Zack Baker didn’t know how long he’d been driving for in the blistering Southern heat but he was certain of two things.
1. He was hungry
2. He should have flown

Instead he was driving through the middle of nowhere with nothing to do other than think about how he ended up moving all the way to Tennessee, more specifically Sunnyville, a small town off the beaten track in backwater Tennessee. His girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend, Gena. The blonde haired She-Devil, he now called her – and precious Matthew Baker – MVP for the Boston Red Sox – had announced their engagement six weeks previous. It was ironically funny how his little brother ended up living Zack’s dream right down to his girlfriend.

Zack will admit, only to himself that what the She-Devil did hurt him. It felt like she’d wedged a knife in his back and even more so with the engagement. His father couldn’t be happier for the Golden Boy not that his father spoke to Zack nor did his sister Zina speak to him. Zack only had his mother who still loved him unconditionally despite the events of the last few years. But Zack knew it wouldn’t be long before even she ignored him, especially when the Golden Couple started spawning kids.
He had to stop thinking about all of this for his own sanity!

With a long drawn out sigh Zack stared at the open road in front of him, heat rising from the black tar road made him feel even hotter than he already did. A few miles back he turned the air conditioning off due to it eating his gas, like a whore eating a cock. But he severely wished he hadn’t, sweat beaded on his forehead and droplets trickled down his neck and under the already soaked t-shirt. The open window providing no cool breeze only hot, stifling heat and that only made his anger surface, anger at not flying down to Sunnyville.

---

“Sissy!” Scarlett gritted her teeth against her middle named being bellowed. She knew why they called her Sissy but that didn’t mean that she liked it. Uncle Sal’s big, bald head appeared through the service hatch. “Order up!” with a huff Scarlett stomped towards Uncle Sal and the three plates of burgers and fries, tucking a loose chocolate brown strand behind her ear.

Uncle Sal’s diner was busy, busy with people coming from the afternoon Rodeo and that was something Scarlett didn’t mind. They were good tippers. Grabbing the latest order of burger and fries Scarlett couldn’t suppress the groan and the eye roll as she realized that she would have to serve the obnoxious popular cheer squad girls that always complained and never tipped. Lord knows she deserved a medal! Plastering a bright smile on her face Scarlett approached the demon spawn.

“Here y’all go.” Scarlett spoke with over enthused cheeriness. “Three deluxe cheeseburgers, one with extra relish and two with extra cheese.” She continued in the same cheery tone as she placed the plates on the table. “Can I get y’all anythin’ else?” and Scarlett hoped and prayed they didn’t want anything else. And after none of the three heifers said anything Scarlett quickly made a run for it and breathing a sigh of relief as she went.

Scarlett was heading into the back for a well needed break when Aunt Francine said with a bright smile. “Yankee, table six.” Scarlett couldn’t help the long sigh that escaped, she was tired and thirsty and boy were those the two things that made her cranky.

---

Zack was sat in the air conditioned, overly crowded diner. Not that he was complaining he was thankful not to be driving in the heat. He let his pale green eyes wander around the diner, he didn’t think he’d ever seen as many cowboy hats and boots in one place before. Zack briefly wondered if it was mandatory to wear them but he had to remember that he was no longer in California and the hats and boots were normal here in Sunnyville. Zack caught sight of a woman, beautiful young woman heading straight for his table. With her slender body covered in the standard and god awful lemon button up dress to her deep brown hair scrapped back in a messy bun and those cheekbones that would make any woman envious. But what captivated him was even though she appeared to be confident as she weaved through the tables, she wasn’t. She didn’t make eye contact with anyone and her slender fingers fiddled with the hem of the white apron that was tied around her slender waist. And he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

“Howdy Darlin’” she greeted in a small, unsure voice, pulling a small white pad from her front pocket. “What can I get y’all?” the delicate southern drawl sending a rush of blood straight to his groin. Something he hadn’t expected. He was never a fan of the slow drawl but the way this woman spoke did something to him that he couldn’t explain.

Scarlett couldn’t help but openly stare at the Yankee. From his ruffled dark hair, his piercing green almost blue eyes to his plump pierced lips and his heavily tattooed arms had Scarlett’s belly muscles clenching deliciously. But when he looked directly into her eyes she wanted to squirm, shy away from those eyes and she fought the urge to bolt with every inch of her being. Thankfully he spoke giving her a reason to break eye contact.

“Big Sal’s rib eye steak please and a soda.” The Yankee smiled up at her as he handed over the menu, but he didn’t let go. “What’s your name?” the question caught her off guard. Never had a patron asked her that but then again Sunnyville was an extremely small town, one where you could still leave your door unlocked at night and one where given a couple of hours everyone knew everything there was to know about a person – especially a Hot Yankee!

Zack had to know her name, but he couldn’t understand why. Although the blush that crept up her slender throat before settling on those perfect cheeks was well worth asking. It’s just a shame she didn’t actually answer him. But he sure did like watching her ass sway as she walked away. Zack knew it was pointless to be trying to chat southern women up, after all nobody least of all her would be interested in someone like him, not when she could have a real man. Something that Zack wasn’t. But it was never too soon to make a new friend nor did it harm appreciating a beautiful woman who was serving him food. Well that’s what he told himself anyway.

---

Scarlett’s hands shook as she prepared the Hot Yankee’s soda and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. Never before had her mind shut down and her body become a quivering mess in the presence of a man and although she was slightly alarmed by this, it was nothing compared to her insane need to run her hands through the mass of ruffled dark hair. She needed to get a hold of herself before she embarrassed herself any further. She was sure that someone like him wouldn’t be single, in her age range and certainly wouldn’t be interested in a girl like her.

“Hey shug.” Aunt Francine smiled. “I’ll take over whilst you have your break.” She continued already grabbing the fresh soda from Scarlett’s shaking hands.
Scarlett wasn’t impressed but knew she needed to take her break before the evening crowd descended upon the diner. And she needed to get a hold of herself before she did something that she would regret in the morning.

“Thank ya kindly, Aunt Francine.” Scarlett smiled before heading through the back but not without one last look at the Hot Yankee.

Scarlett Sissy Reed left behind her childhood home in Jackson after her father passed. Scarlett’s momma also named Scarlett could no longer cope with the reminders of her daddy and after one lengthy conversation with Aunt Francine and Uncle Sal packed up the family home and drove through the night to Sunnyville. That had happened almost three years ago and Scarlett, along with her momma worked in Uncle Sal’s diner. But as soon as school starts after the summer Scarlett would be once again exempt from working to concentrate on her studies. Not that she had high hopes for herself or college, but her momma would gut her like a deer if she didn’t keep her grades up and that was something that Scarlett wanted to avoid, at all costs.

Scarlett didn’t feel like her break was long enough. She’d only managed to gulp down a slice of pie and a soda when her name sake strode out of Uncle Sal’s office, tying the white standard issue apron around her waist. Scarlett smiled whilst grabbing the empty glass and plate.

“Hi Momma.” Scarlett greeted. Her momma’s smile lit up her whole face.

“Hi baby girl. I’ve arrange with Uncle Sal for you to finish early as lord knows the new semester is only a few days away.” Scarlett rolled her eyes but smiled just the same. She really was dead on her feet and just the mere thought of having to work the late shift as well caused her aching feet to protest. “Now you go on home, Aunt Francine will bring me home.” She continued kissing Scarlett on the forehead and handing the truck keys to her before disappearing into the crowded diner.

---

The drive to the new house didn’t take as long as Zack thought it would from the diner. But with his mother arranging the rental he should have known it wouldn’t be a simple one storey house, like he wanted but rather a two storey, wooden house complete with a porch and a balcony. And that was just the front. He could only imagine what the back of the house would be like and if he knew his mother it will have something that Zack would want, whether he admitted it or not. With a shake of his head and a smile gracing his lips Zack raised the metal shutter door of the moving van he’d rented. He didn’t feel like unloading after the long thirty four hours of driving but the rental company were coming in a couple of days to collect the van.

Zack stared into the truck as a heavy sigh escaped. It was a little pathetic seeing his whole life boxed up in exactly nineteen boxes; it was like he didn’t really have anything to show for his thirty years and in a way he didn’t. Zack knew that if he wanted to unload the truck tonight he had better stop with the miserable thoughts before he found himself knee deep in empty beer bottles. That was something Zack hoped never to live through again; the hangovers just weren’t worth drowning in your sorrows.

---

Scarlett hopped out of the old truck, slamming the door shut as she fished around in her purse for the house keys. But it was proving futile in the dark night. With a heavy sigh Scarlett knelt down on the porch and emptied the contents of her purse hoping to find the keys, but she wasn’t having much luck. Grumbling to herself as her hands felt around the spilled contents, Scarlett was immersed in her own thoughts and yelped loudly as a torch flicked on. She hadn’t heard anyone approach but Scarlett’s belly muscles clenched once again as her eyes roamed over strong thighs, narrow hips and continued until they settled on those piercing green eyes – the same ones from the diner.

“Hey, you alright?” the Hot Yankee asked as he stared down at her. Scarlett licked over her dry lips, snatched her keys up and nodded before she began throwing the contents back into her purse. “What are you doing out here in the dark?” he quizzed as he held a large, tattooed hand out to her. For a few brief seconds Scarlett just stared at the hand before clasping it tightly.

Zack effortlessly hoisted her back onto her own two feet before she snatched her hand back, much to Zack’s disappointment. And just like an hour ago Zack gazed intently into her eyes and loved how her cheeks heated up and how she suddenly down cast her eyes.

“Thank ya kindly.” Scarlett muttered as she absentmindedly brushed dirt off of her knees. She was finding anything to do so she didn’t have to look at him. “Night.” Was all Scarlett said before she quickly unlocked the door and ducked inside before he had a chance to say anything else. She didn’t know what had come over her. She wasn’t normally this shy or this tongue tied for that matter. But the Hot Yankee did something to her, something she had never before experienced and she liked it.

Zack shook his head smiling at the closed door before he wandered back across the street and towards the garage. He looked at the offending truck and rubbed his tired, now bloodshot eyes and slumped his shoulders before hoisting himself into the truck. He was dead on his feet and his leg had been throbbing for the last hour, he knew that he needed to rest before the throbbing turned to pain but he decided upon just emptying the truck tonight and leave the unpacking for when he could be bothered or when his leg would ease up enough for him to do so.

Enough adrenaline had pumped into his system to unload the nineteen boxes. And once he’d unloaded the van that was when it hit him, like a slap across the face, Zack didn’t actually have any furniture. After a few choice cuss words Zack began ripping open one box where he knew the blankets were and continued making a rather uncomfortable bed on the living room floor. But Zack didn’t have time to think about how uncomfortable he was, as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out like a light and snoring into the empty room.