Jake nodded absently at her request and slid a trio of beers to guests at the other end of the bar. He turned to me and winked, popping a maraschino cherry into his mouth from the fruit tray.
“Need anything, Elle?”
“No, not yet. How’s the apartment hunt going?”
“Not great. It’s hard to find anything in my price range. I’ve been crashing in my van for the past few weeks. That’s what I get for missing dorm selection.” Jake tossed a rag over his shoulder and pulled two glasses from underneath the bar, starting Zoe’s order.
“I might have a lead on something,” Zoe said as he hit the button on the blender, drowning out her voice. She turned to me and puffed out a breath. “I think he ignores me on purpose. It’s probably better coming from you anyways. He listens to you.”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t take it personally. Jake and I went through training together. There’s nothing like Angela barking in your ear for a week straight to speed up a little employee bonding. Maybe try again lat—”
My words froze as a crackling sensation filled the air.
Magic.
The tips of my fingers curled. I scanned the crowd, searching for the source. Zoe continued to complain about Jake even as my focus narrowed on the target: a man carrying a rack of bar glasses across the patio. He had to be the new server Zoe mentioned.
Was it impolite to whistle? Zoe hadn’t been joking. The man was gorgeous. Standing a head taller than almost everyone else, he had a walk that snagged every available eye. His jaw was clean-shaven, accentuating a firm mouth, and waves of jet-black hair had been swept away from his temples.
My eyes narrowed. I wondered if he’d sold his soul to the same devil as Ivy. How come my hair needed constant touch-ups and a couple hundred dollars in product while everyone else’s seemed effortless?
As he drew closer, the magic energy he exuded grew sharper. He was one of us, and if I could sense his abilities then he could sense mine. A spark of excitement flickered to life inside my chest. Maybe Zoe was right. I’d never been a social butterfly, always hiding behind my schoolwork and steadfast ambition. It could be time for a change.
“Nobody should look that good in polyester,” Zoe muttered.
“It’s criminal,” I agreed as the man approached the bar. He placed the rack of glasses next to the ice chest and stepped behind the counter.
Jake finished making Zoe’s drinks then angled his head toward the two of us. “Hey, Caden, have you met Elle and . . .?” He paused as if trying to remember Zoe’s name.
“It’s Zoe,” she finished for him with a tight grin. Whipping her hand out across the bar, she waited for Caden to return the greeting.
“Nice to meet you, Zoe.” He shook her hand, flashing her a sexy smile. Their eye contact lingered while he reached into the fruit bin for the finishing touches to her order.
His attention turned to me. I braced for the extra wattage emanating from his smile, but when his gray eyes met mine, they were cold. He studied me with an expression that doused my spark of excitement. I fumbled for something to say, settling on Zoe’s technique and offering him my hand. It hung in the air for an awkward beat. Horrified, I realized he wasn’t going to shake it. My face heated, and my hand dropped to my side.
“Elle, was it? Looks like your tray’s empty. There are fresh glasses by the ice.” His dismissal felt like tripping down the stairs in front of a large crowd. All I wanted to do was slink away like an injured animal and lick my wounds.
Could he not sense my magic? Did I smell? It took everything inside me to keep from sniffing my armpits just to make sure I wasn’t going crazy.
“That was rude,” Zoe said after Caden picked up an empty glass rack and walked back inside.
My throat was tight with humiliation. Forcing a fake smile, I shook the embarrassment away and refilled my tray.
“It’s no big deal. I should get back to work.”
The night devolved from there.
Chapter 3
Ifelt the burn of Caden’s glare against my back as I bent to refill the water glasses in my section. Clearly, we weren’t going to be friends with benefits—or friends at all, for that matter—but did the man have to stare at me as if I’d poured salt in his cereal?
He’d been giving me the evil eye all night, which wouldn’t have bothered me so much if he didn’t get along famously with everyone else. It made no sense, and I was seriously starting to develop an inferiority complex.
The guests were seated watching the award presentation, lights dim except for the spotlight on the podium. Professor Roberts accepted her award, and the room burst into applause. Her speech was followed by dessert. Servers weaved through the tables carrying glass plates of triple truffle chocolate cake with a dollop of whipped cream on the side. I finished serving my section then went to get coffee.
Caden stood at the coffee station scooping grinds into the basket. My footsteps slowed. I could wait until he was finished. No sense in poking the bear.
My toes tapped out an impatient rhythm. I couldn’t believe I was avoiding the new guy. Was this how all my shifts were going to go? What could I have possibly done to piss him off?
