This can stand alone, but it is a short sequel of sorts to "Tamed".
Thank you, D, for the constant feedback.
*****
Sally felt euphoric as she drove to her restaurant, singing along to some cheerful pop song. The sky was so bright and blue it almost hurt to look at it, and the sun shone on the rolling hills of green. Everything seemed sharper, clearer and lighter somehow.
There was no real urgency to get to work. Elvis had texted her to tell her that he had the breakfast rush under control, and Sally couldn't remember the last morning she had to herself. She'd hurried home to take a quick shower and change her clothes before work, but now she was taking her time.
She thought of Rhett and smiled so wide that her cheeks hurt. Last night had been more than she ever hoped for, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something much more profound than casual sex had happened in Rhett's bedroom. Normally, that kind of thought would make her panic, but now, inhaling the morning breeze and feeling the clean air against her skin, Sally could only smile.
The restaurant was calm when she arrived. There were a few cars in the parking lot, but nothing like the crazed crowd she had just missed. Sally's restaurant was infamous for her amazing breakfast and fulfilling dinner.
Elvis was outside, leaning against the back door and smoking. He'd never shook the bad habit, which annoyed her to no end.
"Howdy," he called when she approached him.
She waved his smoke away with annoyance and faked a cough to emphasize her displeasure. "Good morning."
He assessed her and grinned. "Well, well, well. Don't tell me."
Sally pulled her hair into a ponytail and stuck her tongue out. "Fine, then. I won't. Anything bad happen this morning?"
"Nope." Elvis flicked his cigarette onto the ground and looked at Sally with a suspicious grin. "Nothing at all."
Sally glared at her cousin. "Elvis, what aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing," he shrugged. "I wouldn't call what David told everybody 'bad', but that ain't my call."
"Elvis! What happened?" She punched his shoulder for good measure, but Elvis just laughed.
"Everyone, and I mean everyone, asked where you were this morning. Mr. Leland must have asked me ten times where you were, and you know he hasn't talked to me since I told him I thought basketball was superior to football. Anyway, David comes out of the kitchen, grumpy like he always is. Hears us all speculatin' and says he drove past Rhett Carver's place and saw your car there this morning. I didn't tell 'em about how you drove him home last night, I swear. Mrs. Cunningham clucked her tongue and said you must have finally succumbed to Rhett's powers."
Sally had cringed the moment Elvis began explaining, suspecting where it was headed. When he was finished, she muttered, "Shit," and then shrugged. "Whatever. I'm embarrassed as hell but I can't change anything."
Elvis was shocked and eyed her like she was sick. "Holy shit, what has happened to my baby cousin? Rhett really is some kind of god! Who knew one night with him could..."
"And you better stop right there," Sally warned.
She entered her place through the back door and waved at David, who was wearing a bit of a sick expression. He stood up straight when he saw her. "I swear, whatever your cousin just told you is a bald-faced lie!"
"Too late, buddy," Elvis said from behind her. "She knows, and she's taking it freakishly well! I'm not entirely convinced she ain't ill."
Sally laughed so hard that she snorted. Both men watched her in amazement.
"I'm not sure I've ever seen you laugh like that before," David whispered. He turned to Elvis. "Could it be true that Rhett..."
"Look, boys. Everything is okay. We live in a small town. Was bound to happen. Can we just shut up about it and get back to work now?"
Both men seemed more than relieved to return to the less dramatic chores of the workday.
*****
Around lunchtime, Sally glanced at her phone. Then she cursed herself for behaving like a stupid teenager. Rhett didn't even have her phone number, and she wasn't even sure he had a cell phone. She wasn't sure she ever saw him use one.
As Sally cleaned glasses and took orders and repeatedly told Elvis to wipe that grin off his face, Sally wondered the question all women dread pondering: what does this all mean?
Did Rhett do relationships? He mentioned an ex-wife, but he struck her as the kind of guy who had "lady friends". Not girlfriends. She tried to determine whether or not this bothered her. What was she looking for, anyway? A good time? Something more serious? A relationship?
"Jesus," she mumbled under her breath. She took a breath and rolled her eyes. It didn't have to mean anything, and she didn't need to stew with all of these angsty thoughts. She was entitled to a good time, for once, and she refused to give the matter any more thought.
Rhett slipped in just as she was finally relaxing. She ignored the way her body came alert as she took one of her regular customer's orders. Rhett sat himself down in a booth and said something to Elvis that had her cousin practically giggling.
For a brief moment, she wanted to hide. Then she told herself to get a grip. She was a grown woman and this was her restaurant. She wasn't ashamed of what they'd done; she had loved it, in fact.
She sauntered over to him when she was ready and flashed him a shy smile. "Hi."
His dark eyes appraised her from head to toe. "Hi, yourself. Can you take a break?"
"Um." She glanced around the restaurant and took stock. Everything seemed to be okay, but still... She wasn't accustomed to taking breaks.
Elvis walked up and handed Rhett a paper bag. "Thanks, Elvis. Wipe that grin off your face!"
Sally couldn't help but smile. "I've been telling him that all day. Hasn't worked." She nodded at the bag. "What's that?"
"Care to have some lunch with me?"
"But I..."
"It's David's best chicken salad. Can't let it go to waste, now. Besides," he added, his eyes darkening, "I'd like to spend some time with you, away from all of the prying eyes."
Sally blushed as she took in everyone's arrested stares. "Okay," she whispered. "Sounds like a plan."
He followed her to her office, not saying a word. She began to worry something was wrong, but as soon as she shut the door, he was on her, kissing her like they hadn't met in days.
He pulled away a moment later and calmly took out a chicken salad sandwich. Sally stood frozen against the door, blinking at him.
"Eat up, honey. I know you don't have a lot of time." He handed her a sandwich and smiled.
She sat on her desk and unwrapped her sandwich. He sat on the chair closest to her and absentmindedly stroked her leg as he ate. He didn't fill the time with nonsensical babble, which she greatly appreciated. She spent her day making small talk; the quiet was nice. He seemed happy to just be with her, too, which she found charming. She couldn't remember a man ever just content to sit in companionable silence with her before.
