I’m pouring Terrance his coffee when the door chimes. My stomach drops when I see Knox and a blonde woman standingby the door. Why can’t I get away from this asshole? It was only a few days ago that he barged into my house, throwing his weight around as if he owned the place.
Don’t seat him in my section. Don’t seat him in my section. Don’t seat him in my section.
My silent plea goes unheard as Desi waves them to the open booth on my side.
Terrance grunts. “Now there’s a troubled boy. Keep your conversation to a minimum with that one. He’ll be more likely to bite your head off than say something kind.”
“I’m more than familiar with his barbs. I’ve never seen him in here before.”
“He’s not one for socializing.”
“Truer words, Terrance.” I pat him on the shoulder and head over to greet my new customers. “Welcome to Desi’s. Do either of you want to start with some coffee?”
Knox goes rigid, keeping his gaze locked on the table.
The blonde with him smiles at me as she flips her mug over. “Please.”
I glance at Knox while I fill her cup, waiting to see if he’s going to move. “Knox? You want coffee?”
He startles at my use of his name. I barely get a grunt out of him, but he flips his cup over as well.
For some reason, seeing this man off-kilter emboldens me. He’s always so sure of himself. He never gives me quarter, and I feel as if I’m on the wrong foot with him more often than not. I finally have the upper hand right now, and the power might go to my head.
I’d also really like to know who this woman is. Where the hell did she come from? Is this Finn’s mom? I can’t see much of a resemblance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I looked identical to my grandmother without sharing a single feature with my dad.
“You guys need a minute to decide what you want?”
The woman nods her head. “Yes, please. Thanks.”
I nod, walking back behind the diner counter to put the coffeepot away. I try to keep busy, checking on my other tables to distract myself from the way Knox looks so comfortable with this woman. I’ve caught his mouth twitching into a smile no less than three times. God, I swear my curiosity will be the death of me.
I already asked Terrance, but he wasn’t sure who she is. He’d seen her once or twice before, but not long enough to get any information on her.
Maybe that means she’s not Finn’s mom.
Could she be a girlfriend? Long-distance relationships can work out if you’re with the right person. Would they be able to keep that a secret from Finn? It’s possible but not likely.
I have got to stop thinking about it.
They finally order, although I can barely understand Knox’s caveman grunts. The blonde woman doesn’t seem fazed by his behavior, which tells me she’s well acquainted with his grumpiness. That’s not helpful in the slightest. There could be any number of reasons why she knows him that well.
This is maddening.Just move on.
I use every ounce of mental fortitude that I’ve honed over the years to ignore Knox and the woman he’s here with. I do the minimum I need to take care of them, but my thoughts stay focused on my job and that alone.
For the most part.
I startle at the hulking figure suddenly standing in front of me. My gaze slowly moves from the counter I’ve been wiping down to the man who sure knows how to fill out a pair of Wranglers.Dammit, Farrah.You’re not supposed to notice that kind of thing anymore. You don’t even want to notice that kind of stuff.
Knox holds up his check, indicating he’s ready to pay. Iwas really hoping he’d just put money on the table and leave. Why’d he have to pay in person?
Walking over to the cash register, I enter the total for his breakfast.
“I didn’t know you’d be here today. Thought you only worked on the weekends.” Knox’s quiet words finally get me to make eye contact. I’m taken aback by the way his brown eyes hold a softness I’ve never seen before.
“I picked up more shifts since it’s summer,” I offer.
He nods, taking his card and the receipt from me. Yanking a pen from the counter, he scribbles his name at the bottom of the paper. I have to stifle my laugh at the absurdity of him using a pen with a giant fake flower attached to it.
