“Well, why don’t I get you guys started with something to drink.Unless you already know what you’re having for lunch?”
The Stewarts came often enough that they knew the menu better than I did, yet they always ordered the same thing.I didn’t even need my notepad because I had memorized it by now.But I had no idea what their grandsons wanted, so I kept it out and waited for a response.
“Chuck and I will do our usual,” she replied, smiling at her husband.“The boys might need a few minutes to look over the menu.”
“Do you have burgers and fries?”one of them asked as he leaned back in his seat.
“We do.”
“I’ll have that,” he replied as his brother nodded and asked for the same.
I jotted down their orders and then made sure I knew how they wanted their burgers cooked before I rushed to the back to check on Charlie.
I pushed open the door and found Ashley at the counter with a butcher knife within reach as she worked on an order.I looked around, trying to find Charlie, as Ashley watched me cautiously as I approached.I shook my head, letting her know everything was okay.Ashley rolled her head on her neck and then nodded in the direction where Charlie was hiding.
I set the paper with their food order down by Ashley and walked over to Charlie immediately.My stomach sank when I saw how scared Charlie looked as she sat in a folding chair that was tucked in the corner of the room.
“They’re not here for you,” I assured her as I reached for her.I knew I wasn’t supposed to touch her, but that did nothing to stop the comfort I was desperate to give her.My hands rubbed soothingly up and down her arms, noticing the goosebumps that followed.
“They were passing through when they got stranded in the storm.They’re actually the Stewarts’ grandsons,” I said, looking to Ashley, since she would know who I was talking about.
Charlie sucked in a breath as she got up from the chair she was sitting on and immediately grabbed her stomach.Her face scrunched as she winced in pain.I reached for her again, my eyes searching her for an answer as she held onto my arms and let out a few heavy breaths.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she replied, her eyebrows still pinched together.“Braxton-Hicks contractions again.”
“Are you sure?”
I had to refrain from reaching out and touching her stomach the way I wanted to.It scared me that something could be wrong with the baby or that she was going into labor, but I knew it wasn’t my place to touch her like that.
“I should get Jo,” I mumbled, more to myself than anyone.
“No.It’s fine.Really.I’m going to move around and take her food out anyway.That should make them stop.”
She let her hand fall from her stomach and straightened her spine as she attempted to smile at me.I stepped out of her way as she grabbed the plate Ashley handed to her and headed back up front to take Jo her food.
I let out the frustrated breath I had been holding and placed my hands on my hips.
“I should go talk to Jo and tell her that Charlie is having contractions, right?”I asked as Ashley looked over the paper I had half-assedly written the order on for the Stewarts.
She arched an eyebrow as she walked to the fridge and pulled out the meat for the burgers.
“You like her, don’t you?”she replied as she unwrapped the package.
“What?No.”I shook my head and looked anywhere but at her.“I mean, I think she’s fine as a human being in general...”
She tipped her head back and laughed before shaking it.
“Oh my God, Axel.”
“What?”
“You’ve got it bad.”
My lips parted to rebuke what she said, but the words refused to come out because she was right.I was falling hard for a girl I hadn’t even known for twenty-four hours.I knew it was crazy, but there was no denying the attraction and pull I felt to her.And if that wasn’t enough, then the desire to destroy anyone who tried to hurt her definitely confirmed I was more invested than I should be.
“I do not.”
