The Perfect Catch. Cassidy Carter

this. I’m heading up the Spring Fling auction next week, and we’re way behind.”

      Brett shook his head. “Jessica, you’re stretched too thin already. Why not let someone else do it?”

      “Well, since no one else stepped up, I guess I’ll have to stretch even thinner,” Jessica answered.

      Brett, who seemed to already be forgetting that he’d asked her something, waved at a couple of people dressed in business attire who were huddled in conversation across the room.

      “I should say hi to some folks,” he said to Jess. “Spring’s prime time to up coverage before tornado and cicada season hits.”

      Jessica said, “Network away.” She couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment as he eagerly left her side. So much for date night. She hadn’t been thrilled that this was where they’d be passing their time for the evening, but she’d been looking forward to spending time with Brett.

      She recalled another Spring Fling where she’d felt much more excited to plan, decorate, and participate. But that one had been so many years ago it was ancient history. Spring Fling Queen, she thought ruefully. Her Spring Fling King likely didn’t even remember her name.

      She looked around, debating where she’d be the most help. She’d just decided to go and letter the signs for the game booths when a slick, familiar voice sounded from behind her.

      “Well, hello, Jessica.”

      Jessica turned and saw Charlie. She resisted the urge to hold her nose. His cologne usually announced his arrival before he stepped into a room. Her allergies must have been acting up because she’d not smelled him coming. With his slicked-back hair and dress shirt open at the collar, he appeared more like an old-school, scamming car salesman than a forty-something, successful restaurateur.

      She forced a smile. “Good to see you, Charlie.”

      “You, too, Jessica,” Charlie said. “How’s business?”

      Like you don’t know. “Well, it was better before you opened up your new restaurant out by the highway.”

      Just as smarmy and know-it-all as he always was anytime Jess ran across him, Charlie said, “I always thought Parker Falls needed another restaurant. Ya know, something new. Besides, a little friendly competition just helps everyone raise the bar a little.”

      Jessica, knowing that her false smile was wavering, tried to extricate herself quickly from the conversation. The longer she stayed, the more likely Charlie was to become an insurance statistic.

      “Thanks for the marketing lesson.” She began to turn away, but his next words stopped her.

      “You could always relocate. Your folks moved to Florida, right? I hear it’s sunny there. And from what I hear at the bank, you missed the latest payment on your small-business loan?” Charlie’s grin wouldn’t have been out of place on a shark.

      Jessica bristled. Leave it to Parker Falls to have a blabbermouth working at the bank who was family to the man she was in direct competition with. She made a mental note to go down to the local branch in the morning and speak to the management about discussing a customer’s personal information.

      She snapped back at Charlie. “Tell your brother hi, and we’re doing just fine. My grandpa Wesley opened the diner forty years ago, and I’ve put my heart and soul into keeping it going. We’ve still got a few tricks up our sleeves.”

      “Really? Do tell.”

      “Taco Wednesday’s tomorrow. It’s gonna be huge.”

      Charlie pursed his lips, his expression disbelieving. “Taco Wednesdays? Oooh. Oh-kay.” He shook his head and walked off.

      At least I got rid of him. Her face burned with embarrassment. Had anyone heard their exchange? Brett was still across the room, likely debating the merits of low-deductible plans.

      Passing by, the mayor said, “Shouldn’t it be Taco Tuesdays?”

      Jess blanched. Oh, right. Tomorrow was Tuesday. And Taco Tuesday sounded so much better.

      “Yeah,” Jess said to no one in particular, “if I hadn’t just thought of it now.”

      Chapter 3

      The next morning, after a serious chat with the bank manager and a double latte, Jessica was ready to take on Taco Tuesday—the real Taco Wednesday. Her flub from last night was still a little embarrassing, but she’d been so stressed with running the diner that it was no surprise she didn’t even know what day it was.

      The main problem with Taco Tuesday was that no one knew about it—aside from Jess, Cal, and Nina, who were now sitting in the empty restaurant, trying to keep from going stir-crazy. The day crept by, and lunch passed without a ravenous crowd descending, vying for Mexican food.

      Jess needed something to do. She accomplished nothing but wasting time as she sat, worrying, running the conversation—confrontation was a better word—with Charlie over and over in her mind.

      Nina said, “Don’t worry, boss. It’s still early.” Jess appreciated the comforting words, but they didn’t help the bottom line or the wasted cost of the food she might have to scrap if she didn’t get inventive with tonight’s themed leftovers.

      Jessica slumped, feeling defeated. “Taco night’s a bust, brunch buddies bombed, and clearly, our theme nights aren’t pulling customers in. So on to plan B. Or is it plan M at this point?”

      Jessica was determined not to let Charlie get the best of her. Aside from preserving her grandfather’s legacy, Jess was dead set on beating the smug fellow business owner at his patronizing game. “I’ll think of something,” she said to Nina. There had to be a bright side, a way out, and Jess felt herself gravitating back toward hope. She had to—it was her only choice.

      Nina, smiling at her boss, said, “You never give up, do ya?”

      “I can’t,” Jess replied. And it was true. Ever since Wes’s dad had left, it had been up to Jessica to shoulder raising her son, running the diner, and all of the many tasks that everyday life required, and she took those responsibilities seriously. Everything she did here in Parker Falls, she did out of love. She wasn’t just another franchise out by the highway. She had ties to this place, to this town, to these people, even though it seemed as though they’d forgotten that the diner even existed. Jessica looked at a framed photo on the wall of her grandpa standing beside an old canteen truck. He’d started from next to nothing, and protecting what he’d built was important to her.

      Jessica knew Nina needed no explanation. Nina had heard Jess bemoan the construction of Charlie’s place before. Jess squared her shoulders and tapped her pen on the fading Formica table in front of her. “It took Grandpa years to save up for this place. The least I can do is give Charlie a fight.”

      Chase zoomed down the expressway, the midafternoon sun warm on his face, too preoccupied with thoughts of what he was leaving behind in Boston to appreciate the beautiful weather. Too much turmoil. Too much uncertainty. He was laying a little heavy on the gas pedal, but the open country felt good after being cooped up in the city for too long. He pushed his rented sports car just a smidge faster. He was headed home, to a place where nothing was ever up in the air, and nothing ever changed.

      Hmm, except that.

      Chase sped past a new restaurant, Charlie’s Cafe, that sat near the expressway. Several cars turned into its parking lot, but Chase kept driving, knowing that his flashy Mercedes convertible would be out of place among trucks and old cars. He didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention on his first day back. Sure, people would know he had returned to Parker Falls. Even folks who weren’t sports fans would know that he was the baseball