Carly hurries over to welcome him with a menu tucked under her arm and points at a small table by the window, the one I’ve seen him and his business partner sit at before. Rowan looks at it for a beat.
And then he looks at me.
My cheeks heat.
Carly asks him something, and he nods. She steps aside, and he walks past her and heads straight toward the bar.
Straight towardme.
I jump into action, meaning to look busy and not like I was staring.
Pick up the rag. Wipe down the service area. Organize the knives.
A stool scrapes against the floor. “Hey, Sunshine.”
His voice sends electricity zapping down my spine. It’s the most unnerving feeling.
I lift my gaze to him. “No.”
A brow arches. “No?”
“That is the first and last time you’re going to call me that.”
His lips twitch. “But it fits so well.”
“Don’t tell me you drove all the way here just to annoy me. Or did our street lose power too?”
“No, we’re fine.”
“You probably should have stayed home, then.”
He drags his palm over the scruff on his jaw. “Sorry to inconvenience you with my presence, but I’ve got nothing to eat at home. Haven’t had time to go grocery shopping.”
I ignore his snarky remark. “Busy with the house?”
“Very. But don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten your list.”
I hum in response and slide him a menu, certain he’s got my list somewhere at the bottom of his trash can. “You can order from me.”
He picks it up and gives it a quick scan. “I’ll have a bowl of soup, and the burger with fries.”
“You got it.”
“And a coffee.”
Melissa appears next to me. “We just made a fresh pot.”
The enormous smile on her face and the sugary tone fills me with irritation. Guess she’s moved on from Brett. Then again, she’s always been like this. Brett’s gotten angry with her on more than one occasion for flirting with certain customers while ignoring the other tables.
I go to the terminal at the end of the bar to put Rowan’s order in.
“Huh.” I breathe out as a realization hits.
Of course. Brett wasn’t just mad she wasn’t doing her job. He was mad because he was already sleeping with her. And stupid me went as far as to comfort Melissa when she got upset about his scolding.
Anger and humiliation thicken my throat for a long second before I force the feeling away. No need to relive it. But I do need to get the hell out of here before she tries to talk to me again.
I spend the next thirty minutes pouring beers and making drinks, trying to stay focused on the task at hand, but my gaze keeps drifting to Rowan. Carly brings Rowan his soup, then his burger. He eats fast, clearly hungry.
