A Taste of Paradise

Nate didn’t need to be reminded of how he’d been scraping together every dime he had to be able to bid on his old homestead.

“I don’t think I’d do well on tips,” he joked. “I’ve given too many people around here tickets. No, I have someone else in mind. What do you think about hiring Tori?”

Sam cocked an eyebrow.

“It seems her credit card got declined. She’s stranded here.”

Sam shook his head. “They see you coming, don’t they? The soft touch.”

So he’d helped a few people and gotten a reputation. “Hey, I just figured since you needed a waitress and Tori needs a job, that it would be good for the both of you. But if you’re not interested…”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t interested. How do I know she’s reliable?”

“You don’t,” Nate answered. “You’ll have to take a chance. But what other choice do you have? There hasn’t been anyone else willing to work here.” Nate wasn’t sure that Tori wanted the job, either. “So, how ’bout it?”

Before Sam could answer, the woman in question walked through the door. She saw them at the counter and with her shoulders squared, she came toward them. “Sam, do you have a pay phone I can use?”

“In back, next to the rest rooms.”

Nate waited until she walked off. “Well, do you want a waitress or not?”

Sam breathed a long sigh. “I guess I could give her a try.”

Nate wasn’t finished, and he wondered if his next favor would push their friendship too far. “What do you say about letting Tori stay in the room upstairs?”

Sam didn’t say a word for a long time, then grinned. “Man, she’s really gotten to you. Sure, why not? If anything, I’d like to have her hang around just to see what develops between the two of you.”

Nate got up. “Nothing. I’d do the same for anyone.”

“I know. That’s your problem, Nate. You give to everyone. When are you going to learn to take?”

Nate froze. He’d learned all right. And he’d been paying for his selfishness ever since. “I will when I get the ranch back.”

Tori stood in front of the black pay phone for a long time. She didn’t want to call her father, but what choice did she have now? If she had thought this through before leaving town she wouldn’t be in this mess. She didn’t have her ATM card with her, and besides she was already sharing a joint account with Jed. The one credit card that had been in her small evening bag was the corporate one. Her other bank cards were at home and there was no way to get to them. And if she called the credit card company it would take too long to issue her a new one. So she had no choice but to call J.C. She had picked up the phone and begun to dial when she heard her name called out.

She turned to see Nate Hunter walking toward her. His large frame easily filled the narrow hallway. He looked intimidating in his khaki sheriff’s uniform, but his authoritative demeanor actually made her feel safe.

“I think I may have a solution to your problem,” he said.

It would take a lot to solve her problems, but she hung up the phone. “Did you find a bag of money in my car?”

He smiled and tiny lines crinkled around his silver eyes. Her stomach suddenly did a somersault. She doubted it had anything to do with being hungry.

“I wish. As he mentioned before, Sam needs a waitress for the morning shift.”

Tori blinked. A waitress? She’d never waited tables. “I don’t have any experience.”

“Sam’s willing to give you a try. And I hear the tips are pretty good.”

Tori felt her insecurities surface but she pushed them aside. Heck, she’d never worked for anyone besides her father. Waitressing had to be easier than working for J.C. “It sounds wonderful, and thank you, Sheriff.”

“Please, call me Nate.”

“Thank you, Nate, but I don’t have a place to stay and no money…”

“That’s not a problem, either.” His smile widened into a grin and she could barely manage her next breath. What was wrong with her? Just days ago she had planned to marry Jed.

“If you’re not too particular about the decor,” he began, “Sam says you can stay in the room upstairs. Then you can work and save up enough money to pay Ernie for your car and parts. I’m sure he’ll let you make payments.”

Tori had trouble handling all this kindness, these people who would accept a stranger into their town, into their homes. She blinked back tears of emotion. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I think yes is a good start.”

“Yes, I’ll do it. I don’t know how I’ll repay you.”

The sheriff stepped closer. “I can think of one way.”

She managed to swallow the dryness in her throat, almost afraid to ask. “What is that?”

“Let me drive your car once it’s fixed.”

She found herself laughing for the first time in days. “You got yourself a deal. And Sam’s got himself a waitress.”

Chapter Two

Fighting back a gasp, Tori glanced around her temporary home. The sheriff hadn’t lied when he’d said the room wasn’t much to look at. The walls were dingy beige and the floor was a worn vinyl covered partly by a mud-brown throw rug. At least there was a bed, or more accurately a frame and mattress.

Next to the only window sat a scarred dresser layered with several coats of paint, the last a pea-green. Along the far wall were several boxes labeled as restaurant supplies.

“What have I gotten myself into?” she breathed as she eyed the mass of cobwebs along the ceiling. Just then her appraisal was interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

With a loud knock, Nate Hunter walked through the door. He nodded in greeting and held up her small suitcase. “I thought you might need this.”

Tori doubted her honeymoon trousseau would be practical for her stay in Haven. She blushed, recalling the skimpy silk-and-satin unmentionables that filled the bag, guaranteed to lure any man into her bed. Just days ago, Tori had had plans to seduce her new husband in the tropical island of Kauai, Hawaii.

Now, the only ideas she had for her ex-fiancé could get her arrested. And Jed wasn’t worth it. Tori bit back her anger and smiled at the sheriff. “Thank you. It’s not much, but it’s all I have.” With her quick departure and limited funds, she’d only managed a little clothes shopping at the discount stores.

“You’re welcome.” He glanced around the room. “Oh, boy, it’s worse than I remembered.”

Tori wanted to agree, but she was too grateful to have a place to stay.

“It’s fine,” she said. “Really, this is all I need. Besides, Sam has been nice enough to let me stay here. With a little cleaning…”

“It will still look bad,” Nate said ruefully.

Tori remained silent as she glanced inside the tiny bathroom that contained a stall shower, sink and toilet. She grimaced at the thought of the last time it had been cleaned.

Get a grip, girl. Tori looked back at the sheriff. “Like I said, a good cleaning and this will do just fine.”