Lone Star Burn: Taken by Surprise (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Desiree Holt Read Free Book Online Page A

She grinned. “Think Bob would appreciate that?”
    Alton laughed, a booming sound. “I’d pay to see it, I’ll tell you.”
    Jessie grinned. If anyone had told her three weeks ago she’d be settled into a small town in West Texas, own a place like Delfina’s Diner, and actually enjoy it, she would have told them to see a shrink. Yet, here she was, feeling unexpectedly comfortable and happy in an environment that, three weeks ago, had been like a foreign country to her. Go figure.
    She was stunned to discover she had an instant love for both the house and Fort Mavis, not to mention the diner. That was one of the last things she’d expected. But things seemed to be working out better than she’d imagined at the restaurant. She could see herself making a home here, becoming a part of the community.
    After their initial skepticism, her employees appeared to be accepting her. Diane had been the hardest to win over, for whatever reason, but even she gave Jessie grudging smiles and explained some of their systems to her. She’d included them when she drew up her supply orders, too, which she knew had made them feel good.
    She knew everyone had been worried she’d want to come in and do a complete overhaul, but the place did a great business. She’d looked at the records in the computer and was astonished at the numbers. Even more shocked at the amount of money in the business checking account. As she became more comfortable with the situation, she could begin to make some improvements, but only with the input of the employees. She needed them to make this work.
    Even the patrons of the restaurant were getting used to her, now that she didn’t seem to be “putting on airs,” as Rona had said, or have plans to sell the place. The regulars greeted her by name when they came in, often engaging her in conversation. They were, of course, curious to know the fate of the restaurant and smiled when she assured them it would stay open, with her at the helm.
    She enjoyed chatting with them and was pleased to see how many of her guests were regulars. Working as a chef, she’d seldom got to mix with the customers. The restaurant owner had always done that. But here, in this environment, she was finding new opportunities to mingle with customers.
    There was a lot of excitement in the air, too. A rodeo was scheduled at one of the big local ranches. Rona told her they’d be packed to the walls with customers while it was on. Even though they had some food at the event, most people liked to come into town to eat. Something else to look forward to. Maybe she could ease in a couple of new recipes before then.
    So what if her fifteen-year plan had her living in an upscale condo in Houston and running her own trendy little café? Instead, here she was, fitting into a lifestyle she never would have imagined for herself. She visited the stores on Main Street, shopping the local merchants and introducing herself. A situation that at first blush looked like just a lifeline in her desperate situation was turning out to be a blessing. She wondered if this had been her destiny all along, a place she hadn’t even known existed before she’d received that unexpected letter.
    It was time to cut her ties with Houston. The company that owned her apartment building had texted her several times, reminding her of the deadline. Fine. Tomorrow she would research some moving companies in Houston and arrange to take three days off to go back, close up her apartment, and take care of her stuff. Much as she hated to admit it, the crew was more than capable of running things without her. When she returned, she’d be a permanent resident of Fort Mavis, ready to move ahead with some changes to Delfina’s Diner.
    If only she could find the letter from Delfina the attorney had mentioned. She’d looked everyplace in the house, found a lot of personal papers she would take her time going through, but no letter to her. Maybe Marshall Wohl’s genealogy search