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Chapter 1

“Well? What do you think?” Myles Stewart sat across the table, trying to read the inscrutable face of his lunch companion

Simone chased the bite of et the attention of their waitress

Corinne wandered over, more sass in the sway of her hips than she’d had when Myles otten the story on her yet “Get you a refill on that tea, hon?”

“I’d like to speak to the cook”

“So with your sandwich?” Corinne asked

“I’d just like to speak to the cook,” Simone said evenly

With a worried frown, the waitress headed back to the kitchen

“What are you doing, Simone?”

She just lifted a sardonic brow and continued to sip her tea

Myles glanced back to the kitchen where Mama Pearl Buckley, Goddess of Pie and Gossip and owner of Dinner Belles Diner, stepped through the door Her brows dren in thundercloud formation as she looked Simone’s way

Oh, this is not good Not good at all

“Seriously, if so, they’ll fix it There’s no need to call Omar out”

“Omar, huh?”

Oest son, pushed into the roorease spattered apron stretched across abs that were just as flat as they’d been when he’d played on scholarship as running back for Ole Miss eight years ago—before the knee injury that blew his football career Myles had heard that sad tale over coffee several months back Omar’s face was a twin of his mother’s, and he had the shoulders and arms to back up his displeasure

Shit The last thing Myles needed was Si enemies her first day on the job Myles could see the headline now Out-of-Towner Earns Buckley Wrath—Banned From Diner for Life

The lunch croent silent as Omar’s shadow fell over the table Everyone waited with baited breath to see how things would unfold

“Somethin’ I can do for you? Ma’am” This last he added after a pause

Si hiain, her lovely, mocha-colored face absolutely deadpan “Omar, I presume?”

“Yeah”

“I just wanted to shake the hand of the man who made the best damned muffaletta I’ve had outside the French Quarter”

Myles released an audible breath