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“I’m teasing. How’s your grandmother?”
“She’s amazing, as always. The coolest woman I’ve ever known.”
“You’re lucky to still have her.”
“I know! And my grandfather, too. They’re the best.”
“You want to hear the specials?”
“Sure.”
He never took his gaze off her sweet face as he recited the details of the baked cod and brisket specials. “I recommend the cod. Had some earlier. It’s good.”
“That does sound good. I’ll have that and chowder, please.”
“Coming right up.”
“What’s with the games?” she asked as he put her order into the computer.
“I hear it’s a long winter around here. Thought it might be fun.”
“That’s a great idea. I used to play checkers with my pop. I’m really good.”
“Is that right?” He glanced at her. “Set up a game and show me how good you are.”
She flashed a determined smile. “You’re on, my friend.”
Had two little words ever meant more to him? My friend. She knew the worst about him and was still there, still smiling at him and referring to him as her friend. He felt as if he’d been given a priceless gift in those two words.
As he waited on other customers, drew beer from the taps, rang up checks and mixed cocktails, he kept half an eye on Cindy as she chatted with Niall and then Kevin and Chelsea McCarthy when they arrived with their baby daughter, Summer. Chelsea used to have his job at the bar but was now a full-time mom and seeming to love every second with her sweet little girl.
He poured a beer for Kevin and a Sprite for Chelsea and put them on the bar in front of them. “What’s Miss Summer drinking these days?”
“Still on the boob,” Chelsea said.
“We don’t have that spirit here,” Jace replied, grinning.
“Only Mommy has that, right, my love?” Chelsea asked her daughter, who flashed a gummy grin.
“Oh, she’s smiling,” Jace said as a pang of memory hit him involving his own boys and their first smiles. That was one of the last milestones he got to experience with them before he was ripped from their lives. He was gone before Kyle, the younger one, had walked.
“That’s a new development. Kev says it’s gas, but we don’t listen to Daddy when he says silly things, do we?”
“It is gas,” Kevin, the doctor, said.
“Hush,” Chelsea responded. “My beauty doesn’t have gas. She’s happy.”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “She’s happy, and she has gas.”
“Do you know a good divorce attorney?” Chelsea asked Jace, her face glowing with delight.
“I’m not touching that one,” Jace said over his shoulder as he headed for the kitchen to grab chowder for Cindy, Kevin and Chelsea. He carried the tray back and doled out the bowls, spoons and oyster crackers.
Then he leaned in, moved one of the black checkers Cindy had put on his side of the board and left her with a wink.
Her face flushed. She was so sweet and kind, and if he were a better man, he’d leave her the hell alone. The last thing a lovely young woman like her needed in her life was him and all his baggage. He should find a different living situation and stop flirting with her every chance he got.
However, despite all the work he’d done on himself over the last few years, he still wasn’t a good enough man to walk away from someone who made him feel as good as she did. Being in her presence reminded him of what happened when the sun emerged from behind a cloud. Suddenly, everything was brighter, warmer, happier. Everything about her appealed to him, but nothing more than her heart, which was always on display in the way she interacted with others.
