Faithful by S. A. Wolfe Read Free Book Online Page B

down and take a breather, maybe give Kelly and Samantha more pointers.
    “We’ll work on it, baby,” Cooper says. “Taking that one for a test drive.”
    “I’ll bet baby works on all those twinkies you bag,” I say, shaking my head.
    Leo laughs. “You’re going to let her get away with that one?”
    “I don’t like twinkies, Imogene.” Cooper winks at me.
    “Don’t do that,” I retort pointedly.
    I leave and make my rounds to the other tables with apologies for my absence. I got locked in the walk-in freezer! I’ll say anything at this point.
    After I serve decaf coffee to everyone who asked for regular and regular to all those who asked for decaf and give away free ice cream to all the kids whose parents said no sugar!, I return to Cooper’s table with a huge tray and anobnoxious amount of food for two people. The Bonnie Burger is more than half a pound of beef, piled with guacamole, bacon, and sides of truffle waffle fries and regular fries. Watching the big dudes from Carson’s factory scarf these things down every day has sworn me off them forever.
    “Don’t worry, I ate seven of the fries off your plate to make sure they are perfect,” I say to Cooper.
    “Good girl.”
    “Don’t say that,” I demand, wedging the tray under my arm.
    “Sit down with us and take a break,” he insists.
    “I’ve been on a break all day. I need to make my rounds and at least put some effort into ignoring my customers. Why are people always so hungry and needy?”
    A whoop from another table causes me to turn around. Archie is walking into the diner with a rifle propped on his hip.
    “Holy crap. Why is he carrying a gun in here?” I ask no one in particular.
    “That’s an antique musket. It’s probably older than those vintage lockets you like so much,” Cooper says, rubbing a hand over the blond stubble on his chin.
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yeah, I think I know weapons. I worked a case where these arms dealers were moving tons of illegal … never mind. That musket looks like it’s more than a hundred years old, and it’s missing the hammer and trigger, so it’s not operational.”
    I scoff and storm over to Archie.
    “Isn’t this a beauty? I just bought it at the Murphy estate sale. The place is incredible,” Archie says, posing with the relic across his chest. “It’s from the Civil War.”
    “I don’t care if it’s from War of the Worlds. Arch, you can’t bring that thing in here; you’re scaring the customers.”
    We both look around at the diners who are nonchalantly enjoying their lunch.
    “Really? You’re not afraid of a lawyer in a three-piece suit?” I address the crowd. “Not even when he’s holding a gun? You should be scared. He’s a lawyer with a gun!”
    The customers laugh and someone says, “It’s a musket.”
    I scowl and walk back to the kitchen, catching Cooper watching me with that hideous, disgusting … sexy as all hell grin.
    I do the bare minimum of clearing dirty dishes and helping Lauren serve the rest of the lunch crowd, who I had decided are all her customers. After avoiding their booth for a good forty-five minutes, I make it back to Leo and Cooper.
    “I hope you’re aware that I had to go re-fill my own Coke,” Leo says, holding up his glass. “I think you’ve lost it, Imogene, and your grandmother is in full agreement with me.”
    While Cooper is biting his lip to keep from laughing, I notice he has polished off every morsel on his plate. Even the empty French fry dish and the two pie plates are wiped clean. Where do these guys pack it away? They don’t have an ounce of fat on them.
    “Thank you for your highly qualified medical diagnosis, Leo. You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”
    “Here, you beautiful ball buster, you.” Cooper hands me their bill and a wad of rolled cash.
    “Nope. That’s not going to work as a nickname.” I take their dishes and Cooper’s money, walking back to the kitchen where I dump the plates at