Free Sweet Blessings (Love Inspired) by Jillian Hart Page B

clean-up and then halted in midstep. What was she thinking? She wasn’t thinking, that was the problem. Her thoughts had been scattered like dust in the wind and she couldn’t seem to get them focused. Not since the loner had returned. He was a good worker—she had to give him that. Through the swinging doors she could just see the top of his head as he wiped down the outside tables.
    She still didn’t know if she had completely forgiven him for being so rude to her, and that was wrong. It was her faith to forgive. He’d offered hera sincere apology and she had accepted it. But deep down his harsh demeanor grated. See, it was good never to trust men. Whether they meant to or not, they caused pain.
    She’d had enough pain in her life and certainly wasn’t about to look for more. So, why did she keep wondering about him? Why had he come back? Why was he helping out? Where was he going, that he had time to spare instead of rushing off to wherever it was that he’d been heading?
    The swinging doors burst open—it was one of the twins. Tall and willowy and coltlike in the way of teenagers, and radiating pure energy.
    Brianna, a touch theatrical, gave a deep meaningful sigh. “I’m, like, totally starving. I’d give anything for, like, a totally loaded chiliburger. Oh, and can I have lots and lots of fries? I burned off, like, an awesome amount of calories.”
    Maybe the twins were terrible behind the cash register, but they were fun. Amy bit her lip to keep from laughing and got to work. Knowing Brandilyn would be waltzing in any second with the exact same request, she set two buns on to toast while she dished out two scoops of the chili stocked in the fridge, put them in a bowl and placed it in the microwave to warm.
    Brianna, in the middle of counting up tip money, stopped to add, “Ooh, and, like, cheese, too.” Then she looked down at the big stack of ones, rolled hereyes, huffed out another sigh and started counting all over again.
    She loved the twins, but really, she was glad she’d never have to be a teenager again. She wouldn’t go back for anything. Sometimes it was painful to look at the girls and remember when she’d been that age—and far too rebellious. She’d been the top student in her class all through high school, but she’d never made it through her senior year.
    And the years after that…no, she wasn’t interested in looking back at that time. It was better to act as if she’d been able to erase it from her memory, like words from a blackboard, so that it was as clean as if it had never been.
    â€œHere’s your cut.” Brianna slapped a stack of ones on the counter. “Oh, and isn’t Heath totally awesome? Are you, like, gonna hire him for keeps?”
    Heath? So that was his name. She resisted the urge to peer through the doors—she could hear the faint clink and clank of dishes as he bussed. She deliberately kept her voice low and even. “He offered to pitch in and help us out for this shift. I don’t know what his plans are.”
    â€œYou should make him take the cook job. Well, only if he can cook, you know? ’Cause, like—”
    Brandilyn burst through the doors, ready to finish her twin’s sentence. “He’d be cool to have around. He’s this awesome mysterious kind of guy. Like frommovies and stuff. You know he’s a good guy, but he’s so totally distant and almost scary.”
    â€œBut nice,” Brianna added. “Definitely nice.”
    â€œYeah.” They nodded together, both blond heads and ponytails bouncing. “Don’t you think he’s nice?”
    Amy flipped the meat patties, shaking her head. There they were again, trying to find her a husband. And, to use their words—as if!
    She did her best to hide a smile, because she didn’t want to encourage them. “I’m just interested in hiring a cook. You girls go