Page 33 of Mack

He set it down, opened it, pulled out her salad, and set it on the counter with a wrapped plastic fork on top, then retrieved his burger and fries.

“Take your coat off,” Mallory said, already pouring Ranch dressing over her salad.

He shrugged out of it and looked at her Styrofoam container. “That’s all you’re having? A salad?”

“It’s a fried chicken salad. There’s chicken in it.”

“There’s also a lot of lettuce.”

She looked up. “What’s wrong with lettuce?”

“There’s nothing to it.” He picked up his burger. “No taste.”

“That is not true.”

“Name one thing lettuce tastes like.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it.

“Whatever,” she said.

Mack laughed. “Great comeback.”

“It tastes like lettuce,” she said.

Mack shook his head. “Right. No flavor.”

Mallory shook her head, then glanced around the shop. “I don’t know what’s gotten into people today. I’m not complaining, but I’ve barely had a chance to breathe.”

“Where’s your help?”

“Ruth comes in Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and of course, the weekends. Usually, it slows up by this time of the day.”

Mack looked out at the crowded shop. “This is slow?”

“No.” She grinned. “This is nuts.”

He smiled back at her.

She was loosening up with him, and he was glad to see it. The careful distance she’d kept in the beginning was still there, but it was closer now. He liked her. He liked T.J. He wanted to keep showing up until she trusted him enough to tell him about her ex, about whatever had put that wariness behind her eyes. He could find out on his own. It wouldn’t take much. But he didn’t want to do that. He wanted her to tell him when she was ready, and he could wait. He was good at waiting.

****

Mallory’s phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at it and looked at Mack. “My mom. One second.”

She stepped a little away and answered. “Mom?”

“Hi, honey. Do you need fudge?”

Mallory walked to the glass case and looked. “I’m low on peanut butter, chocolate walnut, and plain milk chocolate.”

“I’ll make some and bring it in the morning when I pick up T.J.”

“Perfect.”

“So. Have you seen that handsome deputy again?”

Mallory turned her back to the counter. “I’m looking at him right now. We’re having lunch.”