Page 11 of The Enforcer

“I know,” Carina agreed with another sad smile. “Why do you think I’m dragging my happy ass through Kentucky?”

Chapter Four

Garnet County

So, there was Kentucky country.

And then there was Garnet country.

The latter was much more country than Brianna had anticipated. She wasn’t real sure how Tino, the original New Yorker, had survived here for almost three years.

She was sort of horrified.

Carina, of course, was predictably enamored with it since the small town was new and shiny and completely different from what she was used to. So because of that, they ended up in an old-fashioned diner in what Brianna assumed was the midtown of Garnet.

Carina unrolled her silverware and fidgeted with putting it in place as their waitress walked up.

“Hi, my name’s Nancy. I can take your order if you’re ready. Sorry for the delay. We’re on a light crew. They’re having a party down at the cellar.” The waitress put waters in front of them. “Where are y’all from?”

“New York,” Brianna said as she studied the menu. “Can I just have a salad? Maybe with grilled chicken and some lemon juice.”

“Order real food,” Carina snapped. “You’re gonna lose your job anyway.”

“Oh, thank you, Carina.” Brianna glared over the edge of her menu. “’Cause my nerves aren’t already frayed.”

“I think I want fried chicken and biscuits and gravy.” Carina looked up at Nancy with a smile, because Carina was one of those irritating women who could eat whatever she wanted and still have a body to die for. “Is it really good? Like sinfully good? Better than sex?”

“It’s so good,” Nancy assured her. “You know, we got some fellas here who’re from New York.”

“No kidding,” Carina said conversationally, her eyes wide in mock surprise. “What’re they’re names? Maybe we know them?”

“That would be a coincidence.” The waitress laughed. “Romeo Wellings. He’s famous. He used to be a big deal in MMA.”

“Wellings.” Carina looked at the ceiling, as if rolling it over in her mind. “He sounds sorta uptight. Probably not my kinda crew.”

“He’s got a brother, Tino Moretti. He’s a fighter too.”

“Oh, well, with a last name like that, he’s probably unnaturally good-looking and charming.” Carina batted long eyelashes at the waitress. “I heard things about Morettis.”

“Honestly, heisone to look at.” The waitress giggled. “You don’t even know.”

“She’s messing with you. We actually know them,” Brianna said as all the fine hairs on her arm stood on end in long-dormant jealousy she didn’t like at all. “She’s Tino’s sister.”

“No kidding?” The waitress stared at Carina in surprise, her light eyes narrowing critically. “You do look like the other one. What’s his name? He stops by sometimes and—”

Brianna laughed. “Nova?”

“That’s him,” the waitress agreed as she looked at Carina again. “I can see the family resemblance.”

“Annoying,” Carina mumbled under her breath as she went back to looking at her menu. “Yeah, I want the fried-chicken-biscuits-gravy thing that’s the special. I need it after that.”

“I wantgrilledchicken,” Brianna said as she handed the menu back. “With a side salad. Olive oil and vinegar is fine. Lemon if you have it.”

“Do you want mashed potatoes with your chicken?”

“What’s your vegetable?” Brianna asked with a wince.

The waitress raised her eyebrows. “Mashed potatoes.”