Page 30 of Spiritwarrior (The Colemans’ Legacy #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

C losing the drawer of the cash register, Sophie glanced out the window and saw Greer coming out of the sheriff’s office. Curiosity held her in place when he walked to the side of the building, heading toward the parking lot. As he passed a car parked on the side of the road, he stopped and looked at it, bending down to examine the front tire. Rising to his feet, Greer went to his squad car and took something out of his trunk. Then he returned to the other car, and she saw he was filling the tire with air.

“What are you looking at?”

Sophie turned at Ginny’s question.

“Nothing. Just being nosy.”

Ginny smiled. “My favorite hobby. I didn’t realize how much I missed interacting with people until I started helping out here.”

“I don’t know how I would have managed without yours and Jody’s help. I talked to my parents and finally told them the situation here, like Gavin advised me to do yesterday. They decided they are still going to come here. They don’t want me to be alone.”

“I’m glad they’re coming. I know you’ve missed them.”

“I have.” She frowned. “I’m still worried, but I’m hoping that I’ve seen the last of Marty’s friends.”

Ginny grimaced. “Me, too.”

“The good news is when they get here, Jody and you won’t have to help out anymore.”

Ginny’s hands went to her hips. “You’re going to ditch me?”

Sophie could only gape at her. “I’m sure you have better stuff to do with your time.”

“You’re not going to get rid of me that easily. You’re going to need a day off. You can’t work around the clock, and I enjoy working here. I wouldn’t even mind coming in a couple of days a week. You’re going to need a life outside of the restaurant.”

Folding her arms over her chest, Sophie stared Ginny down. “I know who you are, so why on earth would you rather be working here than being on a stage somewhere?”

“Because I enjoy working here. I hate performing.”

Sophie didn’t know how to respond to that. “Okay … but if you get tired of it, just let me know. My feelings won’t be hurt. Plus, I have enough to pay you, so you won’t be working here for free anymore.”

“I don’t need the money. You can just give my wages to Logan.”

“You’re very kind, Ginny.”

The door opening had both of them looking to see a woman enter. She gazed around the restaurant, and Sophie saw the expression on her face when she spotted Jody. The woman waved at Jody before taking a seat at one of the tables. Glumly, she straightened the condiment holder.

“I’m going to go bankrupt when Jody stops working here.”

Ginny chuckled. “The ladies do love him.”

“I wouldn’t call them ladies with the way they act around him.”

Dodging Ginny’s amused gaze, she went to greet the customer, but Jody beat her to it.

“Hey, Jody,” Sophie heard the woman practically purr as he approached her table.

Ginny rolling her eyes showed she wasn’t the only one thinking that way.

“I need to find something to do in the kitchen before I gag.”

A customer coming to pay kept her from escaping with Ginny. Staying behind the counter, she was treated to a birds-eye view of the woman flirting with Jody.

She wanted nothing more than to find Jody something else to do in the restaurant until the woman left, yet she didn’t do a thing. Several times yesterday and today, she had used the play to keep him away from the various women who had come to the restaurant just to see him. She had passed irritated by ten this morning, and it wasn’t even lunchtime yet.

Cool it , she told herself. What did it matter to her who flirted with Jody or if he flirted back?

Glancing at the wall clock, she counted how long Jody talked to the customer—six minutes. What was taking him so long to get her order?

Unable to resist glancing in their direction again, she saw the woman had placed her arm on the table and was sitting forward, her breasts resting on her arm.

Coming around the counter, she walked to an empty table where Logan had just removed the dirty dishes. She wiped the table down with a sanitizing cloth and was given the same view as Jody. Picking the cloth up in her hand, she strode back behind the counter to place it in the disinfecting solution.

She went to the glasses and filled one with ice and water before walking to the table where Jody stood.

“Jody, you should at least get your friend something to drink. With all the talking she’s doing, she must be parched.” Sophie met the woman’s assessing gaze unwaveringly.

“Sorry,” he apologized. “Chastity runs the children’s boutique in town. She was asking me to tell Ginny and Alanna that she received a new shipment of clothes.”

“I’m sure Ginny will be happy to hear that. Why don’t you go tell her so she can come talk to her about them?”

“Sure.”

Sophie didn’t move away from the table. “Can I get you anything?”

“I’ll take a salad to go. I’m afraid I’ve used too much of my lunchtime to eat it here.”

“Which salad would you like?”

“Whichever is easiest for you to make. I’m flexible.”

I bet you are , Sophie thought snidely.

Fortunately, Ginny reached the table.

She went to the kitchen to make a wedge salad in a carryout container, closing it when she was done. Dipping some blue cheese dressing into two small containers, she placed lids on them, grabbed a plastic bag, and carried it all to the woman’s table, where she set them down.

Jody had made his way back to the table, joining the conversation with Ginny and Chastity.

“Here you go.” Sophie gave her a smile. “Do you want to check it before I place it in the bag?”

The woman waved her away. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

It was the snotty way she talked to her that sent Sophie over the edge. Finding the opening of the plastic bag, Sophie shook it open, accidently knocking the still full glass of water over.

“You moron!” the woman hissed, standing up. Her beige silk top was soaked, as were the beige pants.

“I’m so sorry!” Sophie apologized insincerely. “At least it’s just water. Your clothes should dry in no time.”

“I’ll get a towel.” Helpfully, Ginny took off toward the counter.

Sophie was proud of herself until Chastity unbuttoned two more buttons on her blouse, exposing the lacy cups of her bra and the generous swells of her breasts to pluck several ice cubes out. Giving Jody a side eye, Sophie saw he was enjoying the view.

She maintained her composure and managed to hold it together as Ginny handed Chastity the towel and she jerked it out of her hand.

Sophie was moving before she realized what she was doing. She jerked it out of Chastity’s hand just as rudely as she had done to Ginny. Smacking her in the chest with the towel, Sophie rubbed her chest roughly with it while at the same time pushing her back down into the chair. Chastity franticly tried to take the towel away.

“Ow, that hurts!”

Sophie removed the towel. “Sorry, I just didn’t want you to catch a chill. I apologize for spilling the water. Of course, the salad is on the house.”

Chastity shot up from the chair. “Keep the damn salad,” she spat out, grabbing her purse and storming out.

Unconcerned, Sophie watched her leave. Then, picking up the salad and the glass, she turned to put them in the bus bin. Jody, Ginny, and Logan were all standing there, staring at her.

“What?” She frowned at the mixture of emotions on their faces.

Ginny started laughing so hard she had to sit down, Logan took the towel to wipe up the water that had spilled with a wide grin on his face, and Jody looked dumbfounded.

Sophie took off toward the cleaning area then stopped to glare at Jody. “You might want to warn your friends that the next time I see them flashing their tits at you, they will be escorted out of the restaurant.”

“To be fair, she wasn’t flashing them until you dropped the water on her.”

Sophie stared at Jody through slitted eyes. He was smart enough to take a step back.

“She was acting like she was on fire, so I put her ass out.”