Page 99 of Sundown Somewhere

“I meant taking care of you.”

Looking up at him, I catch the twinkle in his eye. The one that makes me tingle in all sorts of places I have no business tingling at the moment.

“Careful, or you’re going to find yourself getting dragged into the church,” I remark, nodding toward Hickory Hills Baptist on the other side of the street.

Oh, shit. That probably came out wrong. My pulse skitters, my mind racing as I realize that I should have said the library. The large antebellum-style building with Roman columns is right next door and shares a parking lot with the church, and is just as good a place for a quickie, without the implication that I’m trying to get him down the aisle.

Ooops.

Hux chuckles. “Is that supposed to be a threat?”

Well then…

“Breakfast’s up, Aunt Hattie!” I announce, slipping out of Hux’s grasp. He chuckles again, no doubt noting the high pitch of my voice and the rise of my pulse when he didn’t falter at my non-implication.

“’Bout time. Parade is about to start,” she chastises.

Holding back my eye roll, I scoot over to the chafing dishes, grabbing a plate and getting her all served. Hux is right behind her, taking orders like a pro as she barks them out on how to properly fill a second plate for her mother—my great-grandmother, Amelia Phillips—the town matriarch who is safely seated with my great-uncle, the fire chief, over under the VIP tent.

A line quickly forms behind them, everyone in town knowing the routine. I smile, unable to hold back my laughter that this is all so routine that we don’t even need to announce that the food is served. Hickory Hills simply knows.

“Miss Dolly, a word?”

I look up, finding a very concerned Ken Noble, the town mechanic, standing off to the side, hands on his hips. My stomach twists, concern filling my veins on what the normally jovial older man could possibly be upset about. Because I don’t know that I have ever seen Ken Noble upset. Ever.

Truly the nicest man on the planet, everyone in town has a Ken Noble story from a time he stopped to help them out in some way. And I seem to be the one who has upset him.

“What’s the matter?” I ask, worry gripping me.

“I was looking over the new Dolly’s menu,” he starts, face still very serious. “And I couldn’t help but notice that you don’t mention turkey bacon…”

I sputter out a laugh, leaning forward and grabbing Ken’s hand. Oh, thank goodness. Turkey bacon. For the love…

“Don’t worry, Ken. I still have it for you,” I assure him.

“No, that’s the thing. I was hoping with the new menu you could just tell Kenzie that since I was the only person you were stocking it for that it didn’t make sense to keep it, so you no longer have it and now I have to go back to regular bacon.”

I blink, pressing my lips together, trying to holding in my laugh. Because it would not be kind to laugh at the man who is like a dad to everyone in this town. A man who we all rallied around a couple of years ago to help raise money for his cancer treatments. Which is why I have the turkey bacon in the first place—because his daughter Kenzie, the town librarian, requested it based on a recommendation from his doctor. Much to Ken’s objections.

“But you’re not the only one,” I whisper. “Bronwyn eats it.”

“By choice?” Ken reels backward, looking scandalized. I nod, pressing my lips together harder. I’m not going to be able to hold this in much longer. “We need to educate that child. I would have thought Lucy and Jack would have done that by now, but…”

Throwing his hands up in exasperation, he lets out a long, loud sigh. I let him, not feeling any need to comment on how the Kellers are “educating” their soon to be daughter-in-law.

“What’s up?” Hux asks, slipping up behind me, his hand finding the small of my back instantly.

“I can’t even say it out loud,” Ken mutters, waving Hux off. I shake my head, loving that the old men in this town are just as dramatic as the women, but in their own way. “I am, however, excited about your project. Job well done, Huxley. You should be proud.”

“Thank you.”

“How does Ken get to know and I don’t?” I ask, elbowing Hux. He lets out an ooof, pretending to be hurt but not backing away even an inch.

“Jack and Auggie spilled the beans,” Ken says, giving me a wink. “I think you’ll be very pleased, Miss Dolly.”

He gives us another wink, this one accompanied by a farewell nod, so he can join the food line. I watch him, moving slowly so he can talk to everyone, then stopping for a long moment to flirt with AnnaGrace Davis, the woman he “sees” every now and then, before mussing Brenna’s hair as he gives her his breakfast ticket.

“Hey Em,” I hiss, catching my friend’s attention.