I checked the road and crossed it quickly toward the automobile garage that lay open.
That was when I spotted my blue sedan glistening under the sunlight, but the closer I got, the more I saw the gravity of the damage done. The front of the car was completely crushed in from where I’d slammed into the tree. I cringed at how bad the wreckage was compared to what I remembered. But it had been dark. Now when I stared at the warped and twisted metal, my heart sunk. There was no way the car was drivable in this state.
Fuck!
I heard a crunch of feet on concrete behind me.
“Is it your car?” a voice asked me, and I turned to face a man in oil stained coveralls. Short hair, slightly curly, he stood with hands in his pockets nonchalantly. I was having trouble focusing on him with my wreck of a car sitting there. How long would I have to work at the diner to pay this off? And that was if I even got the job.
I was trapped here until I sorted out my car.
“Miss?”
I glanced back up at the guy, realizing I had completely forgotten to respond. “Y-yes, this is my car. How much is it going to cost to fix it?”
I chewed on my lower lip, praying the news wasn’t as severe as the damage on the car.
“Sorry, ma’am, but we only just hauled it here, so maybe come back later when the bossman is in to see when he can fit it in.”
I licked my suddenly dry lips. “But if you had to take a guess. How much would such a fix cost?”
He shrugged and ran a hand over his mouth, staring at the mess behind me. “It’s impossible to tell until we see the internal damage to the motor, but it’ll probably run into the thousands.”
“Thousands?” My knees weakened. I might as well buy a second-hand car for that cost.
“Like I said, we won’t know until we pull it apart.” He started strolling back into the garage, while I was left looking at the chaotic mess I’d made of my car.
I wanted to cry so badly. For weeks, I’d been careful, then a damn animal darting across the road ruined everything.
I took in deep inhales to calm myself, but all I managed was to drown on the oxygen.
Then I recalled my bag was still in the car, so I approached the back door and pulled it open. It sat there waiting for me. I reached in and grabbed it, along with my half-eaten Doritos bag and bottle of water.
I shot a glare at my car for putting me in this spot. Which was ridiculous since it was my fault. With a huff, I walked down the driveway, figuring this was as good a time as any to find the diner and apply for a job. I returned to the inn to put on something more presentable, not that I had many options.
Fifteen minutes later, I stood in front of Moonstruck Diner, an older building with a wide, wraparound window that guided me to the entrance door at the side. It didn’t look busy.
A bell rang when I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Booths lined the window, while smaller black and white chairs and tables peppered the main area. The ordering bar was located to the far right with the kitchen tucked behind the counter with a swinging door and a service window giving me a view of a man with his back to me. Farther in the back was a small bar with stools and what looked like a small stage for a band.
Wooden floorboards, bright globe light fixtures hung over the booths, and smaller ones lit up the rest of the room. The place looked loved and heavily used.
The smell of eggs and toast permeated the air, and I glanced past the only patron in the room glancing my way. My attention swept toward the kitchen section, where a man stepped out and immediately lifted his gaze to meet mine.
My heart beat tremendously fast. I wiped my sweaty palms down my black skirt, and I prayed he didn’t notice the wrinkles in my white shirt. The room at the inn had no iron I could find.
Before I could find my confidence, the man approached me with a wide smile and long strides. He wore jeans and a black button-up shirt with the word ‘Moonstruck’ over his heart and a half rising moon over the words. The badge above the logo on his shirt revealed his name. Marcus.
“Table for one?” he asked. “And looks like it’s your lucky day. You can pick your table. It’s not often we get out of town visitors.”
This really must be a small town if he could take one look at me and know I was from out of town. Thinking on it, it had been that way with everyone.
He paused in front of me, standing much taller than I was, his dark russet hair messy around his angular face. The wheels behind his brown eyes were spinning. No denying, the man was extremely easy on the eyes, and there was a commanding feel about the way he carried himself. I recognized strength and leadership in this man. It was the small things, the way he stood, holding my stare, every word calculated.
Much like Alistair, except this man was hopefully nothing like my fated mate. Alistair had kept me his prisoner for so long where I had no say, no identity, no strength to stand up for myself. He stripped me bare of everything, making me so scared that I behaved as he’d expected.
When I looked at Marcus, I didn’t see cruelty, just uncertainty and hesitation.
I could work with that.
“Actually, I’m here to apply for the waitress position.” Sweat dripped down my back, and I hated how nervous I felt. “My name’s Rune.” I stuck my hand out to shake his, unsure if that was the right thing to do in this situation.
He didn’t leave me hanging for long and shook my hand. His grip was strong, his touch hot.
Hold it together and keep smiling.
But when he didn’t respond, anxiety beat into me that I’d come too late and the position was filled.
“I’m a hard worker and a quick learner, plus I can start today if you need me…” The words rushed out desperately, and I fidgeted awkwardly in place.
The truth was I’d never had a job. But I could learn. I tried out a smile again, inwardly wincing at how awkward I was sure it looked.
He sighed. “We’re still discussing with the team if we need an extra helping hand, so no news on it yet.”
“Marcus, who are you kidding?” the man at the booth by the window called out. “This place is a shit show right now. We need help.”
I wanted to hug the stranger for stepping in.
Marcus threw a glare at the man, so I seized the opportunity.
“Please. Try me out for a week or two and let me show you my worth.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “How about you come back in a few days, and I’ll have a talk with the owner.”
His words gutted me, and my attempt to appear professional and in control flew out the window.
As he turned away from me, I pleaded, “Please, I really need this job. I’ve run out of options. I’ll do anything, even scrub the toilets if that’s what you need.”
I loathed listening to myself, but reality was a brutal bastard. With only twenty dollars in my purse, I had no car or way of getting out of his town. If I tried to leave here right now, I would have no roof over my head, and where would I even go? I was in the middle of nowhere with wolves in the woods.
I trembled at the thought.
The bell from the front door opened, and a party of three older men entered, chatting, not even paying us attention as they made their way to the farthest booth.
“You seem really nice, Rune, but—”
“P-please.” I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “I’ll be honest with you, Marcus. My car is ruined, and I don’t have money. If I don’t find a way to pay for the repairs, I’m homeless and stuck here. I’m sorry, I hate saying this or putting you on the spot. Carrie from the inn mentioned you had a position.”