Logan shook his head.
“Ignore my mom. She loves theatrics.” Greg grinned.
“Was she ever in law enforcement?” Logan couldn’t resist asking. His voice held a trace of amusement as he drank from his cup of coffee.
Greg paused for a minute and roared with laughter. “I take it she tried to get your life story when you checked in.”
“She did. She was good too.”
“I bet she was, and no, she’s never worked in law enforcement. But she does spend all her spare time watching re-runs of Murder She Wrote. She imagines everyone has something to hide.”
“Well, she’ll be disappointed to discover that I’m boring.”
“Here you go.” Adele placed his breakfast in front of him just as his stomach rumbled. “And a fine young man like yourself isn’t boring. I’m sure there’s something that I can uncover.” She winked, and walked away.
Logan shook his head at the spirit of the woman, and started to eat his breakfast while Greg seemed happy enough to just sit and keep him company.
Greg was around his own age, and, with his over long blond hair and whisker-covered jaw, would probably be a hit with the ladies. A wedding band was missing, but that didn’t mean anything with a guy, although, if Logan were married, he’d be sure to wear his ring. He’d want the world to know that he was married to the woman he loved. Emma.
“You married?”
Greg laughed. “More blunt than my mother, she has a subtleness about her that catches most people unaware. And the answer is no. Never. You?”
“Never.” But he hoped to be in the near future.
“There aren’t that many single girls around here. Usually when they get to a certain age, they leave for college and don’t bother coming back.” He shrugged. “There is one special lady, but she’s damn stubborn.”
“Aren’t all women stubborn?” Logan shoveled the hash browns into his mouth, and savored the taste. They were delicious. In fact, the breakfast was an experience, and it was obvious that whoever cooked was proud of the food they made.
“They are, but this one is…well, she’s giving me the run around.” Greg leaned in close. “We had a couple of nights together and now she’s not interested. If you ask me, her mom has said something to her. Her mom had a bad fall a while back and is still struggling to get back on her feet, which is why Anna came home.”
“Have you asked her what’s going on?” Logan asked, and wondered why he couldn’t keep his mouth shut instead of sounding like a girl. Guys did
n’t shoot that shit, right?
“I will. Let’s get back to you.” Greg smirked, and Logan realized he caught him. He’d been avoiding talking about himself. “A man who looks like he belongs in the military suddenly arrives in town, and doesn’t know how long he’s planning on staying. I’m curious. I told my mom to leave it alone, but I have you pegged. You are a soldier or recently out.” He raised a questioning brow.
Logan nodded. “Current.”
“Hmm, so what are you doing in our small town?”
Logan stayed silent.
“I’m guessing you don’t have family around here because you’d be staying with them.”
“Correct.”
Greg chuckled. “I’ll find out. I always do.”
“Not until I’m ready for anyone to know.” Logan pushed his empty plate slightly away from him, and drained his cup of coffee. “Thank you for keeping me company over breakfast.” He stood. “Tell your mom that was the best cooked breakfast I’ve had, and I’ll see you around.”
He patted the guy on the shoulder on his way past to let him know that he wasn’t offended by his questions.
He was impatient to start his day, and needed to find a way of getting out to the farm where Emma lived.
Over breakfast, he’d been tempted to ask Greg about the Kellers, but that would tip his hand as to why he was in town. The last thing he needed was for word to get back to Emma that a soldier was in town asking about her family before he’d had the chance to talk to her himself…if he decided to approach her. He knew more than anyone did about her, except what she really looked like or felt like to the touch.
The weather had let up some, but Logan had been advised not to venture out in his truck until the main roads had finished being cleared. Apparently, the locals didn’t listen to this advice because there were people about, and some appeared to be doing last minute Christmas shopping. One or two women that he’d watched while he drank more coffee had come out of a couple of the stores with neatly wrapped presents under their arms.