Front Page Love by Paige Lee Elliston

Author:Paige Lee Elliston [Paige Lee Elliston]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781441239242
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

A dozen or more pickups, cars, and a couple of SUVs were pulled to the long curb that fronted Drago’s on Main Street. The street itself was littered with the detritus of the storm. A large sheet of plywood hung from the few nails that still held it to the frame of the front window of a defunct book and music store. The tumbleweeds had found their way to Coldwater as well and were as ubiquitous as pedestrians and shoppers used to be. One scudded by, broomed along by the breeze that had just arisen, as Danny, Julie, and Sunday climbed out of the truck. They watched it until it stopped against the rear wheel of an old Chevrolet Blazer.

Danny left the collie out in front on the sidewalk with a stay command. The front door to Drago’s was cracked vertically for almost its full length. Duct tape had been applied from the inside. The aroma of broiling hamburgers, onions, and strong coffee filled the diner. Julie took a booth and waved to a few friends, while Danny waited at the counter. He asked for three raw burgers and a soup bowl of cold water. When his order had been filled he took the paper plate and the water back outside to his dog, crouched, scratched Sunday for a moment, and returned to the restaurant. He ordered three hamburgers—cooked, this time—two plates of French fries, two coffees, an order of onion rings, and two large soft drinks.

Danny had been right about the attire and degree of cleanliness of the patrons at the diner, Julie noticed. Men and women were grubby, sweaty, and tired. They slouched in their chairs and in the booths like weary soldiers after a long, hard march. The level of conversation was subdued, but every so often short bursts of laughter rang out, and the person laughing invariably looked embarrassed when Julie’s eyes found him or her.

She watched Danny standing at the counter as he waited for their order. With this much of a crowd it was quicker to wait at the counter than to wait for a harried waitress to make the trip to a booth or table.

A complex man—and a good man. But in the past it’s always seemed like something was holding him back from becoming really close. Am I certain that there’s no one else in his life, no other romantic interest?

“Hey, Julie—I see you survived the storm.”

Julie pulled her gaze away from Danny, slightly flustered for a moment. Ken Townsend stood at the booth, looking down at her, his teeth white against the tan of his face. He was dressed in jeans, boots, and a sleeveless sweatshirt with a washed-out picture of Daffy Duck on its front.

“I imagine you’ve been busy today, Ken,” she said.

He nodded. “May I?” He motioned to the bench seat across from Julie.

“Sure. I’m with Danny Pulver—he’s getting our food. Do you know him?”

“I know the name, but we haven’t met yet. He’s the vet, right? He owns that beautiful collie I saw outside?”

“That’s Danny,” Julie said.

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