If there was one thing Harmony went through faster than jobs, it was dates. Maybe it was because she’d been waiting so long to have a family that she needed to make sure any man to whom she gave a permanent spot in her life fit said spot just right. Maybe it was because she was truly better off alone. Whatever the case, men had always disappointed Harmony, and she rarely gave them more than three dates to prove they weren’t the one.

Alan had been the one exception. He’d hung on for nearly a year. Problem was, he didn’t know when to let go. And even when Harmony suggested it was time to say goodbye, he dug his heels in and refused to let her leave.

Well, she sure showed him. She’d not only left their town, but she’d also put the entire state of Georgia between them for good measure.

Bless his heart, too!

Okay, she needed to stop mentally blessing everyone’s hearts before she worked herself into total and irreversible agitation. Introducing herself to perspective employers when she’d already worked herself into a rage wouldn’t suit her end goals one bit.

She popped another breath mint into her mouth and shoved the nearly empty container deep into her purse. Slow, centering breaths brought her back to a place where everyone’s hearts had not been personally blessed and the birds once again sang merrily from their hidden perches within the trees and rooftops of the colorful buildings downtown.

Across the street a little window sign read “Now Hiring” in big, red letters. Yes!

Harmony looked both ways before jaywalking her way over to the other side. She never once took her eyes off that sign for fear it might up and disappear before she reached it. Now that she was standing right in front of the place, she did a quick Internet search.

“O’Brien’s, Charleston,” she murmured to herself as she typed the text into her browser. The Yelp reviews were good, an average of four-point-seven stars. The prices were mid-range and the hours were six to twelve. Every single item on the menu was related to breakfast—some offerings were classic and others she couldn’t even begin to picture from the ridiculous-sounding names.

Whatever the case, it seemed like a good place to apply. If she worked here, she could get her hours in early and then spend the rest of the day however she pleased.

Perfect.

She pushed into the dining room and took in the bright interior with freshly upholstered booths and shining tile floors. The place appeared close to empty now that closing time was only an hour away. She hoped it was much busier during peak hours, but right now, beggars couldn’t be choosers—and Harmony was definitely a beggar.

“Good morning, darlin’!” a blonde-haired, big-bosomed waitress called from behind a pot of coffee. “Go ahead and take a seat, and I’ll be with you in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

Harmony strode across the dining room. Her shoes squeaked on the tiled floor but she tried not to feel embarrassed. “Actually, I’m here about the help wanted sign.”