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We still had 30 minutes to spare when Jake pulled off the main road and stopped at the diner. He drove around to the back door, produced a ponderous set of keys, sorted through them and opened the door to the diner's kitchen. |
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"Vernice gave it to me," he said a little sheepishly. "Said I might never know when I'd need it." |
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It was obvious the big man knew his way around the kitchen. He fired up the front burner on the big gas range, dug through the pantry until he found a jar of instant coffee, put some water on to boil and leaned casually up against the cooler with his arms folded. "I can rustle you up some bacon and eggs if you're hungry," he offered. |
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At the moment I was having trouble conjuring up visions of anything except a platonic relationship between Jake and the hawk-faced Vernice, but I'd be the first to admit that the libido does funny things to people. |
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"I know what you're thinking," Jake began defensively. "It just sorta happened. Started right after I took over this job, 'bout the same time she bought this place. We was both puttin' in fourteen and sixteen hour days. I'd stop by here for coffee in the mornin' and a cold one the last thing at night. One night it didn't make much sense to go on home. Been an off and on thing ever |
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