Read The Difference a Day Makes (Perfect, Indiana: Book Two) for Free Online Page B

for anything else.” He flashed her a wry grin. “It’s temporary, though. If I want to keep half ownership in the business, I have to finish.”
    “My brother is brilliant, and he wants the best for you. I hope you know that.” She hooked her arm through his and turned herface up to the sun’s warmth. It had been chilly and overcast when she’d left home. Here, spring had already begun, and the temperature was a balmy seventy.
    “Yeah. I know.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “What about you? How’s the new job?”
    “Eh, I’m not real happy there. I’m trying to come up with a new plan.” She looked away. Telling lies and half-truths all morning made her stomach hurt. She bit her lip and tried to come up with a way to turn the conversation in another direction. “What’s with your newest employee?”
    Ted let out a heavy sigh. “Ryan served under your brother in Iraq. I guess he was in the same Humvee as Noah when they got hit.” His jaw tightened. “Noah has this new mission. He wants to save all the veterans he can, and I’m afraid all of them are going to end up working for L&L.”
    She frowned at him. “You see that as a bad thing?”
    “Not in principle, no. It’s a worthy cause. I’m just not happy about how he excluded me from the hiring process. I didn’t have any input. I didn’t even get to meet Ryan before he was hired, and I’m supposed to be a full partner.” He glanced at her. “There are limits, or there should be. You saw how Ryan behaved. Noah says I have to put up with it until he’s got the guy on the mend.”
    “Noah thinks it’s his job to fix Ryan?”
    Ted nodded. “He feels responsible for what happened in Iraq, so he also sees it as his job to make it right. He has this funny notion about Perfect holding some kind of healing magic for veterans.”
    Paige smiled. “I think he got that from your aunt, and anyway, Noah has always been like that. He’s always been the one to step in to fix things for others.” She shrugged. “You gotta admit,though. Despite the crazy, Ryan seems to have skills that lend themselves well to L&L.”
    “Yeah. Enough about him. Here we are.” Ted opened the door to the diner and ushered her in.
    Delicious smells, warmth, and welcome enveloped her the moment she was through the door.
    “Oh my goodness! Will you look at who just walked through our door, Harlen?” Jenny headed straight for them, menus tucked under her arm.
    Harlen smiled her way from behind the cash register. Paige couldn’t help but notice how content the two of them looked. Jenny’s hair had grown back to its usual length, with a lot more silver and a lot less blonde. Right now, it was busy trying to escape from the clip she wore at the crown of her head to hold it up. Lord, it was good to see her so healthy and happy. Jenny was one of the lucky ones. She’d survived breast cancer.
    “It’s wonderful to see you, Paige.” Jenny threw an arm around her and gave her a squeeze.
    Paige had the urge to put her head down on Jenny’s shoulder and confess all of her troubles. Instead, she returned the hug and blinked away the sting in her eyes. “It’s good to see you too.”
    “Come on. Have a seat. Do you two want a booth?” Jenny led them through the filled tables and the curious locals staring Paige’s way.
    “Sure, a booth would be good.”
    Ted placed his hand at the small of her back. She was startled by the touch, and Ryan’s words echoed in her head. No, Ted was just being a gentleman, that’s all. She slid into the side of the booth facing the door, and Ted sat across from her.
    “What’s the special today, Aunt Jenny?”
    “You’re in luck. Lasagna with a Caesar salad and garlic toast.” She laid menus in front of them and fixed her speculative stare on Paige. “What brings you to Perfect?”
    Paige studied the menu. “I needed a niece-and-nephew fix. I haven’t seen them since Toby’s baptism.” She risked a glance upward. Jenny wasn’t