Saxon's Soul (Haven, Texas 5)

How had he known she would be working this morning? Or that she hadn’t needed it for work yesterday.

“So would you care to tell me who gave you a ride to work? Because you know what’s going to happen if I found out you hitched a ride or walked.”

Right. Like she would forget his promise to turn her over his knee. She really didn’t want to tell him the truth. Because she knew what his reaction would be.

She cleared her throat. “Hannah gave me a ride,” she lied. Time to change the subject. “Matt wouldn’t let me pay him. He said you told him to send the bill to you.”

“I did.”

She couldn’t be indebted to him. It wouldn’t be right. “I’ll pay you back.”

He nodded. “You are welcome to do so.”

She opened her mouth to argue then realized he was agreeing with her. “Well . . . all right then.”

“Good. Now, would you like that tour?”

She gulped. Nerves jumped in her stomach, and she shook her head frantically. “Uh, no. I have to get back to work. I’m on my lunch break.

He nodded. “All right. This was a good chat. Oh, and Aspen?”

She turned back as he called out to her. “Yes?”

“Make sure you actually eat some lunch, all right?”

The door was shut before she could answer him. She shook her head. He was a strange man. Just when she thought she was beginning to understand him he did something that surprised her.

She’d been expecting a fight when she told him she’d pay him back and now she had to figure out how to do that.

By the time she returned to the diner, she was starting to feel bad. Sure, he was arrogant and thought he was always right. But he’d been trying to help and he hadn’t meant to give her a fright.

She sighed. And she’d gone there full of fury and yelled at him. Well, she wasn’t sure s

he’d yelled. It would take a brave person to raise their voice to Joel Saxon. Or a stupid one. Considering the way she’d just spoken to him, she was starting to believe she could be the latter.

She ran her hand over her face as she pulled on her apron.

“Hey, honey, you have time for any lunch?” Peggy asked, walking out back.

Aspen smiled tiredly. Exhaustion weighed her down. Despite having yesterday off she didn’t feel rested. Mind you, taking care of two small people wasn’t exactly a day off. Not that she’d change that for the world. Those boys were everything to her.

“I’m fine. I’m due back on in five.”

Peggy eyed her sharply. The older woman didn’t miss much. She didn’t take any bullshit either. Aspen had learned that early on and she appreciated it. She’d worked for plenty of scumbags in her time who were only too eager to take advantage of a young girl on her own. Peggy was firm but fair.

“That means you’ve still got five minutes. Go and make yourself a sandwich. You can eat it before you go out there.”

She shook her head. “It will make me late.”

“I’ll cover you.”

She bit her lip, hesitating.

Peggy shoed her with her hand. “Good Lord, missy, I haven’t worked this hard to get someone to eat since my boy was a young’un. Get, will you? And I don’t want any arguments.”

She smiled. “Do you want some pies baked later?”

“You got time or you got to get home to those boys?”