Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks Read Free Book Online Page B

order when you just really wanted a chicken salad sandwich.
    Over the past couple of days since her arrival in Keeneston she had been eating the most amazing home cooked meals. But tonight she thought she’d try the local cuisine. She grabbed some cash and took off down the street to the Café. It was a nice night. The stars were shining overhead, a slight breeze brought the smell of oats to her, and the full moon bathed the small downtown in a soft glow.
    Bright light poured out of the large old windows of the Café onto the sidewalk, highlighting the mums that were planted in large barrels under the windows. Small bistro tables were set up outside on the nice warm night and filled with people who all smiled and said hello to her as she walked past them and into the Café.
    Annie froze with one foot over the threshold when the packed restaurant fell silent. A breeze from all the heads turning at once caused her hair to flutter. Movement drew her eyes to go to a back table. Her eyes narrowed as a waitress, who was maybe just out of high school, was leaning her perky breasts in Cade’s face as she picked up his plate.
    A man in a gorgeous pin striped suit who was slightly taller than Cade with dark brown hair and a handsome square jaw stood and walked over to her. She noticed Cade’s unhappy expression at the same time the waitress placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a little rub.
    “ You must be Annie. Be easy on my brother, will you?” Tall, dark and handsome flashed a killer grin at her that almost had her forgetting about whoever this other brother was.
    “ Wait, who are you? Who’s your brother and why should I go easy on him?” Tall, dark and handsome grinned again.“I’m Miles Davies. The brother to whom I am referring is Cade, and you should go easy on him because he’s a good guy. Have a nice night, Annie.”
    “ How many brothers are there in that family?” she mumbled as she made her way to the cash register.
    “ Five brothers and one sister.” Annie looked down at the stranger who had clearly been eavesdropping.
    “ Um, thanks.” Wow. No wonder she kept tripping over them.
    “ Hey.”
    Annie pulled up short and checked out the man who had stepped in front of her. He was tallish, almost black hair slicked back, and did his suit sparkle? No, it must just have shine to it. “What are you doing walking into a place like this?” he asked.
    “ Is that a trick question?” Well, the town did have a lot of handsome men. Too bad they weren’t all that bright.
    “ You can sit with me if you’d like.” He gestured towards a small table in the back.
    “ I’m just here to pick up my to-go dinner.”
    “ Well, here I am. You can take a bite out of me anytime.” He raised a perfect eyebrow and gazed at her.
    Annie couldn’t decide whether to laugh or to kick him in the balls. He reminded her of an old man who used to live near her apartment. He yelled obscenities at her that were in a way complimentary and made her day.
    “ Okay. Let’s get out of here. I want you…now.” Annie deadpanned. She watched as his sleazy exterior cracked and he stared at her as if she had two heads. “Just kidding, hot shot, put your tongue back in your mouth.” She smiled at him and when he broke out into laughter, she joined him.
    “ Henry Rooney at your service.”
    “ No servicing of me tonight. I thought we covered that, Henry.” Henry laughed again and she had a feeling she had made a friend. “Annie Hill. It’s nice to meet you, Henry. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again soon.” Henry smiled and walked out the door.
    Annie turned her attention to the table near the cash register where the waitress was still servicing Cade. Rolling her eyes, she walked over to them, “I hope I’m not interrupting,” she tapped her foot impatiently.
    “ Oh! You must be Miss Hill. I’ll be out here in a jiffy with your dinner ma’am.” If she needed another reason to dislike the waitress, there it