Defying the Odds by Kele Moon Read Free Book Online

breakfast when he’d requested Melody wait on them, he’d left her a hundred-dollar tip. He wasn’t three feet into the parking lot before she was running out after him, arms bare in the cold as she thrust the big bill back at him, flat-out refusing to accept it. He’d argued and refused to take it, pointing out her truck had no heat and her jacket was near bare in spots. She’d just boldly stuffed the money into the pocket of his jeans and walked back inside, claiming it wasn’t fair.
     
    Then Clay started to get creative. He’d bribed everyone who worked at Cuthouse Cellar to eat at Hal’s on her shifts and leave big tips. Three days in, Melody smelled a rat and refused to wait on anyone from the Cellar, including Wyatt and Jules. That’s when he gave up, because more than half the town either worked for or attended classes at the Cuthouse Cellar Training Center. Swearing off the Cellar patrons and employees was the equivalent to committing waitress suicide.
     
    Once Clay promised to lay off the tips conspiracy, Melody went back to waiting on anyone who sat in her section. Clay supposed near ninety dollars on a Wednesday was decent, but he knew she was still trying to save for her truck and furniture and rent. She owed Terry the deposit for the utilities that he’d fronted her. She owed Hal two hundred dollars he’d loaned her to get groceries and other supplies. She needed a new coat. Her sneakers had holes in the bottoms of them. She never wore gloves, and there wasn’t a damn thing Clay could do about any of it because it seemed she was willing to accept at least some help from anyone but him.
     
    “Hey, Melody, darling, Powerhouse’s the last of—”
     
    Clay leaned out of the booth, giving Judy a pleading look, and whispered, “I’ll pay you a thousand dollars to let her sleep.”
     
    Clay was dead serious. He’d pay twice that to give her the few minutes of sleep she desperately needed. He was starting to worry about her driving, because she always looked two blinks away from passing out.
     
    “No, no, I’m up.” Melody shot up in the booth before Judy could respond, stray strands of blonde hair escaping her bun and framing her face. She blinked as if still trying to get her bearings. “I was just resting my eyes.”
     
    “ Don’t that mean sleeping?” Judy asked, giving Melody an indulgent smile. “You wanna take off? I’ll do the prep work for tonight.”
     
    “No,” Melody said quickly as she worked at pushing the stray wisps of hair back into place. “You ain’t doing my job for me. If I’m gonna take double shifts for the extra money, then I’m gonna do all the work.”
     
    “You look like a strong wind would blow you over,” Judy scolded.
     
    “I got it.” Melody scooted out of the booth, reaching over to grab Clay’s jacket before she turned to him. “How much did I make?”
     
    “Oh.” Clay looked to the neat pile of money and coins he had stacked in front of him. “’Bout ninety. Eighty-eight and some change. I guess that’d make it near a hundred if you include my tip.”
     
    Melody turned to look at Judy hopefully, but her shoulders slumped when Judy winced and said, “I had the Wednesday church group tonight.”
     
    “No, it’s good,” Melody said, recovering easily as she handed Clay his jacket. “Thanks. The power nap worked. I feel better.”
     
    Clay grabbed her hand when she leaned over him, picking up her money and putting it in her apron. He studied Melody’s angelic face, seeing dark circles under her eyes. She was still beautiful enough to haunt his dreams every night since she’d first bought him that piece of pie, but there was no question the hard work was wearing on her. He wanted to toss her over his shoulder and tie her to the bed until she stopped fighting and got some much-needed sleep.
     
    But if there was one thing Clay understood, it was the need to fight.
     
    “Can I help ya ?” he asked softly. “I’m a good mopper