Sweetwater: The Kihn (The Sweet Series) Read Online Free Page A

turns his attention back to me. “I’ll get a schedule made. Think about what hours you want to work.”
    Bobbi returns to our table as Murphy asks the road crew guys, who are preparing to leave, if their meals were satisfactory.
    Once they’re gone, Murphy continues our discussion. “We’re making some changes, and I’m hiring Sofie as our new cook. Bobbi, you’ll help her with the prep work and the cleanup. She’ll start tomorrow working up a new menu for next week.” I can feel the anger roll off Bobbi. Murphy gives her a pointed look. “I’m sure you’ll help Sofie the best you can, Bobbi.”
    Help me out the door is what she’s probably thinking.
    Murphy stands. “I need to order some groceries. See you tomorrow, Sofie.”
    I tell him “thanks,” and turn to Bobbi. I’m willing to work at being friends since we’ll be working together. After all, we aren’t kids anymore. We can bury the proverbial hatchet and be, if not friends, at least not enemies, but one glimpse of her face plainly tells me she wants to dismember me with that hatchet.
    “If you think you can come in here and—”
    She doesn’t get to finish her tirade because one of her customers, Jed Turner, needs her attention. “Hey, Red, I need some ketchup.”
    Well, if that ain’t the feather that pushes her over the edge.
    “Stop calling me that!” She stomps to a vacated table, snatches up a condiment bottle left there, and deposits it on poor Jed’s table with enough force ketchup comes up and out the top. “Here’s your stupid ketchup!” She storms back to the kitchen, bumping Emma Rae’s shoulder as she leaves.
    “Whoa! What a bitch,” Emma Rae states as she sits down by me. “What bit her butt?”
    Jed looks over at us. “I didn’t mean to get her all riled up.”
    “Don’t worry about it, Jed. Eat your fries,” Emma Rae tells him.
    “I don’t think she’s happy I’m coming back to work here,” I say. “And I’m positive she’s furious Murphy appointed her as my helper.”
    “Nuh-uh, he didn’t!” Emma Rae declares with obvious humor.
    “Yes, he did.”
    “He did what?” a voice asks from behind us.
    “Diane! Hey!” I say.
    Emma Rae stands. “I’ll go get our food.”
    “Bring enough for four. Jake is going to join us,” Diane explains.
    Emma Rae glances at Diane before turning to me with a lifted eyebrow. “I’ll do that.” She heads to the kitchen.
    Diane sits across from me. “I ran into Jake and invited him,” she says as she shrugs her jacket off. “Who did what?”
    “Murphy hired me,” I announce, smiling.
    “Told ya.”
    “And,” I continue, “he picked Bobbi to help me. I’m pretty sure she’s not happy.”
    “Oh my, I bet she’s not.” Diane smiles. Jake arrives just as Emma Rae brings our burgers. He’s brought Nick and Sam. We pull another table over to make room, and Nick makes it obvious he wants to sit beside me. Emma Rae, sitting across from us, gives me a raised eyebrow. I do my best to ignore her.
    “How are you, Sofie?” Nick asks.
    “Fine, thanks.” I glance at him. “And you?”
    “Fine, too.” He chuckles. “Think it’s safe to sit at a table with your kin?”
    I stare into a pair of sparkling, dark blue eyes framed by long lashes. Why do guys often have perfect eyelashes, which they couldn’t care less about?
    “Well, it usually takes a mixture of one part Sawyer and one part Jake to come up with trouble waiting to happen,” I explain. He laughs. “So, as long as Sawyer doesn’t show up...” I shrug and take another bite of my burger, chewing with relish. For some reason, Emma Rae thinks I deserve a hard kick under the table. I glare at her.
    “So, were you hired?” I think my face shows my surprise because Nick quickly explains, “Jake told me.”
    “Yeah, Murphy hired me.” I pick up my Coke as Nick turns to answer a question from Sam.
    Emma Rae kicks me again. Stop it , I mouth, giving her a dirty look.
    Nick turns back to me. “Did