Home > Stranger Ranger (Park Ranger #2)(12)

Stranger Ranger (Park Ranger #2)(12)
Author: Daisy Prescott

Some of us don't have roots near here. Gaia, me, Amory—most of us come from far away.

Even though I'm now a full-time, year-round employee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I probably won't stay here forever. The world's a big place, and I want to see as much of it as I can.

After a little more back-and-forth discussion, the group settles on Thursday night for the celebration at Genie’s.

If I’m supposed to play it cool, I don’t. I’m excited to check out the bar. Yes, I’ve been here for months, but during the busiest season of the year. Now that things are slowing down a little with kids back in school, I’m ready to explore the area more. Maybe hot farmers like to hang out at Genie’s, too. You never know.

 

 

Chapter Seven

 

 

Daphne

 

 

On Thursday, we split up into a couple cars to head to Genie’s. Gaia drives like someone’s chasing her, taking corners so tight I have to hold on to the “oh shit” handle on my door.

“What’s the rush?” I ask, nervous she will confirm someone dangerous is in pursuit. I’ve heard the rumors about biker gangs living outside of Green Valley.

“What? Nothing?” Her attention flits to my side of the car, noticing my fingers curled around the bar and what I’m certain is terror on my face. With a short sigh of exasperation, followed by a quick glance at the ceiling and a whispered expletive, she taps the brakes. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I release my grip and flex my hand, bringing blood back into my fingers.

She shakes her head. “No, it isn’t. I obviously scared you with my driving.”

“I wasn’t afraid, more surprised and a little nauseated, but being uncomfortable is on me because evidently I had certain expectations for how you would drive. Reality is different, and I need a minute to adjust.”

Her warm eyes make contact with mine. “You’re very logical.”

“I like rules, like speed limits and which side of the road to drive on.” I’m subtly referring to the fact she’s drifted across the double yellow line while we’ve been talking.

She corrects our trajectory and gives me an embarrassed smile. “Okay, confession time. You should know I love to drive fast. Over the years, I’ve been pulled over by Officer James so many times he told me if I wanted to date him, I should just ask him out instead of driving these winding roads like a maniac.”

“Wait, you like the deputy sheriff?” When I was hired, I met most of the local law enforcement staff during a joint training.

Gaia laughs. “No, and for the record, I wasn’t speeding to flirt with him.”

“Did you turn him down?”

She grins. “Nah, I went out with him once.”

Jackson James is handsome but the two of them would make an odd couple. “Just the one time? Bad date?”

“It was fine … if you like boring, polite, perfectly nice men. I saw it as more of a gesture of peace and goodwill. Haven’t been pulled over by him since.” Her smile is wide and triumphant.

She’s smart. “Devious.”

With a shrug, she glances out her side window. “I let him down easy. We all have a type we’re attracted to. Turns out the good deputy doesn’t do it for me. Guess we can’t help who we like. The heart wants what it wants.”

Apparently, my type might be the Jolly Green Giant, only less green. It’s been over a week and I’m still thinking about him.

The rest of the way to the bar, she drives at the speed limit, sometimes even braking when we take a tight curve.

Inside Genie’s, most of the booths are filled, but we find our group seated at a large table near the back.

Gaia takes the seat next to Jay, and I slip in across from her by Griffin. Amory and several of the operations staff I don’t really know round out our group of eight. We don’t interact much given a lot of their time is spent repairing roads and doing construction; I suspect free food and beers might be the bigger draw for them being here as opposed to my promotion celebration. I get that. Still, it’s nice of them to show up and I thank them all for coming like I’m the hostess.

A basket of wings sits in the center of the table, the bare bones in another basket next to a mostly empty pitcher of beer and two clean glasses.

“Thanks for waiting for us,” Gaia jokes.

“Sorry. We were starving.” Jay gives her a guilty smile. “Don’t worry, we’ve already ordered more.”

Griffin lifts one of the empties. “Beer?”

She shakes her head. “I’m driving.”

I raise my hand.

“If you’re riding with her, you should definitely have one,” Griffin teases. “Maybe a shot or four.”

I laugh, but Gaia doesn’t. She’s too busy throwing eye daggers at our coworker.

“Since my mom owns the place, wings and beer are on me,” Griffin offers magnanimously.

“That’s very generous of you.” I give him a sincere smile.

“He probably eats for free.” Gaia sniffs.

“Not free, but I do get the family discount.”

“I’m not going to turn down free wings. Bring ’em on.” I rub my hands together in excitement before lifting my arms over my head. “Extra ranch for all my friends!”

“You know, most people eat ’em with blue cheese dressing,” Gaia explains.

“Shh,” I tell her. “It’s my party and I’ll eat them however I want.”

“Don’t be a downer.” Griffin wags his finger at her. “Let the lady have the sauce of her choice.”

If Gaia were a plant right now, she’d be a cactus. I can feel her energy bristling from across the table.

Wanting—no, needing to change the subject, I scan the room for a distraction. The large dance floor is empty, but country music booms from several speakers.

“What time does the dancing start?” I point to the designated area.

“Some nights we have live music, but otherwise, it begins whenever someone is the first to take a twirl,” Griffin answers.

“I’m not dancing,” declares Jay, wiping his hands on his napkin.

“Still have PTSD?” Griffin laughs. “Man, you need to get over it.”

I want to know what happened at the Pink Pony and also I don’t, because I like my co-workers. Whatever went down was before my time, and imagining this crowd in a strip joint isn’t something I want to do. Ever.

A waitress with a grin as wide as her hair is tall drops off more baskets of wings. Glancing at the little plastic sauce containers, I know right away they’re all blue cheese. I’m about to open my mouth when Griffin raises his hand.

“Can we get some ranch for the table?” He focuses on me. “How many? One? Two?”

“Three should be good, but bring four just in case.” Go big or go home.

We settle into conversation as beer is poured from a fresh pitcher. Glasses clink in toasts to me, to us, to the national parks, and even to the Roosevelts, including Eleanor because she was fierce. I notice Jay barely sips his pint and Gaia drinks a coke. When asked, Jay tells me he’s the designated driver.

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