High Noon in Sandbridge

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

“Eight, nine, ten, eleven…goddamn it, where’s twelve?” Andy needed to get the inventory numbers to Scooter and then run down to the rental to do some repairs. Two months until the summer season officially started, but they already had the place booked for two of the four weeks in April, and none of the renters would be happy if there was a hole in the wall in the kitchen or the bathroom light was flickering.

But before he could do that, he had to find this missing package of pre-sliced cheese. Preferably soon; it was f*****g cold in the walk-in fridge.

Andy’d had better days.

“Hey, babe,” Scooter said, strolling in and immediately wrapping Andy in his arms.

Andy leaned into the warmth with a sigh. “Almost done,” he promised. “I’m just one cheese short and I swear to God I can’t figure out—”

“Oh, s**t,” Scooter said. “Cheese, that was me. I pulled one out last night and took it upstairs.”

Andy shot his husband an unimpressed look. “You what.”

Scooter looked sheepish. “I wanted to make omelets for breakfast this morning, and we were out.”

Andy sighed. “I’ve been freezing my balls off in here for twenty minutes because you forgot to tell me we were out of cheese?”

“Sorry?” Scooter tried. He nibbled at Andy’s neck. “I’ll warm you back up, hm?”

They’d been together almost three years, married a year and a half, and Scooter’s touch still sent a thrill right down Andy’s spine, every time. Unfortunately, they were both too busy to drop everything for a mid-day romp. He put a hand in the center of Scooter’s chest and pushed until they were out of the damn fridge, then shut the door firmly behind them. “I’ll take you up on that later,” he promised, tipping his head for a kiss.

“No making out in the kitchen!” Jason demanded from his spot by the grill.

“f**k you, one kiss is not making out,” Scooter shot back, grinning.

“Alas, we don’t have time to test Jason’s delicate sensibilities,” Andy said. “I have to go over to the rental and see how much of that list I can knock off before dinner.”

“You should take Raniesha with you,” Scooter said, plucking the list from Andy’s hand.

Andy blinked. “What?”

Scooter grinned even wider. “Spring break. She’s home for the week, wants a job. I told her I’d have to talk to you since you’re the—”

Andy pushed past Scooter and through the kitchen door into the main restaurant floor. Raniesha Collins was leaning against one of the long picnic tables, arms folded. She looked up with a wide smile when Andy came in and opened her arms for a hug that Andy willingly gave her.

“Hey, boss!” she greeted him cheerfully. “Place is looking good!”

“Yeah, we replaced the floor over the winter,” Andy said. “Scooter says you’re on break?”

She nodded. “Got a week; I was hoping you had some odd jobs I could do, ‘cause otherwise I’m stuck working at the store.” She made a face.

Andy couldn’t blame her; she’d grown up working in her mother’s candy store, but it wasn’t exactly a booming business this time of year. “I’m sure I can come up with something for you to do,” he agreed. “You free now? I’ve got some repairs to do over at the rental.”

“You bet!” she agreed. “Let me just text Mom.” She bounced out the door, already poking at her phone.

Scooter sniffed, coming in behind Andy. “Our little baby, all grown up,” he mock-sighed.

Andy snorted. “I’m only, what, six years older than her?”

Scooter laughed and kissed Andy’s cheek. “Closest thing to a kid we’re ever going to have, though. Might as well enjoy it. Besides, we are paying her tuition.”

“No,” Andy said, pointing at him with narrowed eyes. “That is a scholarship foundation for women in STEM fields, it could’ve gone to any local girl.”

“Uh-huh,” Scooter said, smirking. “Keep saying that, maybe one day someone will believe you.”