He’d also lost a child. Alyssa couldn’t allow him to try to replace his lost child with her baby. And Jackson was wealthy, more than wealthy. He could buy anything and everything he’d ever wanted. Wouldn’t that mean if he took her to court, they would see it in the child’s best interest to be raised by him? That would just destroy her, and it would be completely wrong to treat her child that way.
Oh, this was so complicated. If she could just go to bed, pull the covers up over her head, and hide away for the next five months, she would do exactly that. But that’s what a coward would do, and Alyssa was anything but a coward.
There was a knock on the door and Alyssa turned to stare at it, but could make no further move. Even her basic motor functions seemed to be compromised at the moment.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it,” Teresa said, chuckling again and setting Alyssa’s teeth on edge.
Bethel Banks walked in. “Sorry we’re late, Teresa. I had to wait for my special Chex mix to finish crisping up,” Bethel said.
“It’s well worth the wait. I’ve tried to get Bethel to give me the recipe, but she won’t budge,” Eileen said with a stern look at her friend.
Maggie came in last. “Oh, these two have been bickering the entire ride.”
“You’re not late at all. I was just talking with my daughter. I’ve got the game table all set up,” Teresa told the newcomers.
“Oh, wonderful,” Bethel said, then went up to Alyssa and enveloped her in a warm embrace. “Alyssa, you look more and more beautiful each time I see you.”
Alyssa smiled as the women fluttered in—until she arrived in Sterling, she had never met three little old ladies quite like these. The first time Alyssa had met the “troublesome threesome,” as they were known around town, she’d been overwhelmed. Small-town people seemed a lot more friendly—and nosy—than their big-city peers.
It hadn’t taken her long to fall in love with the women, though. They were just so kind, and they remembered everything. Alyssa had once been eating a cookies-and-cream candy bar and mentioned how much she loved white chocolate, and the next time the three had come over, they brought her a gift basket filled with various chocolates. It was something so simple but so sweet.
Since her hormones were all out of whack, the gesture had made her cry, instantly concerning the three women. She’d assured them she was fine, just very tired from her late shift at the bar.
“Are you going to play with us today, Alyssa?” Eileen asked.
Once in a while, Alyssa would join them in their weekly card game—she actually enjoyed herself. Although they all looked like sweet women, they were definitely sharks when it came to card games.
“I wish I could, but I have a double shift today,” she said, her feet already aching at the prospect.
“You work too much, darling,” Maggie remarked. “How are you supposed to find a good man and settle down if you’re always hanging out in a bar with a bunch of drunks?”
“I’m not looking for a man. I like my life just the way it is,” Alyssa told the women for what felt like the hundredth time. Was their mission to ensure that Sterling contained no single adults over the age of eighteen?
“Oh, pish posh, we all need someone,” Bethel said.
Alyssa had heard this same response just as many times. “You ladies have a wonderful time. I need to shower and get ready for work.”
She made her escape up to her room to gather clothes. She knew the four women downstairs would immediately start picking apart her love life, or lack thereof, the minute she was out of hearing range.
Before Jackson Whitman had stepped back into her life, she’d been just fine as a single woman, even a pregnant single woman. Seeing him again had all sorts of thoughts rushing through her, though. That wasn’t a good thing. She’d best avoid him at all cost—not that she thought he would make that an easy task for her. After all, he was now her boss. Great.
With a sigh, she climbed into the shower and hoped she would have the strength to get through the day. If she just took it a day at a time, she’d be fine, wouldn’t she? One minute, one hour, one day at a time. That was her new motto.
“Your usual?”
Jackson glanced up with a winning smile, and before he could even say yes, Alyssa was setting down a Diet Coke and a bowl of chips and salsa. She took her pad and pen out of her apron pocket and said, “The special tonight is beef lasagna with a side salad and fresh baked bread.” Nine times out of ten he just got the special.
“Sounds good. Why don’t you join me?”
“Sorry, just had dinner.” Alyssa turned on her heel and headed back to the kitchen.
Their routine had been the same for two weeks now. He came in, ordered dinner, tried to get her to join him, and got turned down.
He figured he should be over the constant rejection, but her attitude made him more determined than ever to win her over. He’d have abandoned his mission as hopeless if he’d seen disgust or even boredom in her eyes.
But that’s not what he saw at all. The sparks between them could have set off an entire New Year’s fireworks display. Her breathing was always a little shallow when he was near, and her heart was obviously racing. She was just as attracted to him as he was to her, but for some reason, she’d put up a “No Trespassing” sign, and nothing he’d done so far had managed to breach her barriers.
But, hey, he didn’t give up, and he had all the time in the world.
He sat in the corner of the bar with his laptop and allowed the music and ambience to give him welcome relief from the monotony of the reports he had to read. Working at the saloon rather than at his house had the added benefit of letting him watch Alyssa bring him drinks and snacks. She’d tried to send other waitresses when there was more than one on the job, but he’d quashed that right away, saying he wanted only her to serve him.
What choice did she have but to obey? After all, he owned the place and she was his employee, making the situation even more tense. And it wasn’t like jobs were easy to find in small towns like Sterling. He didn’t like pressing his advantage to get her attention, but he had to use what he could right now. At first she’d been almost hostile. The last two days, however, she’d switched her game, and she was now plastering on a smile.
It was about time for them to speak alone. Damn! He couldn’t wait.
“I see you’re stalking the pretty waitress again,” Camden said with a laugh as he invited himself to sit across from Jackson and have dinner.