AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you. ” Janey bestowed one of her sweet, perfect smiles. Alex’s dick hardened. Cranston blinked, and for a second, Alex saw the emotion in the other man’s eyes.
Janey resembled the child he had lost. And Alex had the uncomfortable feeling that she might have just gained a father figure.
TWENTY
Janey paired three-inch-heeled knee boots with the black leather skirt she hadn’t been able to wear before, nude stockings, and a shimmering violet blouse for the night.
Beneath it, she wore a violet push-up bra and matching thong that she knew Alex had seen her bring down from the apartment upstairs to change into.
Thankfully, most of her clothing was intact, as well as her precious store of shoes. Within hours the restaurant was packed, with the waiting area filled. There weren’t enough tables, and Janey was watching money flow out the door with each couple that gave up on getting a place between reservations. She was desperate.
Cell phone in hand, she sent Tabitha to seat the next couple and made a desperate call to Rogue. “Get dressed and get over here. I need a waitress. ”
“Darling, leather is in. ” Rogue sighed. “I can be there in twenty minutes, but take me as I am. ”
“Get here,” she begged, then turned to Hoyt and Natches. “Open that banquet room now. Hoyt, get the linens and silverware and get it ready. ”
Hoyt and Natches exchanged alarmed looks.
“I said now,” she hissed as she grabbed menus. “Right now. ”
“The register. ” Hoyt looked frantic.
“Timothy. ” Janey threw the agent, who had lingered around, a hopeful look. “Can you run a register?”
“In my sleep. ” He smiled his patient grin. The one he kept giving Natches as he moved behind the counter. “Go, boys. She told you what to do. ” His voice became commanding, in charge. God, if she wasn’t already in love with Alex, she might have had to fall in love with Timothy. Or make him adopt her.
“Thank you. ” She gave him a quick kiss on his rough cheek and turned back to the waiting area. “If you’ll be patient,” she announced. “We’re opening the banquet room. Seating will be available soon. ”
Then she rushed back to the kitchen.
A frantic, vocal argument with Desmond had him placing a call to extra staff and getting them in, followed by a slamming of pans and Italian curses. But his eyes had glittered at the challenge.
“I hire my assistant tomorrow,” he announced. “He’ll be here by evening. No arguments. ”
“No arguments, Desmond. I swear. ”
Janey rushed back to the dining area, apologized to the waiting couple at the reservation counter, and led them quickly to their table.
Rogue showed up, dressed in leather pants, though a silk blouse topped it off and three-inch heels made her look like a goddess as her hair flamed around her.
Thankfully, Rogue understood the reservation computer, and she went to work as Tabitha, Janey, and the other waitresses fought to handle the additional seating and orders. Two more waitresses and three busboys were called back in. Within the hour, the banquet room was filled, as well as well as the reservation area.
Janey was rushed, stressed, and loving every minute of it.
Desmond was her angel, though he was cursing like a sailor. His wife and the additional sous-chef were working the kitchen; the extra stoves were in use for the first time since Janey had taken over the restaurant.
She was in heaven. Natches was even cleaning tables, beneath the eagle eye of his wife, and Timothy Cranston was working the register with patient confidence.
It was nearing ten when Janey had to begin turning away customers. Her legs were shaking with fatigue,
and Rogue and Tabitha were looking beautiful but harried. Reservations ended at ten; they couldn’t possibly take in more after that.
“I’m sorry. ” She shook her head at the group of three men who’d just arrived, dressed in business attire and obviously a little too drunk to be in public. “Seating is closed for the night. ”
At the head of the group, the older male, possibly in his thirties, frowned back at her, then leered. “That’s not possible. You can take three more. ”
Behind him were a few other couples. “I’m sorry, sir. If you’d like to make a reservation for tomorrow . .
