Unbound (Crimson Romance) Read Free Page B

were being lead. Vendors, volunteers, and visitors all fell in line and jumped to do anything she asked.
    He had been at the celebration covering as an officer for his father. He hated playing officer. Maybe the job wouldn’t have been so bad if he had a gun. The idea of shooting someone usually cheered him up when he was conned into working.
    Unfortunately, they never gave a gun. Something about him being a liability without the proper firearms training or some such nonsense. His father was the police chief in Hartsville, though. So, training or not, he always wound up filling in when the department ran short on help.
    Last night when the crowd for the celebration had cleared out of the park and he had gone home, Payten had been directing her Boy Scout minions in cleaning up the park. That had been around two A.M.
    “Payten,” he called. She turned around and came back to stand in front of him. “How much sleep have you had?”
    She shrugged. “A couple hours.”
    “You can’t — ”
    When Payten straightened and glared at him, he knew he was in trouble.
    “I can’t what?”
    He held up his hands. “Not trying to pick a fight here. I just don’t know how long a person can run on their feet with no sleep. Is your mama coming in later?”
    “Nope,” she answered. “Her and Pop are on vacation. Besides, I got three hours.”
    “I could come in later and help out,” he offered.
    “Are you serious?”
    “I fill in for Teddy and Coop, don’t I?”
    She shook her head. “That’s different. You work in the kitchen. You don’t wait tables.”
    “Let me help,” he said. “I can figure it out.”
    She started to shake her head again, but stopped when Fletcher called her.
    “Patty! It’s time for breakfast.”
    She grit her teeth. “Coming.”
    He watched her as she moved around the round table taking orders. She was sluggish at first, but after the first few orders, she moved flawlessly. She came back to the kitchen to drop the orders for Cooper, then returned to the table with a pot of coffee to refill cups. The booths came next. She dropped orders in the kitchen, returned to refill glasses, and moved to the next booth.
    Quick, efficient, and friendly, she was a pleasure to watch. Mile-long legs encased in dark denim carried her gracefully from the kitchen to the floor and back again. Plain in style, her grey long-sleeve shirt hugged the curves of her chest and flowed to her hips. Her fiery red curls were ruthlessly tied back in their usual braid and already fighting their way free. She loved what she did. Her bright smile remained genuine, and her dark blue eyes lit up when she laughed.
    Dean flinched when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder, much like his had landed on Fletcher’s. He shook off the hand even as he hoped he hadn’t been spotted watching Payten. Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted his cousin and knew he was caught.
    “Jack.”
    “Dean,” Jack replied.
    “What are you doing here?”
    Jack sat down on a stool at the counter beside him. “Hoping to get some breakfast.”
    He was suspicious. “Shouldn’t you be at the shop?”
    “You win,” Jack answered. “Jonah sent me to come find you. We could use another hand today.”
    “And you came here because?”
    Jack smirked. “You eat here almost every day. With a waitress as pretty as Payten, why not?”
    Dean thought about decking him, but decided it wasn’t worth the scene. “You’re getting on my nerves already.”
    “I’m your cousin,” Jack replied. “It’s my duty. And since your favorite little cousin — ”
    “There’s a reason Maddie’s my favorite,” he muttered.
    “Since she’s home, I figure I should pick on you twice as much to make up for the babying she’ll do to you,” Jack continued.
    He didn’t comment. Maddie did baby him. “What’s going on at the shop?”
    “Odd jobs,” Jack said. “Kalvin volunteered us to shovel the sidewalks at the old folks’ apartments Wednesday. Jonah says the