“If it helps in any way,” she said with another head tilt in Krusk’s direction. “I was betting abouthim, not you.”
“It doesn’t help,” I told her, rolling my eyes. “And I’ll take two waters for their table.”
She filled them up and set them on my tray with a wiggle of her eyebrows. Glaring at her while she grinned, I turned and walked back to the table. The talking stopped immediately and they all sent innocent smiles my way as I set the glasses down on the table.
Paranoia wasn’t typical for me, but I had a feeling that theywere talking about me. Immediately self-conscious, I moved to another table, feeling eyes on me. There was a tingle at the back of my neck, but when I looked back at them, I found that there was only one being who wasn’t laughing and joking with the others.
Krusk.
His gaze was zeroed in on me and warm heat spread under my skin. Spinning back around, I struggled to hide my reaction, trying not to walk like a yeti as I moved between tables, forcing a smile on my face that was usually genuine.
Why did he have to comehere? Of all the restaurants in the city? They’re not evenvegan!
Going to check on the food, I passed by Krusk’s table, looking everywhere but at him. Once again, the talking stopped as soon as I approached.
Way to be subtle.
“Is everything to your liking?” I asked, and watched as the orcs forced smiles while the females nodded with enthusiasm. Every single plate and tray on the table was empty. I started stacking them for removal, carefully maneuvering my way around the table so that I was nowhere near Krusk at any time.
It was an intricate dance, but one that I’d do over and over again for the rest of the night, just to make sure that no part of me touched any part of him. I wasn’t sure what I’d do if I got close enough to be tempted by all that deep green, velvety skin that looked as though it would taste—
Cutting my thoughts off right away, I bit my lower lip hard enough to almost make it bleed, focusing on the response to my question instead.
“Delicious,” the outgoing female said, running her fingers along the arm of the male who had ordered. “And so very filling. Don’t you think, Rud?”
“So very filling,” he repeated in a dry voice. “I’m sure the rest ofthe food will be as well.”
He sent a smile my way that was more of a grimace, wincing as the female appeared to stomp on his foot under the table. “Please give our compliments to the chef,” he gritted out, leaning down to rub at his foot and the female beamed her agreement.
The rest of their meal was much of the same. Awkward silences whenever I approached that were then filled with a lot of chatter and questions from the females, overflowing trays of plates going to the table and then being completely cleared by the time they returned. When I stacked the last dessert plate, relief swept through me in a rush.
Almost done.
For some reason, even though Krusk’s stare was constant and unwavering, I wasn’tnervous. Annoyed, yes. Nervous? No. Even so, I was certain that I wasn’t going to be making as many tips tonight as I should have.
With my usual banter significantly affected by the huge male’s presence, I was behind on where I should be for the night. Cursing myself, I realized that it was already nearing the end of my shift and the rest of my section was empty. I’d have to try harder tomorrow.
This is why you should have been schmoozing customers and not being awkward as hell and constantly checking on their table. Learning all of their names won’t help you get Grandma’s payment together on time.
It also didn’t help that every single other member of staff was peering at them, observing, whispering and very obviously handing over bets to be added to the pot. Heaving a deep sigh, I returned to them, ready to clear their dessert plates. “How was dessert?” I asked, staring down at the dishes as I gathered them.
“I don’t know how the chef did it,” Zara, the outgoing female moaned, tipping her head back against her mate’s shoulder. “But that tiramisu was some of the best I’ve ever had and it wasvegan.”
I grinned, since it was one of my favorites as well. “He has a gift,” I told her, watching as Rudgar—her mate—swept his huge palm over her arm, keeping her tucked against him. “I can let him know, if you’d like,” I added, a twinge of loneliness squeezing at my chest as I watched them.
“Please do, Zemar,” came the deep purr from my left and my smile became tighter—more forced—as I nodded. I’d decided to ignore whatever the hell that word meant. I couldn’t just ask him in front of everyone, after all.
“Of course. Let me just get these out of your way. Do you want anything else?” I asked, settling all the plates into a pile, as if I didn’t do this every night and needed to concentrate.
“I think we’re ready for the bill,” Rudgar said in his rumbling voice.
“Wonderful,” I said with a relieved beam that might have been my first, honest response for the night. “I’ll get that ready for you and I’ll be right back.”
Pushing through the doors of the kitchen, I rolled my eyes as I noticed that Hans was on his stool, peering out of the glass window between the kitchen and the dining area.
“Did they love it?” he asked, eager for more information and praise. I snorted out a laugh, shaking my head as I moved to the dish pit.
“You know they did. They fell in love with the tiramisu, as I expected. You know you’re a genius,” I told him, rolling my eyes.
