Ruby Falls Read Online Free

pay much, but I’d throw in room and board. I think it’d work out for both of us.” He stopped, realizing he was babbling for the first time in his life. What was it about this girl that got to him?
    “Cooking?” she asked, looking confused.
    “Umm…yeah. You do know how to cook, right?”
    “I’m not sure,” she replied, her brow furrowed in thought.
    “Well, darlin’, anything you make has got to be better than Pop’s cooking. I don’t think I’ll survive much longer if I have to keep eating that slop. Please, say you’ll do it. Save me.” He gave her his best sad-eyed, puppy-dog look.
    “How can I refuse that look?” she asked, the smile returning to her face.
    “You can’t. It’s part of my charm,” he replied. “Come on, let’s get you out of here. All this talk about food has got me starving. Are you up for some pancakes?”
     
    Before she knew it, he had her checked out and in his pickup truck, heading to find somewhere to eat.
    “If you can wait until we get back to Ruby Falls, there’s a little diner in town.” Steve looked over at her.
    “Ruby Falls?”
    “Yeah. Ruby Falls.” His gaze left the road to glance over at her. When he saw the questioning look on her face, he continued. “Georgia. That’s where our place is located. We had to drive you into Mercer last night. They have the closest hospital. It’s only about fifteen miles from Ruby Falls.”
    “Oh.”
    “So? What do you say? Can you wait until we get back there to eat breakfast?”
    “That’s fine. Really, I’m not that hungry. I had some oatmeal,” she replied.
    “Yuck!”
    “It wasn’t that bad.”
    “Bleck.”
    “Okay, maybe I’m a little hungry.” She grinned.
    A little while later, they drove into the small town of Ruby Falls, and Steve pulled into a diagonal parking space on what appeared to be the main street. The window of one of the storefronts was painted in gold lettering with the words ‘Margie’s Diner’.
    They got out.
    Steve waited for her on the sidewalk and held the door for her. A tiny bell over the door jingled as they entered. They sat at a booth with red, vinyl seats. Steve took two plastic coated menus from behind the napkin holder and handed her one.
    A waitress came over, turned their coffee cups right side up, and began pouring them both coffee without asking.
    “Hey, darlin’, what are you doin’ waitressing? I thought you were management,” Steve teased.
    “Ha, ha. Darleen didn’t show up this morning. It’s not like her, but then she’s not been herself for a few weeks now. I think she’s having boyfriend trouble.”
    “Boyfriend? Is she back with Jimmy again?”
    “No, this is some new guy. She hasn’t told me much about him, but I get the feeling…”
    “What?”
    “Oh, never mind. What can I get you, darlin’?”
    “You save me some of them honey biscuits this morning?” Steve asked.
    “Of course. Don’t I always? You want the usual?”
    “I’m dyin’ for some of your strawberry waffles, Margie.”
    “Waffles, huh?”
    “With strawberries and whip cream,” Steve clarified with a grin.
    “And who’s your friend? You gonna introduce us or what?”
    “Umm, sure. Margie this is…this is Summer. She’s our new housekeeper.” Steve looked over as she almost spit out a mouthful of coffee.
    “Pleased to meet you, Summer. Steve’s a good guy; you just have to cut through all the hogwash. So, what’ll you have, Summer?”
    “Umm, I guess I’ll have the same. Thanks.”
    “Margie left, and she looked at Steve questioningly. “Summer? Where did you get that?”
    “Well, look, we have to call you something, and I sure as hell am not calling you Jane Doe. I think Summer fits you.”
    “Oh, really? Why?”
    “Well, because you’re a blue-eyed, blonde and pretty as a sunny summer’s day.”
    She stared at him a long moment, then she smiled and shrugged. “Okay. I like that.”
    “Good. Now drink your coffee, Summer.”
    They drank their coffee,