AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Then I turned and walked across the restaurant, injecting a little extra sway into my hips as I went. I didn’t have to look behind me to know his stare was devouring me from behind.
I was biting at my own lip when I walked through the swinging door into the bustling kitchen behind it, doing my best to hide my smile when I punched Ezra’s order into the tablet next to the server’s station.
And God, I could feel the force of it.
This stupid, foolish, gleeful smile.
One I couldn’t shake.
Dakota walked past, though she did a double take when she saw me, and she slowly edged back toward me with her head angled to the side. A curious smile was carved into her adorable face. “Why do you look like you just danced with the stars?”
“I don’t even know what that means,” I told her.
“Oh, I think you do, Snuggle Muggle. You look like you’re both dreaming and had your eyes opened for the first time.”
My spirit clutched. It felt that way. Like dancing but like there was no weight on my feet.
Floating.
“Oh, Ezra came in for breakfast and was just giving me a hard time the way he likes to do, and I was laughing at a joke he made.”
Awareness lifted her brow. “You know he only comes in with Ryder, Cody, and Caleb…that was until he met you.”
I forced the roll of my eyes and huffed. “He’s just freaking out about the whole motel thing. Don’t act like I’m the only one he’s protective of.” My eyes widened in emphasis. “If it had happened to anyone else, you know he’d be here checking on them, too.”
“Yeah, you’re right, you’re not the only one he’s protective of.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “But you are the only one who makes him look like he’s dancing, too.”
At that, she walked off without giving me the chance for a rebuttal. It was a good thing because I wasn’t sure I could argue, anyway.
Beth popped her head through the swinging door. “Three on table twelve, Savannah. I know the rest of your section is full. Can you handle another table?”
“Yup, I’ll be with them in a second.”
“And here you said you didn’t think you could save this sinking ship.” She winked and I laughed, and I tucked my notepad back into the pocket of my apron before I grabbed an order that was ready from the window and walked out into the dining room. I delivered the food and checked on a couple customers before I headed to the new table.
I was trying to ignore Ezra but was failing miserably.
No stopping myself from peeking that way at the booth where he sat. And that glee was gliding free all over again when I found him grinning my way.
God, he made me feel…good.
Giddy, even.
Foolish girl who wanted to get her heart broken.
I cleared my throat as I stepped up to the new table. A ton of faces had become familiar at the café since we had so many regulars, but Hayden, Ruben, and the mayor were some of the more memorable.
There was just something about Hayden that pulled at my intuition, a warning that whispered low at my ear. It was a strange feeling that I should get close to him and a sense that I should run in equal measure.
“Good morning, welcome to Time River Market & Café.”
“Ah, I was hoping you were going to be our server this morning.” Hayden sent me a grin that was supposed to be appealing but made me feel like I was covered in worms.
Ruben laughed. “Considering he requested we be sat in your section, the chances were good.”
Hayden didn’t look the least bit humiliated by Ruben’s goading. “What can I say, I wanted the best.”
“I’m going to have to stop bringing these two out with me,” Jack Harris said, shaking his head though there was amusement behind it.
“What, are you embarrassed of us, boss?” Hayden’s grin was smug as he looked across the booth at him.
“What else would I be?” the mayor tossed right back.
I swallowed back the unease. “What can I get you this morning?”
Ruben ordered a coffee and the mayor an Americano, and I was jotting it down on my notepad when Hayden said, “Your address so I know where to pick you up for our date tomorrow night.”
The worms crawling over me turned into snakes.
I might want to keep an eye on the guy, but not like that. I pasted on a pleasant smile. “I’m going to have to pass, but I would be happy to bring you something to drink.”
Ruben knocked his shoulder into Hayden’s. “Ouch.”
“Don’t worry, my friend, I’ll win her over.” Hayden didn’t look away from me when he said it, the man completely undeterred. “But in the meantime, I’ll take a mocha. Extra whipped cream.”
