Romancing Redemption by Bonnie R. Paulson

Author:Bonnie R. Paulson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: western romance, standalone, cowboy, cowgirl, independence, redemption, clean romance, clearwater county
Publisher: Captiva Publishing
Published: 2019-05-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

THE SALT AND PEPPER shakers hadn’t been cleaned in almost a week.

Rosie rubbed and rubbed at the greasy glass in disgust. Coming in early often had its perks. Usually she could sit in the back and read while waiting for customers to show up. But arriving before her shift that day had been asking for punishment.

As soon as she’d walked through the door Tom had pointed at the shakers and asked her to clean them before the rush. That was an hour ago. There didn’t seem to be an end in sight and no rush of customers to bring her relief.

“What did those poor things ever do to you?” Michael’s low rough voice banished her irritation at the menial chore.

She glanced up, meeting his dark eyes with wonder. He’d sought her out. Or had he? “Nothing, except have the audacity to get dirty. Can I get you a table?”

He slid into the booth across from where Tom had stationed her. “I think this will work. If that’s okay with you?” His eyebrow lifted as if in challenge... or maybe invitation?

“Of course.” Heat rose to her cheeks. “I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to apologize for how things ended yesterday. I’m going through some tough things that I didn’t mean to drop you with. You’re...” She cleared her throat and wiped at a new pepper shaker. “Um, don’t you work somewhere?”

Dropping the glass bottle, she covered her mouth with her hand. Eyes wide, she shook her head. “I’m so sorry. Again. I didn’t mean that the way it came out. I just...” Well, he’d leave for sure. What was she thinking? Come on, Rosie, get it together.

And how could she just sit there calmly with him while Phillip loitered somewhere, with the task of killing them on his mind?

Chuckling, Michael leaned back in the vinyl-covered seat. “I didn’t take it bad. Yes, I do work out at Lacey Caverns. I’m just finishing up my two day break. I have an appointment with Mr. James this evening. You wouldn’t happen to have any time off coming up, would you?”

How could he be so calm while Rosie sat across from him wanting to shriek with joy? No, so she wasn’t interested in getting him killed, but how could she not delight in the fact that he wanted to see more of her? Especially when she couldn’t think of anything else but him?

The tingles and excitement riddling her when she was around the confident and steady Michael increased her emotional connection a thousand-fold.

She set the shaker to the side slowly as if contemplating his question.

His firm lips spread wider, displaying even, white teeth. “Are you playing coy with me?”

“Not a lot, but maybe a little. Okay, my turn to tease. I have to work until seven most nights. But where would you take me? Here? I work here.” She turned her head enough to peek at him from the corner of her eye. “You’re funny.”

“Not here. We could drive the few hours to Missoula or go north to Kalispell.

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