Finding Focus by Jiffy Kate Page A

I’m feeling. “I mean . . . maybe.” I sigh, stepping back to look at her. She twists her lips into a knowing smile as I rake my hands through my hair. “I don’t really know,” I admit, because whatever I’m feeling is new and different, and I haven’t really had time to work out the details. “All I know is I like it when she’s smilin’, and I hate it when she’s cryin’.”
    She pats me on the back and laughs as she walks away, leaving me standing in the garden. “You’ll figure it out,” she says, turning back around to look at me before heading into the house.
    I think about going to find Dani, but I don’t want to bother her. Instead, I walk around to the front, hop in my truck, and take off for Pockets. I have some paperwork that’s been put on the back burner for a while, and I could really use a quiet morning in the office.
    When I pull into the parking lot, I see Deacon’s jeep and Joe’s truck already parked in the back. Joe is our cook, and he’s more dedicated to Pockets than anyone I know. Shit, some days, he’s more dedicated than Deacon and me. He’s an older guy who’s worked in restaurants all his life and probably never been further from home than Baton Rouge. He’s a little rough around the edges, but on the inside, he’s soft. Seriously, one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.
    I use my key on the back door and let myself in. Deacon and Joe are in the kitchen, so I pop my head in to say hello.
    “Shit, dude. I thought you’d be attached at the hip to Ms. Reed.” Deacon winks back over his shoulder. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows as he preps ingredients. “I figured we wouldn’t see you until she’s gone back to New York.”
    “No, man.” I shake my head, fighting a smile. “Besides, it’s not like that. I really did just show her around the property yesterday.”
    “Uh huh. Whatever you say.”
    “So, will I get to meet this Ms. Reed I’ve heard so much about?” Joe asks.
    “Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be by here again before she leaves.” I hope she will, anyway. If Valerie didn’t scare her off. “Actually, she mentioned doing a side piece on the restaurant. She wants to do an entire article dedicated to roadside places like Pockets.” I nod, thinking how cool it would be to have Pockets mentioned in a big magazine. Then, I start thinking about Dani.
    “Dude!” Deacon practically yells.
    “What?”
    “I asked if you’d hand me that bowl beside you.”
    “Oh, sorry.” I reach for the bowl and hand it over, my mind still on Dani.
    “Man, maybe you should go find something to do in the office. You stick around here and you’ll be missin’ a finger or somethin’.”
    I chuckle, knowing he’s probably right. “Yeah, I’ve got some paperwork to catch up on anyway.”
    When I get to the office, I try to put thoughts of the beautiful redhead out of my mind and focus on the numbers in front of me.
    I can’t say I fully succeed, but I manage to get some work done. The soreness in my neck tells me I’ve been sitting with my head down in these books for a while now, and the sounds filtering in from the front of the restaurant tell me business is starting to pick up for the day. I decide to close the books and go make myself useful. Besides, kitchen work is my favorite part of the business. I love cooking up some good food. I guess I’m a lot like my mama in that way. I enjoy feeding people and watching them leave full as a tick and happy as a lark.
    As I’m plating up an order, my phone buzzes in my pocket. “Hello.” I squeeze the phone between my ear and shoulder so I can continue working.
    “Hey, baby, I need you and Deacon out here by six for dinner.”
    “Mama, we’re workin’.”
    “Yeah, well, you’ve been at that place all day. I think you can appease your mama and let me feed you.”
    “Can you do dinner tonight at the house?” I ask, looking up at Deacon.
    “I was planning to have dinner with Camille. I haven’t seen her