“I don’t know. Over a hundred. Maybe one fifty?”

“I’m not sure we’ll have enough food.”

“Max’s got a popcorn maker on the way for after we stop serving dinner. Maybe that will tide them over.”

The man really had thought of everything.

At seven, the woman with the guitar was replaced by a bluegrass band of several older men. The kids danced around the tables and played in the grass strips on the side of the road, and a few older couples danced in the open part of the parking lot.

Soon after, Selena came through my line, looking pleased.

“This is lovely,” she said. “It’s exactly what this town needed.”

I had to agree with her. I’d never seen so many happy people in Drum, and it struck me as odd that I hadn’t noticed that they weren’t happy before.

When Marco hadn’t shown up by seven-thirty, I started to worry. I caught Max’s attention and asked him if he’d heard from him.

His forehead creased. “No. But I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as he can.” He gave me a sly grin. “Wild horses couldn’t keep the man away from you.”

I smiled back, reveling in the fact that he was right. Then I turned back to my dwindling line, surprised when I realized I was face to face with Ricky and Thad Crimshaw.

“Hi, Ricky,” I said. “Hi, Thad.”

“You know my boys?” a man asked behind them, his tone accusatory.

Rob Crimshaw. His eyes were hard, and while I knew he was in his forties, the lines on his face made him look a good decade older.

“Hello, Mr. Crimshaw,” I said with a smile that took plenty of effort. “I met your sons yesterday when I dropped off a casserole.” I decided to leave anything to do with Ashlynn out of it.

“The chicken and rice?” he asked.

“That’s the one.”

He nodded, his face softening. “It was good. Thank you for your kindness.”

“I was so shocked to hear about Pam. She was a customer here, and she was always so sweet. I’m sure there has to be a reason for what she did. I hope they find it to help with her sentencing.”

His eyes turned to ice. “My wife is dead to us.” Then he handed me thirty dollars and walked off before I could give him change.

Ruth shot me a look that suggested I was crazy, and she probably had a point. Marco and I had agreed to let this go, and here I was, poking another hornet’s nest with a big fat stick.

The Crimshaws took a seat at a table in the street. The other families watched them but few spoke. The ladies luncheon group were there with their husbands, all sitting together, and while they shot sympathetic glances to the boys, Sandy looked like she wanted to get up and beat Rob with her hot dog bun.

“I can’t believe they came,” Ruth said, shaking her head. “They’re gonna be the source of gossip all night.”

Then Selena walked over and sat at their table, but Rob didn’t look too happy about it.

There wasn’t anyone else in my line, so I turned my gaze to resume my watch for Marco. Butterflies filled my stomach when I saw him crossing the lot, heading straight for me.

“Girl,” Ruth drawled in a breathless tone. “Does the look on that man’s face mean what I think it means?”

His gaze was on me, and happiness and a hint of wanting flashed in his eyes. He seemed like a man on a mission as he closed the distance between us.

“Max said you two were finally out in the open,” she said when I didn’t answer. “But I didn’t believe it.”

“It’s true,” I said, smiling at him like a fool.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said when he reached me, stopping a couple of feet away. “I got tied up with paperwork, then I ran home to change.”

I took in his short-sleeved, light blue button-down shirt and jeans that hugged his hips.

“Are you checkin’ me out again?” he teased.

“Maybe I am,” I said with a coquettish smile.

“Just kiss her already,” Ruth said. “Otherwise y’all are just a big tease to the rest of us.”

Marco lifted an eyebrow, and I decided to hell with propriety. I threw my arms around his neck and stretched up to kiss him. He wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me to his chest as he returned my kiss.

Ruth squealed, and people began to clap and whistle.

Marco lifted his head, radiating a happiness that I felt to the marrow of my being.

Ruth started touching the small of my back, and I realized she was untying my apron strings. “I swear to God, Marco Roland,” she said, “if you don’t dance with this woman, right now, I’ll find a shotgun and shoot you myself.”

Her threat was a little violent, but that was Ruth. Marco took it in stride and grinned. “Maybe I should clear it with her boss first.”

“There you go again,” she said in disgust, tugging my apron free, “pretending like Max is in charge. Go.”

Marco’s brow lifted in question.

“You heard the woman,” I said with a laugh. “I didn’t just get you to let her shoot you. What if she hits some important bits?”

Releasing a full-throated laugh, he wrapped an arm around my back and swung me out into the dance area.

Several people cheered as Marco whirled me around, and I realized many of them were customers at the restaurant. We danced for several songs until the band stopped playing and announced a country band would be playing next.

“I had no idea Max knew so many bands,” I said as we watched the band start to tear down.

He shrugged. “We planned to open a music venue in Nashville. He knew music and groups back then. It stands to reason he still knows some.”

“Why doesn’t he have them play at the tavern?” I rested a hand on his shoulder, still savoring that I could touch him like that.

“He doesn’t think there would be much interest here. His customers are mostly men watchin’ sportin’ events at night. He figured it would flop.”

“Maybe he needs to rethink that.” I made a face. “Speaking of Max, I should probably check in with him and see if he needs me for anything.” I let my hand slide down to rest on his pec, noticing the two top buttons of his shirt were undone. “Have you eaten?”

He grinned. “Is that some sort of come-on?”

I laughed and looked up into his dancing eyes. “It’s a legitimate question.” I gave him a sultry stare. “I’m worried about your stamina for later.”

He laughed too, lifting me up, and I released an involuntary squeal as he swung me around in a circle. “Don’t you be worryin’ about my stamina.”

“I’m gonna take that as a no about eating already,” I said. “Let’s go get you some dinner.”

I led him over to the food table. Ruth had abandoned the serving table, but there were still a few foil-wrapped hot dogs and burgers in the warming dishes. I handed him a paper plate, and he grabbed a hamburger, then glanced over at me.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“No, but Max probably still needs me to work.”

He grabbed another hamburger and put it on his plate.

I shook my head with a grin. “I’m going to go find Max. Find a place to sit, and I’ll be over when I can.”