Steal Me, Cowboy by Kim Boykin Page A

the freezer he’d just repaired a few days ago that was broken again.
    “Must have been a bad part,” Beck said, running down the list. “Get someone over here to fix it.”
    “You sure, boss?” Beck gave him a look; of course he was sure. “It’s just that you always fix things around here yourself. You’re a little anal that way.”
    “Just do it,” he snapped. God, he had to stop punishing the world because couldn’t have Rainey Brown. “Sorry. Just call the repairman. Please.”
    By three o’clock, he almost felt like his old self. He’d changed the menu up at the last minute, which didn’t make Chef happy. For the featured appetizer, he added the house-made ravioli made with forest mushrooms, crème fraîche, sautéed leeks, and shaved asiago. He’d gotten almost a bushel of heirloom tomatoes out of the garden around noon, and added a simple clean salad of pickled red onions with the tomatoes, topped with basil and poached shrimp.
    He really pushed the envelope when Chef saw the main course. He could tell she was mad, but knew she’d get over it by the time the dinner crowd started in, and there were a lot of reservations for a Tuesday night, including two big parties. Yeah, work was just what he needed.
    The first large party was ten women. All gorgeous. One of them Courtney.
    She smiled, looking down at her menu as her girlfriends gabbed.
    “You should go out with us, Court,” one of the blondes said.
    “We let you have two nights off. No, three. After dinner, you’re definitely going out,” the one who could have passed for Courtney’s sister said.
    She glanced up at Beck to let him know that her friends didn’t know that like him, she’d had that very thing in mind a couple of nights ago.
    “You need to find you a cowboy and get laid,” another blonde added.
    “Tell me about it,” she laughed.
    “Welcome to Beck’s Place,” he said to the table. “You ladies celebrating?”
    “The opposite,” the lone redhead said. “Our last night in Marietta. It’s been fun.”
    “Thanks for stopping in. Hope your last night in town is a good one,” he said.
    He checked in with each table after their meal like he always did, introducing himself, making sure everything was perfect. It was a good night. The place was buzzing with happy diners, the best kitchen staff he’d ever had and the only ones who could give each other shit and still turn out great food on time. Graceful servers turned impatient on a dime the minute they passed through the kitchen doors and then floated back to serve their tables with an extra helping of Zen. Yes, for the first time, in what felt like forever, Beck felt like he was back.
    After the diners had left and the staff was gathered in the bar, Beck lifted his glass. “Great night, everybody. Thanks.” Most of them looked like they’d forgiven him for being such an ass last week, even Chef had come down off her high horse and was having a beer with him.
    “So what’s been up with you lately?” She cocked her head to the side.
    “Nothing. How ‘bout you?”
    She laughed and took a long draw off of her beer. “I’ve been good, but you . You’ve been acting weird.”
    “Weird? You’re full of shit.”
    “Maybe.” She toasted him. “Maybe not.”
    “Everybody’s allowed a bad day.”
    “Not you. You’re too damn anal. “
    He laughed. “Funny, you’re not the first person to tell me that today.”
    “You have to have everything your way, Hartnett, or it’s definitely not a good day.”
    “You’re a pain in my ass. I’m thinking of swapping you out.”
    “Wanna get someone in here who won’t give you shit?” She smirked. “Be my guest.”
    “Listen to you, thinking you know everything. I could be sick. Dying and keeping it all to myself since I’m so anal.”
    “I have a feeling it’s not that. ” Shiteater’s grin on her face, definitely moving in for the kill. “I’m pretty sure it’s the recipe you told me to put on the menu