He turned his head toward her. “I’m not trying to tend to your business, Sky, but don’t let Cade’s Mr. Nice Guy façade fool you. He doesn’t like being told no, so be careful around him.”
“I will.” She gathered up her purse and unfastened the seat belt. “Thanks for playing taxi. I don’t think things will be very busy tonight, so I should be able to leave right at seven if not before.”
“Hold on.” He exited the truck and came around to help her out. “I’ll walk you in. The ground is slippery.”
She stood beside him and linked her arm with his, her breath forming a misty cloud around her mouth. “Ever the gentleman,” she said with a smile, then squealed lightly when her foot slipped on the ice. “Whoa!”
He steadied her as they walked to the shelter of the diner’s rusted awning. “I’ll see you about seven.”
She shivered and reached for the door handle. “Thanks again. I’ll see you tonight.”
Before he could say anything, she rushed inside.
He drove to the other side of the square and stopped in front of The Sassy Sash.
That coat in the window should fit Sky perfectly.
Sky pushed the register drawer closed, eyes drifting to the window. The earlier sleet had changed to light snow, which fell sporadically through the morning, coating the ground in small, white patches. The temperature hovered around the freezing mark, but a frigid north wind made it feel much colder. Only four customers braved the inclement weather since lunch. Things would worsen overnight with the passage of a second fast-moving arctic blast. Come Monday, temps would be back in the forties. Gotta love East Texas weather…two days of winter followed by three days of fall.
She rejoined her boss at the long lunch counter, where they enjoyed a cup of coffee. “Where were we?”
Ruby winked over the rim of her cup. “You were telling me about your date with Max yesterday.”
“It was really nice. I haven’t had a real Thanksgiving dinner in years. And John seemed to enjoy it as well.”
“John? Big John?”
“Uh-huh. It was a spur of the moment idea to invite him.”
“That was so nice of you to include him. I wish I had thought of that. Some friend I am.”
A shrug dismissed the gesture. “It was one of those things that just happened. I asked, and he accepted. Besides, he and Max seem to be good friends, and Maddie adores him.” She resisted the urge to bounce up and down with happiness. “She thinks he looks like Santa Claus.”
“Actually, they talked him into playing Santa in the Christmas festival at the community center this year. Our go-to guy had knee surgery and is down for a while.”
Sky laughed. “Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a six-five Santa.”
“I know. But he’ll be great,” said Ruby. “He loves helping people.” She used a napkin to rub at some unseen spot on the counter, features softened by a smile. “I’m glad you and Max are seeing each other.”
She started to say they weren’t exactly a couple but changed her mind. After all, he was her male companion. That thought produced a smile. “Me, too. He’s a good guy. Have you known him long?”
She shook her head. “He was a few years behind me in school. Didn’t have much contact with him back in the day. Heard he went into the Marines right after graduation. Didn’t see him again until he moved back earlier this year.” She paused, eyes focused on her cup. “You know he was injured in combat, right?”
“Yeah. He told me.”
“And has this PTSD stuff?”
“He told me that as well.”
Ruby sighed and sat up straighter. “Good. Cade tries to make a big deal out of it, but I haven’t seen or heard of him doing anything out of the ordinary.”
“What’s with them, anyway?”
“You mean besides Cade being a narcissistic jerk?”
Sky snorted.
“Like I said, they were behind me in school, so I didn’t have much contact with either of them. After I graduated, I hit the road for a while.”
Sky watched her expression shift from happy to sad and wondered what she held inside.
“Anyway, by the time I came back, Max was long gone, and Cade was busy trying to see how many notches he could add to his bedpost.” She emptied her cup and stood. “Rumor had it there was a fight. A bad one. Cade got the worst of it. I never asked, so I don’t know the details.”
Sky picked up both mugs and placed them in the bus tub behind the counter. “Well, whatever happened, there is still bad blood between them.”
Ruby placed her hand on Sky’s arm. “I’m glad you have someone decent in your life, Sky. You deserve some happiness.” She let her hand drop and turned toward the back. “Don’t waste time on Cade. I know a good man when I see one. And Max is a good one.”
Before Sky could reply, Ruby slipped through the swinging door to the kitchen, leaving Sky more curious than ever.
Max sat at the kitchen table, rewiring a lamp for Gail, when his phone rang.
“Hey. It’s me.”
The unusual tenseness in Sky’s voice immediately sent Max on full alert. “Is everything all right?”
