Walking on Sunshine Read Online Free Page B

there.”
    â€œWhat? Don’t they bite?” Garret could only shake his head that this was actually some sort of sport that one would willingly engage in.
    â€œWhen they clamp their mouth shut you grab them by the gills and haul them out of the water. It’s not too dangerous. You usually only get little scratches or cuts.”
    â€œSounds horrid.”
    Mattie glanced over at the front counter and then lowered her voice. “It’s not the catfish that are dangerous but the snakes or snapping turtles or beavers who take over the catfish holes as their home.”
    Garret felt a flash of alarm. “You’re not really going to do this nonsense, are you?”
    Mattie shrugged. “Maybe.” She gave Colby a glance and Garret wondered if she would do this insane activity to impress him. Apparently so.
    â€œGood God, I’ll pay you
not
to do it. Name your price,” Garret offered, but she only laughed as if he was joking, though he wasn’t.
    â€œYou’re funny, you know that? I’ll bring more coffee over in a minute.”
    â€œThank you.” Garret wanted to tell her that he was dead serious, but she turned on her heel and hurried back to the griddle, where she cracked eggs one-handed andthen started rapidly flipping food, making her ponytail swing back and forth. Garret had a hard time not staring at her cute bum in those little cutoff jeans. After she served up the big breakfast feast, the blokes dove into their food with gusto and to Garret’s relief the teasing finally ceased.
    Mattie seemed to take it all in stride as she handed menus to a sweet older couple whom she addressed as Clyde and Miss Patty.
    â€œYou two still have that newlywed glow about you,” Mattie said as she poured coffee into their mugs.
    â€œI’m not at all surprised that it shows.” Clyde reached over and picked up Miss Patty’s hand. When he bestowed her knuckles with light kisses, she blushed. “I couldn’t be happier.”
    â€œOh, you’re such a sweet talker,” Miss Patty said with a wave of her hand, but the blush deepened.
    Newlyweds? There was something so endearing about them that Garret had to smile. He felt an odd stab of longing and in that same moment Mattie turned and came walking his way.
    â€œThey’re cute, aren’t they?”
    â€œAdorable.”
    While Mattie poured steaming coffee into his mug she asked, “How is everything?”
    Garret responded with a long sigh and she laughed. “You’re right. I’ll die happy.”
    â€œLet me know if you need anything else,” she said, sounding a little bit breathless.
    â€œDon’t you have any help?” Garret asked, thinking that she could use someone to either cook or wait tables for her.
    Mattie shrugged. “Sometimes I have Bubba Brown in here helpin’ me cook and clear tables, but he’s a bit under the weather, so I’m all by myself today.” It seemed like a daunting task to have to do everything on her own, but she seemed to be able to handle it. “And my brother Danny over at the counter will help me clean up if hedoesn’t have boats to work on today. I’d rather be busy than standing around twiddling my thumbs.” She shot him a grin. “Keeps me outta trouble.”
    â€œI hope it keeps you from sticking your hand in a catfish hole,” he grumbled, but she just laughed again.
    â€œMaybe you should come along.”
    â€œNot on your life,” Garret said, trying to imagine doing such a foolish thing.
    â€œDon’t say I didn’t offer,” Mattie said in a tone that suggested that she knew he wouldn’t accept, making him suddenly want to.
    But when she started to turn away, Garret felt the need to stop her. He surprised himself by saying, “Seriously, Mattie, don’t do something that could potentially cause you harm just to prove yourself.” He supposed that he could relate,