She enjoyed having Max' company as she worked. Usually she avoided talking to costumers for no more than their orders and the polite conversations because sooner or later she would get in their heads and then know something she'd rather not. But with Max it was all warm and kind conversation and a few good emotions she got off of him. She was happy to see that Sam had cooled down and he was now ignoring him.
She wanted Max to stay at Merlotte's not only because she liked the journalist, but she was sure there was nothing else for him to do in their town and especially nothing to do about his article until Fangtasia opened way later in the night.
It was growing dark, so more families, dates, and friends were coming into Sam's. She felt bad when Max got lost in the shuffle but she hoped she was giving him everything he needed. She had to stop Arlene from prying a few times. She was starting to think there was something between the blonde barmaid and the stranger, but Alrene misunderstood the kindness between them as something sexual and not friendship.
In the middle of Sookie working on a drink order for a family of five, she felt a a dark void come into Merlottes. The same feeling she got when a vampire was around and there was an emptiness in their head she couldn't get into. She knew before she turned her head that it was Bill Compton, walking to an empty booth in Alrene's section, but she already knew she'd be serving him. Wasn't hard serving a vampire a bottle of Trueblood, but it was hard serving a vampire who used to be the love of her life. She turned her attention back to the drinks.
She felt something else when Bill walked in, where there was a warm fuzzy feeling coming from makes turned into a panic. She looked up and saw Max. She gave him a friendly smile, hopefully telling him that there was nothing to worry about, because truly there wasn't. Bill wouldn't hurt anyone, just her heart, but she was putting that behind her and trying to learn from it.
She brought a tray of drinks over to the family and made her way over to the handsome vampire. She may be done with the man but she wasn't blind. He was still as good looking as the day she met him and as the day he was turned. "Hello, Bill," she said friendly, "What can I get you tonight?"