to the counter and peered toward the kitchen. “Marcia?”

“Be right there, hon.”

“I didn’t realize how late it was. Please make my sandwich
to go. I don’t want to keep you.”

Marcia emerged from the kitchen with the turkey sandwich
already plated. “You’re not keeping me. Cher and I are here for another hour.”
She led the way back to the table. “Sit down and enjoy your lunch.”

“Thank you, I will.” Suddenly starving, Tiana settled her
butt on the chair and took a healthy bite. She ate for a few blissful moments.
The bread was fresh-baked and toothsome, the meat real roasted fowl. Even the
pickle was crisp and cold. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the food.
The first half of her lunch was history when she patted her mouth with her
napkin. “The sandwich is amazing.”

“Glad you like it.”

“I’m Tiana.”

Marcia finished for her. “Tilly Bennett’s niece. She left
you the farm. The news arrived two minutes after you exited from Morton’s.”

“Good, I’m already tired of explaining what I’m doing here.
Is everyone a native? Most of residents act as if they’d never met a newcomer.”

“New folks are a novelty around here. Residents live
forever. When they die their homes usually go to family already living here.”

“I don’t actually remember much from that time, but I
visited Aunt Tilly a couple of summers when I was a kid. Do I win any native
points for childhood visits?”

“Sorry.” Marcia’s mouth curved as she shook her head.

“Yours is the first friendly face I’ve seen in town. Don’t
just stand there watching me eat, sit down and keep me company. You can start
by giving me the scoop on the bitchy blonde and the cute guy.”

Marcia grinned and Tiana knew she’d made a friend. “Thought
you’d never ask, let me get a drink.”

Seconds later, Marcia set down iced tea, a plate with two
giant blondies and pulled over an extra chair. She sat and propped her sneakers
on the spare seat, rotating her ankles with a groan. “Better. Starting the
baking at four in the morning has my feet ready to quit by two. Officially the
café closes at two thirty, but it never happens, kicking out paying customers
isn’t good for business.”

Tiana set down the second half of the sandwich. “Beginning
work before the sun comes up is brutal. You’re an amazing waitress. Tell the
owner to find someone else to do the baking.”

“An excellent plan, except I own the joint.”

“A slight snag. I’ll need to give the problem more thought.”
Tiana’s mouth watered for a blondie. She nudged her plate aside. “Are those
peanut free?”

“They are. Most of my stuff is.”

Tiana helped herself to one of the treats and took a bite.
They were even better than the slices of heaven Lynda had shared. “You’re a genius.”

“Thanks. You’re allergic to peanuts?”

“I am. At least pecans aren’t an issue, now that would’ve
been a tragedy.”

The front door tinkled and Liam stuck his head through the
opening. “Hi, Tiana.”

Even through his sunglasses, she felt the intensity of his
perusal from across the café. An instant flare of heat raced up her neck. Since
she’d just taken a bite of the blondie, she chewed and waved.

“Any chance I can get a coffee?” he asked Marcia.

Without moving anything other than her head, Marcia called
toward the back. “Customer, Cher.”

“We’re closed.” Cher scowled, lashing at the floor with a
wet mop. She caught sight of Liam and parked the mop against the wall, twisting
her hands anxiously in her apron. “Sorry, what can I fix for you?”

“Iced mocha and some brownies, please.”

Aviator glasses hid his eyes. Just as well, watching his
sensual mouth and hearing his deep drawl had already started Tiana’s own
personal core meltdown. She felt her cheeks grow hotter.

“Right away.” Cher whirled to deal with the metal monster
that produced the exotic coffee concoctions.

He swiveled, ambled over and lowered his shades to focus on
Tiana. His gaze swept over her, raising her internal temperature higher.

“Hi, Marcia.” His attention didn’t waver from Tiana.

“Always a pleasure, Liam. I take it you’ve met Tiana?”

“Uh-huh.” His voice deepened.

Tiana’s gaze tangled with his and her breath caught. For a
long moment she simply stared into his dark eyes, which promised all kinds of
sinful delights.

The blonde Amazon stepped back into the shop, breaking the
dangerous spell. “Did I leave my biscotti?” She scanned the counter, turned to
Liam and widened her eyes in obvious fake surprise. “Hello, stranger.”

Instantly Tiana was on alert. Heather had mentioned Liam
topping a full-figured blonde submissive.
Hello, competition
.

“Hi, Ashley.”

“I haven’t seen much of you lately.” Her sticky alto grew
deeper and warmer.

“You don’t want to keep Harvey waiting.” Liam’s focus never
left Tiana.

She sidled closer with an arch expression. Tiana was willing
to bet the Amazon practiced her come-hither glances in front of her bathroom
mirror.

“Jealous?” She’d lowered her voice to a sultry purr.

“No.” Liam asked Tiana, “You heading home after this?”

“Uh-huh.” She swallowed an urge to add Master Liam.

“Here’s your coffee,” Cher called, gifting Liam with a shy
smile and flashing a gleam of braces.

The interruption broke the intensity of his focus on Tiana.

“Thanks.” He crossed to the counter, paid Cher for his order
and stuffed money in the tip jar. On his way out of the café, he dipped his
chin to Tiana. “Later.”

She murmured something in response that had to be
incomprehensible, because she had no idea what she’d said.

The blonde fluffed her hair and trotted after him,
impressive breasts bouncing.

An awkward silence thickened in the small café. The splash
from Cher refilling the espresso machine’s reservoir with purified water
startled Tiana.

Marcia waved toward the door. “Keep an eye out for a
navy-blue, banged-up Jeep. Ashley is going to be looking to take a chunk out of
your hide. This is something she takes pride in doing on a regular basis. The
habit doesn’t make her popular around here, but she doesn’t seem to mind.”

“Does she have some claim on Liam?” Tiana asked, thinking
about the recurring menace of dark-blue Jeeps in her life.

“They’re not married or engaged, but they’ve had an affair
going off and on for the last six years, ever since she moved back to town.”

“They’re not together now.” Tiana’s rising inflection made
the statement uncertain.

Marcia narrowed her gaze at Tiana. “You’re right. Your turn,
tell me what’s happening between you and Liam. There was more promise than I’ve
ever heard from him in that
later
.”

“He’s a neighbor.”

Marcia nudged the blondies out of reach. “I have ways and means
of getting answers and I will use them.”

“He’s stopped by the house a couple of times. I’ve ridden at
his place.” Tiana glanced away and added, “He’s just being friendly.”

“Try telling it to somebody a whole lot more naïve.”

A fresh flush raced up Tiana’s neck at Marcia’s skepticism.
“Liam is just so—”

“Fine-looking? Incredibly sexy? Hot enough to melt icebergs?
I hadn’t noticed. When did he first happen to stop by? How often have you seen
him and just exactly how well do you know him?”

Tiana waved an arm to dismiss the entire inquisition. “I
don’t know him well at all.” Her voice lowered. “Nowhere near as well as I’d
like, but I doubt that makes me one of your special cupcakes. Just look at the
man. I’m only human.”

“You’re right, lots of members in the damp-panties-for-Liam
fan club.”

“I can’t believe you said that.” Tiana gasped with
exaggerated shock.

Marcia snorted. “Please, it’s perfectly true. You’re still
much better off staying far away from him. In theory he’s eligible, but that
means nothing. The man is not long-term relationship material.”

“You’re giving me new reasons to be interested. I love a
challenge.”

Marcia’s expression didn’t lighten, so Tiana squeezed her
hand. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything silly. I’m not ready for
serious.”

“Be careful with him. The expression cold feet doesn’t begin
to describe his commitment issues.”

“Is there a history between you two I should know about?”

“Did you see him ask me for anything except coffee? That’s
how it’s always been.” Doubts clouded Marcia’s lovely green eyes. “Ashley’s
been scheming on how to change her last name to Sterling for years.”

“Good for her. I’m not interested in anything permanent.
Perhaps I’ll make a nice change of pace for him.”

Marcia crossed her arms in disapproval. “I’m not blaming you
for looking. All the Sterling men make fine scenery.”

“Do you know all of them?”

“Yeah, but Liam is the only one actually living here unless
you want to count cousins too young to be legal. His brother Kyle is away at
school, Cam too. Their cousin Sam stays in town, when he’s not running a crew.”

“Oarsmen?”

Marcia laughed a lot harder than the question merited. When
she’d wiped her eyes, she said, “Construction crew.”

“I know about those, my brother runs one.”

“The entire Sterling family is involved in the business.”

“Liam hasn’t said much about his family.”

“Why would he? Sterling Enterprises, Sterling Savings and
Loan, Sterling Park—am I ringing any bells?”

“Right.”

“For all intents and purposes, this place belongs to Liam.”

“Fine with me. It’s not like I have plans to take over the
fuel depot or Morton’s Market.” Tiana laughed.

“I didn’t mean to imply he owns every business or even all
the real estate. Just don’t trust him too far, okay?”

“Warning duly noted. What makes him such a big deal?”

Marcia stood, grabbed a cloth and began wiping down clean
tables. “Aside from owning most of this mountain?”

“Yes.”

“The Sterlings run this town. They have for years. They pay
well, but it’s not just the jobs they provide both directly and indirectly. The
clinic couldn’t afford a full-time doc, so Liam donated the funds to attract a
real MD. The bank his father started still finances most local businesses and
homes. The other day the school failed to raise the money for the new roof they
needed. Liam wrote a check for the difference. Everyone around here owes the
Sterling family in one way or another.”