Pitch Perfect by LUANN MCLANE Read Free Book Online Page B

it up with cream and sugar.
    Myra tilted her head to the side, causing her hoop earrings to dangle sideways. “Is that right?”
    “Yes,” Mia answered. “The engine quit on my car and it seems like the repair is going to be expensive. Bella said that you’re hiring for the summer rush, so it would be perfect for me.”
    “We sure are in need of some kitchen help and a couple of waitresses for the day shift.” She extended her hand across the counter. “I’m Myra Robinson, by the way. I own this restaurant with my niece Jessica.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Robinson. I’m Mia Mon . . . ee,” she said, almost giving her real last name.
    She shook Mia’s hand. “Same here, but call me Myra. I’m supposed to be retired, but with the arrival of my great-nephew, Ben, Jessica had to cut back, so I came out of hibernation.” She gave Mia a measuring look. “So . . . do you have any experience as a waitress?”
    “No,” Mia admitted slowly, “I was a . . . uh . . . party and event planner and recently got, uh, laid off.” Raising her eyebrows, she sat up straighter. “But I am a quick learner and very good with people.” Actually, she was good at giving orders rather than taking them, but she could surely do the flip side, right? How hard could it be? “And I know my way around a menu. I’ve dined in countless restaurants all over the world,” she added fervently and then realized she was going too far, drawing a curious look from both Myra and Bella.
    “You’ve never worked a day in your life, have you, sugar?”
    “I have!” Mia bristled a bit, even though Myra’s comment was said with gentle humor. She had arranged and hosted countless lavish parties for her father and had helped coordinate many a charity event, doing everything from getting donations to hiring the band. “I just haven’t always gotten paid for my services,” she added a bit defensively. “And I’ve fallen on some hard times. Lots of people have these days.”
    “True enough. We sure know all about that here in Cricket Creek,” Myra agreed quietly and exchanged a glance with Bella. She reached beneath the counter and then placed some paperwork in front of Mia. “Fill this out and we’ll get back to you.”
    Mia glanced down and spotted words like
social security number
,
previous address
, and
references
and felt her heart plummet. She looked right and left to make sure no one else was within listening distance. “Listen,” she said softly, “I’m not in any trouble or anything, but I’m trying to keep my whereabouts on the down low, if you know what I mean.”
    Myra frowned. “Is someone stalking or trying to hurt you?”
    Mia waved her hands in the air. “No, nothing like that. Let’s just say I have something important . . . well, at least important to me . . . to prove. Can we slide past the formalities and just let me earn some money? Just until I can get my car repaired?” She gave Myra her best doe-eyed look, the one that always had her father eating out of her hand. “Please?” she asked, but at the thought of her father she felt her eyes well up with unshed tears. She had always thought that Mitch Monroe was one of the most upstanding and ethical people that she knew and had always felt a sense of pride that she was the daughter of such a dignified, successful man. “I’m not opposed to good, honest work, and I think this restaurant is a charming stroke of genius combining home cooking with a modern flair.”
    Myra looked at her thoughtfully for a moment but didn’t commit. “I don’t want any trouble following you here. I have too many people in this town that I care about to put them in harm’s way.”
    Mia took this as an indication that Myra was considering hiring her and had learned from her father that if you see an opening, you should pounce. “I’m not in any trouble. I swear.” She crossed her heart and then felt sort of silly that she had used that childish