Saving Grace (Madison Falls) Read Online Free PDF

Street’s equivalent of the Carnegie Deli. She’d given herself an attitude check before setting out that morning. All she needed was to find a sense of purpose here while she waited it out. She’d be just fine.
    With a heartening inhalation, she flipped open her copy of the local paper. She puckered her brow. Were they kidding? The Madison Falls Gazette was so puny, the ads from the New York Times would have laughed at it.
    She flipped through it, easily locating a scrawny column of want ads.
    “Coffee, honey?” A waitress straight out of Alice approached her table.
    “Thanks.” Grace smiled as the liquid promise of a better day flowed into her cup.
    “You must be the new girl in town.” The waitress nodded toward the paper. “Looking for work?”
    “I think so.” Grace smiled wanly.
    “You’re in luck if you’d like to waitress. We could use some help.”
    Grace gulped, hoping for some better options. “Oh, I would never do that .”
    “Oh?” The woman put a hand on her hip and looked down her nose.
    Warmth flooded Grace’s cheeks. Her tone must have betrayed her repulsion at the woman’s suggestion. “I mean, it seems so hard. I just don’t think I could do it.” She gave her menu a quick go-over. “I’ll have a spinach and cheese omelet and country potatoes, please.”
    The waitress firmed her jaw as she grabbed the menu and walked away.
    Great way to start the day.
    Grace really hadn’t meant to offend the woman, but she had always considered that type of job to be subservient. She was used to being doted over. Now she felt terrible. And a little afraid to eat that omelet.
    She looked at the mug in front of her with renewed hope. Could her quest for a decent cup of coffee culminate here at the Country Kitchen? She lifted the cup and inhaled, prolonging the anticipation, then let some of the liquid slip between her lips.
    Her mouth pursed. Had she been in an appropriate social setting, she would have spit it out. How was it possible that this could be even worse than the coffee at the bakery? And how could all the other diners consume it without gagging? Didn’t these people know mud when they tasted it?
    She plunked the cup back down, letting out a loud breath. Her disappointment as bitter as the coffee, she turned her attention back to the want ads.
    Gas station attendant . Not in her wildest dreams. Dental hygienist . Not likely. Floral designer . Now that seemed promising. Must have three years floral experience . She’d received five or six years’ worth of opening night bouquets. Would that count?
    Heaving an uneasy sigh, she set down the ads. She’d better find something, and not just to keep her mind occupied. Who knew how long she’d be stuck here?
    Too bad she didn’t have unlimited funds, like Kirk, so she wouldn’t have to work. Of course if that were the case, she’d just hire someone to protect her.
    She huffed out a sigh, wanting nothing more than to forget about him. Why did he still permeate her thoughts? Would the day ever come when she could just live her life free of him?
    As the bell over the door jingled, her gaze lifted and her heart all but stopped. In strutted a man in tight-fitting Levis and a muscle T-shirt. He paused just inside the door to peruse the place as if making sure his entrance had been noticed. He looked right at Grace and for a split second, in spite of the casual attire, she could have sworn it was Kirk.
    She gaped, too stunned to look away. It wasn’t Kirk, she saw that now, but he had the same James Dean swagger and carefully coifed sandy blond hair. The same air of self-importance.
    He swaggered in, straddled a stool at the counter, and whistled to the waitress as if she were a cocker spaniel.
    Grace breathed deeply, telling herself she was safe. It was just a weird coincidence coupled with her heightened awareness of her own personal danger zone.
    The bell jingled again and she held her breath. Oh no. Was she doomed to run into Sam everywhere