He nodded without even pausing to think. “Yes, of course. I want a huge family. The only reason I’m still relatively sane is because I had my brothers. Without them?” He blew out a breath and shook his head, leaning back in his seat, his eyes going distant. “I don’t know what would have happened.”
“Oh,” I said with a nod, not sure how to respond.
I hadn’t realized that I’d beenenjoyingspending time with this male until I’d volunteered to stay and close up after everyone—including a grumpy Hans—had left. Rhondda had waved at me, winking.
“Don’t bother me,” Hans had said, making his way up the back staircase toward his home two floors above. “Even if you’re being killed.”
“Or fucked,” Rhondda had giggled and I’d given her a shocked look before she’d all but run out the door, sending me a tiny wiggle of her eyebrows and locking it behind her.
I’d ignored them, knowing my truth. I didn’t want to befuckedby the strong, virile,sexy as sinmale in the dining area. I just wanted to make sure he left the restaurant satisfied. I was being a good employee. And good employees should be rewarded,notpicked on by their co-workers and bosses.
Staying late and sharing dessert with him was what any good server would do for a customer who bought—and ate—as much as he did. I’d taken a peek at what his final bill would be and it was astronomical. That’s why I hadn’t included the wine or gelato into it. It would be on Hans for foisting this male onto me.
Lowering my eyes to where he hadn’t finished his gelato, I changed the subject, cocking my eyebrow. “You don’t like the dessert?” I asked, studying how his big, strong hands cradled the tiny spoon with care.
“Sorry,” he chuckled, scoping a huge spoonful of gelato into his mouth followed by a second that cleared the dish. “It’s great.Everythingwas great. Fantastic. But especially…” he cleared his throat and looked away.
Curious, I tilted my head, letting my hair fall to the side, knowing that with a male like him—with his heightened senses—it would send a rush of my scent in his direction. I ignored the voice that was screaming at me for openly flirting with him, because what good serverwouldn’tflirt with a rich male for a good tip?
“Especially?” I prodded, sending him a cute smile. I watched his pupils dilate, something low in my stomach releasing a purr of satisfaction at his reaction.
“Especially spending time with you,” he admitted, and I held his gaze for a moment longer before I looked away.
“Well, I enjoyed that, too,” I told him, and it wasn’t even a lie. It wasn’t flirting. It was the Gods damned truth and it was the hardest thing I’d ever had to admit to myself or anyone else. Because I had to focus on my current situation and he wasn’t part of the plan. “But we’re closed now and you’re finished with your dinner, so I guess it’s time to get you your bill.”
His brow furrowed and if I wasn’t wrong, he was going to insist that he wasn’t done, but then he said. “Right, you probably have to get to bed so you can wake up in time to get some dog walking done.”
I narrowed my eyes with suspicion, but just nodded. It wouldn’t be hard for him to discern that I had to be up early with the number of jobs that I had—and that he knew about. I stood, clearing the bowls and taking them into the kitchen.
I leaned back against the cool metal door, trying to slap some sense into myself. Whatever feelings were curling inside of me, twining their way into my system because of his sweetness and his open honesty, I needed to cut it out. There was noroomin my life for him, even if I wanted to start anything with him and Ididn’t.
I had one goal and one goal only. To make my grandma’s last days happy ones. And to do that, I just had to stay focused and work hard. Distractions were for people who could afford them. Not me.
With that pep-talk in place, I straightened my spine, marched to the dish washing area, rinsed the bowls and slid them into the industrial washer before starting a cleaning cycle.
Brushing my hands down my clothes, mentally girding myself against his charm, I spun on my heel and found the huge male behind me.
The screech that left me was loud and unfiltered. It startled him enough that he backed away almost to the door. Regret filled his expression and he waved his hands in front of himself.
“I’m so sorry. I just didn’t want you to have to clean up everything by yourself because I stayed so late. I wanted to help,” he explained, and I sucked in a deep breath, pressing a palm to my pounding chest.
I released a small, hysterical laugh and nodded, leaning against the countertop. I aimed a shaking hand behind me, gesturing to the large dishwasher that was humming away. “I got it,” I choked out. “Don’t worry about it.”
He nodded, apologizing again as he exited the kitchen, hustling out and back to his table. I stared at the metal doors that were still swinging from the sheer size of his shoulders. What the hell kind of male came in to help a waitress clean up?
“Fuck,” I hissed, my head falling back onto my shoulders. “Youcan’tfall for him, Emma. Youcan’t.”
Swallowing hard, preparing myself to see him again, I exited the kitchen and saw that he’d already left. Pressing my fingers to my mouth in horror, I hustled to his table.
“No, no, no,no!” I gasped out, tears pooling in my eyes.
I couldn’t afford to cover a dine and ditch bill of the size of the one that he’d eaten tonight, but if I had to, I would. I’d alreadyspent most of the tip he’d given me. If I had to pay this, I’d be back in the hole I started in.
Cursing myself for taking so long to leave the kitchen, I was working myself up into a tizzy, knowing that I’d have to talk to him about it, when I came to a halt five feet from his table. On top of it sat a neat stack of bills.
Moving over on leaden feet, I reached for them with a trembling hand. Counting them out, I allowed the tear to slip down my cheek. It was so much more than the bill. There was over five thousand dollars.
My other hand gripped the chair in front of me that he’d vacated, trying to keep myself standing. I wanted to fall to my knees.
