The Patriot Girl

The Patriot Girl by Toni Lynn Cloutier

Book: The Patriot Girl by Toni Lynn Cloutier Read Free Book Online
Authors: Toni Lynn Cloutier
Tags: General Fiction
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“Are you folks ready to order?”
    “I believe so.” He nodded. “Ladies first.”
    “A steak, medium-well, with a baked potato and corn.”
    “I’ll have the same.”
    The waitress tucked her pencil behind her ear as she removed the menus from the table. “Great. I’m Shelly. If you need anything else, let me know.”
    “We will.” Dustin nodded. “Thank you.”
    This time he welcomed the weight of MaKayla’s knee against his, rather than jumping out of his skin. If the bank robber who had tossed her into his arms needed a lawyer, Dustin would have to represent him pro bono as a thank you.
    For the next several minutes, he continued with small talk as he read over the ideas she had for the club. He didn’t have a problem with what she’d come up with, but he wouldn’t discuss the details now. He was looking forward to seeing her again…to sign the papers.
    Shelly came back too quickly with their meals. The smell of the grilled steak took him back to his childhood, and the only thing that could have distracted him from the woman sitting across from him. Summer Oklahoma barbecues, horseback riding, and bonfires at the ranch.
    Those were the good ole days—days his daughter would never get to experience. If Grandpa’s heart had lasted longer than fifty-two years, Dustin would have helped him run the ranch. Melissa would have had a different life. The end of grandpa meant the end of the ranch and the end of his grandma, as Dustin had known her. Grandpa had been the love of her life, and he had taken the best parts of her with him to his grave.
    As much as he missed Liz, he couldn’t allow the same thing to happen to him. He had Melissa to live for. Having this beautiful woman sitting in front him gave him a reality check.
    If there was any hope of moving past what he couldn’t change, he had to put closure to his past once and for all. The only way to do that would be to let go of the guilt and call his lawyer to close the case on Paul Adams’s accident.
    “This smells delicious, Dustin. Of course it’s always nice when someone else cooks.”
    He could sit forever and admire the way MaKayla slid small pieces of steak through her pink lips. When she closed her eyes to relish the flavor, he held back from leaning over the table to kiss the juice off her lips. Who knew an innocent dinner could turn into something so erotic?
    He cleared his throat. “Do you cook?” Good distraction from where his mind was headed. His one-track mind seemed ever-present these past few days. Allowing himself the hope of finding companionship was exciting.
    Though Dustin might not be dead, his soul had been for the past three years. It was time to dust off the cobwebs and live again. He was now ready to move on, and he had MaKayla to thank.
    “I don’t mind cooking when there’s someone else to enjoy it.”
    She cooks. The more he learned, the more he liked. The mystery about her was closer to being solved. But that had been all he would learn as they finished their meals in trivial chitchat for the next twenty minutes.
    “That was delicious.” MaKayla placed her fork down then raised her wine glass. “Here’s to still being alive to have enjoyed it. Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” He joined in the toast then tossed his napkin from his lap onto the table.
    Besides the macaroni and cheese dinners he shared with his daughter on Tuesday nights, this meal—along with the company—came in second as being one of his favorites. He looked forward to doing this again. “How about we get together Friday night? I’ll sign the contract and we can talk about costs and anything else we come up with.”
    “Sounds good.”
    Shelly interrupted. “How is everything?”
    Dustin nodded. “Great.”
    “Care for some dessert?”
    He looked across the table. When MaKayla shook her head, Dustin handed Shelly his credit card. “We’re all set. Thank you.”
    It didn’t take long for the waitress to return with his credit

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