Southern Hospitality (27 page)

A smile twitched at his mouth. “A little more coffee would be nice.” He lifted his cup to her and Kati glared at him. Another freeloader, she knew it! If she started waiting on him and serving him free food, she’d never get rid of him.

Yanking the cup out of his hand, Kati stormed behind the counter and grabbed the pot left over from breakfast. Sloshing some cold coffee into his cup, she returned to the booth and banged the cup down in front of him. Tapping her foot impatiently and trying not to stare at him, she waited while he took a sip.

“This coffee is terrible,” he announced, and Kati reached out and snatched the cup out of his hand.

“Since you don’t want any more of my coffee, perhaps you’ll tell me what you do want?”

One black brow rose and his eyes danced merrily. “Do you treat all your customers so courteously?” he asked casually, pausing to roll up the sleeves of his shirt.

“Listen, Mr.—”

“Kane. Lucas Kane.” He held out his hand and Kati stared at it as if it were a snake ready to strike. Her eyes caught a flash of something on his arm. A tattoo, that much she knew for sure. She tried not to stare, but her curiosity got the best of her and she squinted, trying to make out the words.

“Born to Raise Kane,” he drawled slowly, and Kati’s startled gaze flew to his. Her breath caught unexpectedly and she felt annoyance streak through her.

“Mr. Kane,” she said sharply. “I have work to do, so if you don’t mind, would you please state what your business with my brother is, so that I can get on with my business?”

“Ahhh, my business. Well, Mabel…” Leaning back against the booth, he inclined his head to study her from a different angle.

“My name’s not Mabel,” she snapped, a little off balance at the way he was looking at her.

He frowned in obvious confusion. “Who’s Mabel?” he inquired, and Kati ground her teeth. Just because the diner was called Mabel’s didn’t mean there had to be a Mabel. That was the name of the diner when she purchased it. She bought the place from a man named Bruno, and he’d never seen hide nor hair of anyone named Mabel, either. Everyone in town knew who really owned the place, so there didn’t seem much point in changing the name. Besides, new signs cost money, money better spent elsewhere, not that she intended to explain all of that to him.

“Would you please state your business?” Kati demanded, her patience sorely strained.

He smiled pleasantly. “I guess you could say my business is your business.” Kati narrowed her eyes to stare at him suspiciously.

“What the devil are you talking about, Mr. Kane? I don’t have time to play guessing games with you.”

“Call me Luke.”

“I’ll call you a lot more than that if you don’t hurry up and tell me what you want!” Kati threatened, trying to ignore Bessie who was waving frantically from the kitchen.

He lifted his finger and beckoned Kati closer. Puzzled, but anxious to learn what he wanted, she leaned down so he could whisper in her ear. “You know,” he said softly, his warm breath fanning her hair, “you are mighty testy. Perhaps you should try meditating. Maybe your karma is out of whack!”

Jerking upright, Kati glared at him, not at all amused by the mischief in his eyes. “What do you want?”

“Food,” he said simply. “But after that coffee, I don’t know if I should risk it. I’m not too fond of food poisoning.”

“Food poisoning!” Kati bellowed, glaring at the man. How dare he insult her diner. “I’ll have you know the food in here is excellent. Not that you’re going to get any of it!”

Southern Hospitality

Sally Falcon

In this battle of North vs. South, love is the true winner.

When Northerner Logan Harrington meets Southerner Tory Planchet, sparks immediately fly. Forced to leave his beloved Boston for the South—Arkansas, no less—Logan has no idea what Tory sees in the place. His assignment to write about the Rally Car circuit is preposterous, and he has no problem letting everyone, including Tory, know it.

As far as Tory’s concerned, Logan Harrington can’t leave town fast enough. From the tip of his blond head, to the bottom of his polished shoes, he screams arrogance. How could her father possibly know his family? And if Logan expected her to be a sweet Southern magnolia blossom, he was sorely mistaken. In fact, with her, he’s going to get a taste of Southern Hospitality he’ll never forget.

This book was previously published by Kismet Books in July 1990.

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

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Southern Hospitality

Copyright © 2012 by Sally Falcon

ISBN: 978-1-60928-987-4

Edited by Heather Osborn

Cover by Kim Killion

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Original Publication by Kismet Books: July 1990

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: March 2012

www.samhainpublishing.com