Big Girls Don’t Cry (Dundee, Idaho #6)(18)
Author: Brenda Novak

The waitress was still talking, but it took real effort for Isaac to concentrate on anything except his own grim thoughts.

“The senator had big plans for Reenie, hated to see her marry so young,” she was saying.

Had Judy just given him a brief history of Reenie’s early years? Yes…

“But there was no standing in the way of it,” she continued, smiling wistfully. “I’ve never seen two people more in love. And I gotta hand it to them. They started having babies after the first year, but they worked their way through college. They both graduated with some sort of degree. Even Senator Holbrook’s got to be happy with how their relationship has turned out.”

Isaac didn’t think anyone would be happy for long, but there was no time to catalogue the ramifications of what he’d learned from Judy. The bell rang over the door and Reenie walked in, wearing a pair of jeans cut fashionably low on her hips, boots that seemed more city than country, and a thin coral sweater that hugged the slim body beneath her brown leather coat.

As much as Isaac would rather have found her unattractive, he could see why Keith would be drawn to her. She had creamy, flawless skin, beautiful blue eyes, a mouth that was just a little too wide to be perfect, and an energetic, confident air that made him want to look at her much longer. If she was wearing any makeup, he couldn’t tell. With the healthy glow of her skin, and the contrast between her light eyes and rich dark hair, she didn’t need any.

“Getting started without me?” she said, sliding into the booth.

He forced his eyes to stay on her face as she stripped off her coat. He didn’t need to assess her figure. He’d already done that when he’d followed her to the Jeep. “Excuse me?”

The coral sweater had a wide neck that fell off her shoulders slightly—very feminine and appealing. “Are you interviewing Judy?”

He handed her a menu from the clip at the back edge of the table. “I was asking her a few questions.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you know a famous author?” Judy asked.

“Famous?” Reenie had knocked her purse over and was busy collecting all the stuff that had spilled out, but she raised an eyebrow at him when she heard this. “He left that part out when I met him this morning.”

“I try not brag,” he said with a grin.

She returned his smile as she finished with her purse, then glanced around the diner. “Busy tonight?” she asked Judy.

“Not too bad. I’ve been telling your new friend here how you and Keith got together.” Judy’s wistful smile returned, taking the harder edges off her appearance. “Love at first sight.”

Reenie shoved her bag and coat farther into the corner of the booth. “And what did he have to say about that?”

“Nothing yet.”

“What were you expecting?” Isaac asked.

She tilted her head in a challenging angle. “Most people think that kind of love is a fairy tale.”

“It’s not?”

Her shoulders lifted in a tiny shrug. “I’m proof that it does happen.”

Isaac knew he should say I’m happy for you, or some other such thing, but the words wouldn’t come. He couldn’t make a comment like that knowing what she was going to face in the very near future. “Maybe so,” he said.

She put the menu away without looking at it. Isaac figured she could probably recite the diner’s offerings from memory. “You sound like a skeptic, Mr. Russell.”

“Call me Isaac.”

“Isaac. You don’t believe in love at first sight?”

He stared into his water glass. “Let’s just say it’s a phenomenon I’ve never experienced myself.”

“So…you’re jaded.” She tapped a short fingernail, devoid of polish, against her chin. “Divorced?”

“Never married.”

Judy looked appalled at this news. “Handsome guy like you? You’re not g*y, are you?”

Isaac couldn’t help laughing. “Not even a little bit.”

“Well—” the waitress made a point of checking him out “—in that case, if you need anyone else to help with your research, let me know. I’m good at small-town relationships.” She winked. “And I’m not married.”

“Aren’t you seeing Billy Jo these days?” Reenie said pointedly.

“What if I am?” She fluffed her hair. “Maybe he’d actually pop the question if he thought he had a little competition.”

“I hate to break it to you, but Isaac won’t be around long enough to help you reel in Billy Jo,” Reenie told her.

“How long will you be here?” Judy asked him.

“Only a few days.”

“Figures.” She stopped flirting and retrieved her order pad. “What can I get you for dinner?”

He glanced expectantly at Reenie, but she said, “You go first.”

“I’ll have the chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes.”

Reenie cleared her throat.

“What?” Isaac said when he found her watching him.

“The sirloin is much better.”

“Is that what you’re having?”

“No, I like the garlic-roasted chicken with sage stuffing.”

“But you think I’d like the sirloin?”

“If you’re going to order red meat, the sirloin’s the best cut they’ve got.”

“Okay.” He motioned to Judy. “I’ll take the sirloin.”

“How do you want that cooked?” she asked.

“Well done.”

Disapproval etched several lines on Reenie’s forehead, and Isaac hid an amused smile. “What now?” he asked.

“You won’t be able to eat it if you order it that way. Mac will turn it to charcoal. Medium would be best, but if you’re squeamish, go with medium-well.”

Considering some of the things he’d eaten in the past, Isaac doubted anyone could call him squeamish. While in the Congo, he’d sampled a variety of unusual and, sometimes, unpleasant foods. “I just want it done.”

“If it’s a little pink in the center, it’ll be more tender.” She adjusted her sweater to fall evenly off both shoulders. “Believe me, I know about steak. This is cattle country.”

Isaac gave up. “I’ll go with your advice. But if it’s bloody, you’ll have to share your chicken.”

She turned her hands up. “I’ll take that risk.”