Just to be Left Alone Read Online Free PDF Page A

growled.
      “That’s it,” Parker said as he put the papers
back down on the table. “I can hear your stomach from here. Go wash up and meet
me at my car. I’m getting food into you before you quit on me.”
    I
looked at my watch and was surprised it was already one o’clock.
    “Okay,
I’ll wash up and lock the door then meet you outside. Where were you planning?”
    “There’s
a diner that I go when I’m in town. Relax, you’ll love it.”
    “Why
don’t you bring the estimates and we can go over them while we eat.”
    “No,
you deserve a break. Besides, I don’t want grease on the paperwork.”
    He
drove us there in the sedan with soft music playing. I relaxed against the
seat.
    “You’re
not falling asleep over there, are you?” I heard him chuckle.
    “No,
I am relaxing. You did say I deserved a break.”
    I
closed my eyes again.
    “Please
don’t start snoring or it’ll ruin my image of you.”
    After
we parked and walked to the front door we were greeted by a waitress with
bright red hair named Julia.
    “Been
awhile Parker, who have you got there with you?” She asked, smacking her gum.
    “This
is Samantha and we’re working together for a couple of weeks.”
    “I’d
like to work with you for a few weeks, you just never give me the time of day.”
    Julia
handed us laminated menus.
    “Julia,
honey, I don’t want to ruin our friendship. If I make you mad you’re liable to
poison my food and then where would I go to eat?” He flashed his charming smile
at her.
    “Yeah,
right. Always the same Parker, even if the lines change. Girl, watch out for
this sly one because he’ll charm you from morning till night and you’ll lose
count of the days until he’s gone.”
    “Julia,
I just met Samantha and already you’re acting like a jealous girlfriend. Now be
a sweetheart and give us a minute so we can figure out what wonderful food you
can bring us.”
    “Do
you want a drink while you wait?”
    Where did she learn to smack gum like that?
    “Sweet
tea for both of us, doll, and thank you.”  
    He
opened the menu to see the specials for the day.
    “Anytime
sweets, anytime.” She waltzed away.
    “She
has it bad for you, Parker.” I looked over the menu.
    “No,
she has it in for me because she had
it bad for me and I didn’t ask her out. I was serious about her poisoning me!
Don’t let the Lucille Ball hair dye fool you. That woman could get mad and
bring out her poisoned apples and pay you a visit. I have my reasons to be
afraid and I think I’ll keep her as a friend.”
    “Okay,
I’ll drop it if you tell me what’s good to eat.”
    “All
of it and I truly mean that. I really like the cliché stuff like meatloaf,
country fried steak, catfish, fried chicken. The pot pie is fabulous. I also
recommend the mashed potatoes, pinto beans, hash brown casserole, pecan pie and
cheesecake.”
    “Alright
I guess I’ll have the meatloaf, hash brown casserole and the cheesecake to go
with the tea you ordered for me.”
    “I’m
sorry, did that bother you? I knew you got tea yesterday and since you didn’t
show up with coffee I just thought you’d like their tea.”
    “I’m
fine with you ordering the tea. I’m not used to guys ordering for me, so I have
to admit I was thrown.”
    I
shifted in my seat uncomfortably.
    Julia
interrupted as she set down our drinks. He gave her our orders, handed her the
menus and then winked at her before she walked away.
    I
threw a paper wad at him. It landed in his perfect hair.
    “Hey,
I was serious about keeping her on friendly terms so I can keep eating here.
You can’t be jealous of that, can you?”
    He
threw the wad back at me. I ducked just in time.
    “I’m
not jealous of anyone, so wink away.”
    He
threw another wad at me. I ducked and yet it went straight down my shirt.
    “Great,
now I have to go fish that out. Where’s the ladies room?”
    I
looked down at my cleavage.
    “Past
the front door and on the left. Though you can fish it out right