Page 2 of Peaks and Promises

“He’s fine. Probably ready for school to get out.”

“Good to hear.”

She hesitated, her eyes still on mine. I wanted to say something else, but I wasn’t sure what.

You’re beautiful and I’d like to take you out sometime.

No. I couldn’t say that. A relationship was out of the question.

She motioned toward the front. “I’ll get this going for you.”

“Thanks.”

I watched her make her way up the aisle and disappear into the kitchen.

“My toast is burnt,” the man in the booth across from me complained to the woman sitting with him.

She picked up a wobbly piece of bacon. “Is this even cooked?”

The man lifted his hand to get the attention of one of the other waitresses. “Excuse me?”

I went back to my coffee. The food there wasn’t great, and the coffee was worse. It tasted stale. Like it had spent a decade in an aluminum can before being dusted off and opened to serve to customers.

So, why was I there? Certainly not for the food. Or the coffee. It was just convenient. And it didn’t have anything to do with—

Summer came out again with two plates of food. She smiled when she passed my booth. I smiled back.

Okay, so her smile knocked me on my ass every single time. She was beautiful, with sexy curves a man could get his hands on.

But it wasn’t like I had a crush on her or anything.

She walked by again and I tore my eyes away before I started ogling her ass. I shifted in my seat and tugged at my jeans, trying to act casual—like I didn’t need to adjust myself.

I checked my phone again, and of course I didn’t have any messages. It had been maybe two minutes. What did I expect?

Another temptation poked at me, digging its claws in deep. Looking wasn’t a good idea. It would only make me feel like garbage.

I did it anyway.

My social media presence was anonymous. No one would find me. But I could find them. My family back home.

Breathing through the sudden tightness in my chest, I scrolled through some of their recent photos. Sisters-in-law who’d been crazy enough to marry my brothers. Nieces and nephews I’d never met. For almost two decades, I’d watched life unfold for the Haven family from afar, knowing I couldn’t be a part of it.

Knowing I couldn’t go back.

With a frustrated growl in my throat, I swiped to close the app.

“Hey, Reese?”

Somehow, Summer’s soft voice eased the tightness in my shoulders. I looked up into those pretty blues and was hit with a rush of heat.

“Yeah?”

“I forgot something.”

“What’s that?”

“How you like your eggs. You’d think I’d remember, but in my defense, it’s been a while.”