Page 24 of Spiritwarrior (The Colemans’ Legacy #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

S ophie was heartened by the couple of customers waiting in their cars and the six waiting by the door as Jody and she arrived at the restaurant.

As she set her purse under the counter, she received a text.

Jody, who was already behind the counter, looked at her quizzically as she read the message.

“Ginny said she won’t be able to work today. Freddie woke up with a sick stomach, and she doesn’t think it’s wise to come here until she makes sure it isn’t contagious,” she said, reading the text off to him.

“Smart move. I’m not anxious to share that with my nephew.”

“Me neither.” Setting her phone down, she reached for her apron in preparation to go to the kitchen.

“Why don’t you let me handle the food today, and you wait the tables? That way, I can make the cinnamon rolls.”

“You know how to cook?”

“Silas made sure we can cook to pitch in when needed. Go take care of the customers. I promise I won’t poison anyone.”

She made a face at him but didn’t argue. She hated cooking, and he couldn’t do worse than George, nor her. Ginny had been doing the majority of the cooking, so she was more than happy to turn it over to him.

The morning ran smoothly with Jody working the grill, making breakfast. After serving a large table, she went back to the kitchen to Jody saying something. “What’s that?” she asked, thinking he heard her come in.

“Oh, nothing.” He shrugged her off. “Did you need something?”

“No, I’m just very impressed,” she complimented him. “Will you be able to do lunch, too?”

“Hamburgers are my third specialty,” he boasted. “Were you able to taste the cinnamon rolls?”

“They sold out before I could.”

Jody pulled a plate out of the microwave. “I had an idea you would. I saved you one.”

He watched as Sophie picked up the cinnamon roll. Grinning when her eyes nearly rolled back, he felt his body surge with lust when she licked a dollop of frosting from the corner of her mouth.

“Jody, these are fantastic!”

He leaned forward, intent on kissing her, when the sound of the bell ringing over the door had him groaning.

“I know, right?” She scrunched up her nose. “That bell is getting on my nerves, too.”

Jody peeked through the kitchen window to see who had come into the restaurant. His jaw clenched. It was Joel, who gave her a flirtatious smile as he sat at the front counter.

“I’m all out of cupcakes.” Jody heard her apologize to him.

“That’s okay. I’ll just take a cup of coffee to go.”

“You just missed getting one of Jody’s cinnamon rolls,” Sophie told him as she poured his coffee.

“I did? Jody made cinnamon rolls for you to sell?”

Jody met Joel’s eyes as he talked to Sophie.

“Yes, he did,” Sophie enthused.

“Damn. I’m sorry I missed tasting one. He usually makes it for women he’s …” Jody seemed to be thinking of a polite way to describe the relationship he shared with the women he made the rolls for. “Seeing.”

“Oh.”

Jody could tell she was at a loss for words. Fortunately, he didn’t have the same problem. Swinging the kitchen door open, he moved toward the counter.

“Hey, Joel. Good to see you.”

“Jody. How are you doing?”

“Doing good. What can we get you?”

“Sophie’s taking care of me. I don’t have time to eat. I’m driving my sister to Louisville. My grandmother isn’t feeling well, so Sherree will be staying with her until she feels better.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she feels better soon.”

Jody had to restrain himself from leaping over the counter at the triumphant look he gave him. He had made his move, and Joel had countered him.

“Thanks. How much do I owe you, Sophie?”

“The coffee is on the house, Joel.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it. Jody, see you around.”

Jody nodded, letting Joel almost reach the door.

“Oh … Joel. Game on.”

Joel lifted two fingers to his forehead and gave him a sarcastic salute.

When he turned around, he saw Sophie staring at him curiously.

“What did that mean?”

“Joel plays games with Jacob and me. I was just reminding him that we have a game coming up.”

“I don’t know how guys get so into games.”

“Some more than others.”

He went back into the kitchen to start filling the orders for the large tables. After lunch, Jody saw the restaurant had emptied out. After washing his hands, he went to the front of the restaurant, where Sophie and Logan were cleaning tables.

“Sophie, where do you keep the light bulbs?”

“I’ll show you.”

Taking the dishes to the busing station, she went to the kitchen and showed him.

Reaching for them on the top shelf of the metal unit that held the restaurant supplies, he grabbed one of the bulbs then looked around the kitchen. “Where’s the step ladder?”

Sophie looked up at the ceiling where the bulb was out then went back to the metal unit.

“It was here yesterday, behind the paper cup box.”

Jody moved the box so they could clearly look behind it. “Could Ginny or Fynn have moved it?”

“Possibly, but I don’t see where.”

Sophie texted Fynn, Ginny, and asked Logan. None of them were aware of where it was.

“I suppose I could climb up on a chair,” she said.

“You won’t be tall enough to reach, and I don’t trust my weight on one of those chairs upfront—they are older than I am,” Jody joked. “Here, I have an idea.”

Handing her the light bulb, Jody placed his hands on her hips and lifted her toward the ceiling.

“What are you doing?” she sputtered.

“Letting you change the light bulb. Can you reach it?”

“Uh … yes, give me a second.”

Jody held her steady as she twisted out the burned-out bulb and screwed in the new one.

“Got it.” Her hand went to his shoulder.

Jody pulled her closer to him as he slowly slid her down until her eyes were level with his. “Good job.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He set her back down onto her feet. “Anytime. Glad to be of help.”

Jody narrowed his eyes on Sophie as she fled out of the kitchen, nearly colliding with Logan.

He placed the tub of dishes in the sink as Logan eyed him. “I could have sworn that ladder was there yesterday when I needed to refill the drink station.”

“Yeah.” Jody shrugged, beginning to load the dishwasher. “It’s probably misplaced. I’m sure it’ll show up.”

“I’m sure it will.”

Jody’s lips twitched at Logan’s ironic tone. “You going to tell on me?”

Logan looked at him speculatively. “No, I’m just surprised you didn’t use the opportunity to kiss her. That was what I thought you were going to do.”

“Ah … You should watch the original Star Wars .” Jody shook his head. “You have to time your first shot just right to get the explosion you want. That was a trial run. Watch and learn … young jedi.”