Hide Out Read Online Free PDF Page A

“You’ll live. I promise.”
    His head down, Trevor turned his hand over so they were palm to palm. “Sure you’re up to it?” he asked quietly. “Daddy dearest is a real asshole.”
    “I’m a bigger asshole,” Pete growled, making Trevor laugh.
    “Here’s a couple glasses of— Oh!” The waitress paused, a water glass held in midair and her gaze fixed on the men’s hands. Trevor yanked his away, scowling. With a shake of her head, the waitress put the water in front of Pete and reached for the second glass on her tray.
    “Of course,” she exclaimed, sounding just as cheerful as before. “You two must be the ones who bought the old Cooper place on Mason Street!”
    Nodding, Pete extended his hand. “Pete Giordano. This,” he waved toward Trevor,
    “is Joey. Joey Long.”
    20
    Hide Out
    The waitress shook Pete’s hand, beaming. “Cindy Cord. That’s my daughter, Tina.”
    She pointed at the cook, who was still stealing glances at them from the kitchen. When Tina saw all three looking at her, she turned crimson and gave an awkward wave before focusing intently on the food.
    “Oh she’s going to be disappointed when I tell her you two are…um…” Cindy trailed off, looking more puzzled than embarrassed. “Partners? Or did you go to Iowa or somewhere to get married?”
    As Trevor made a choking sound that he tried to turn into a cough, Pete told her,
    “Partners is fine. I’m still trying to convince Joey to tie the knot but he’s a little gun shy.” Leaning closer to her, he said with a conspiratorial smile, “His parents fought a lot.”
    “Ah,” Cindy breathed, nodding. “Understandable. Well, welcome to Honeysuckle. It’s always nice to see some new faces, especially such good-looking ones.”
    “Um…thank you.” Pete made a conscious effort not to look at Trevor, knowing he’d crack up at the man’s expression. The bell on the door jangled as two women entered the diner.
    “Better get back to it,” she said, winking. “This place is going to fill up fast when word gets around that you’re here. Everyone’ll want to get a look at the new arrivals.”
    On cue, another four women surged in.
    Trevor watched in horror as they battled for the table closest to his and Pete’s.
    “How do they know already?”
    “Somehow they just do in this place.” Cindy shook her head and laughed.
    “Although I think part of this is due to Tina texting everyone she knows when the pair of you walked in here. She had her eye on blondie here. I’ll have to go break the news you’re both unavailable.” Still chuckling, she bustled off.
    “Hi!” A pair of matched redheads leaned over their table, flashing identical cleavage.
    “I’m Kari,” one breathed, flashing a toothpaste-ad white smile. “This is my sister, Kylie.”
    Pete gave a stilted nod and opened his mouth to speak when Cindy’s voice from across the room interrupted him.
    “They’re gay, girls,” she hollered from the other side of the diner. “So stop harassing them and let them enjoy their lunch.”
    The twins’ faces fell as a disappointed murmur rippled through the now-full diner.
    “Oh,” Kylie said. “Well, it’s nice to meet you anyway.”
    “Maybe we can go shopping together sometime?” Kari suggested as the two drifted away.
    “Sure,” Pete grunted. When they were out of earshot, he added under his breath,
    “In hell, maybe.”
    21
    Katie Allen
    “I think we are in hell,” Trevor muttered, eyeing the crowd packed into the diner.
    “A hell with brisket.”
    Pete laughed. “Could’ve been worse. They could’ve dragged us out on the street and beaten our heads in.”
    With a long-suffering sigh, Trevor wondered, “ Would that’ve been worse?”
    Pete laughed and then caught a glimpse of another group of women making a beeline toward their table. “Heads up—more Honeysuckle hags at two o’clock.”
    Before the giggling women could descend upon them, Cindy came to the rescue.
    “Girls, go sit