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Chapter 27
Nico hoped Julia’s gasp went unnoticed in the chaos of the kitchen. “I’m his busser. I have to go give him water and bread. But I wanted you to know.”
“Why do you think he’s here?” she whispered, her face chalk-white.
“No idea,” Nico said. “But I’ll keep a close eye on him. Gotta get back out there.” He squeezed her hand, making sure no one else could see the tiny gesture. “I’ll keep you posted.”
Hurrying out of the kitchen, Nico grabbed a pitcher of water and a basket of bread, then approached Dawson’s table. “Welcome to Madeline’s, sir.” He set the bread and butter on the table, then poured a glass of water. “Will someone be joining you?”
Dawson didn’t look up from his phone as he said, “No, I’m alone.”
“Very good, sir,” Nico said. He picked up the rolled silverware and the water glass from the other side of the table. “Your server will be with you shortly.”
Dawson raised his head. Narrowed his eyes as he studied Nico. “You were at Zoe Melbourne’s party last week.”
So Dawson had been paying attention at that party. Nodding once, Nico said, “Yes, I was. Serving drinks and appetizers and removing the plates and glasses. You’re very observant.”
“Do you know Zoe?”
“Not personally,” Nico said, his fist tightening around the silver and the glass. “She hires servers and bussers from several area restaurants when she has a party. Anyone who’s off the night of the party jumps at the chance to work for her. She’s very generous.”
“She can afford to be,” Dawson said. Nico saw bitterness in his eyes. A hint of anger. He wondered if it had anything to do with Zoe’s refusal to beta-test his products. “Anyone else from Madeline’s there that night?” Dawson asked.
“Not that I remember,” Nico said.
“Okay.” Dawson went back to his phone, making it clear that Nico was dismissed.
Thank God. He’d keep an eye on Dawson, but he’d do it from a distance, if possible.
One of the newer servers was assigned to his station. Riley was young, enthusiastic and attractive. She gave Dawson a wide smile as she took his order, and tolerated his mild flirting. But Nico saw her smile fall away as she turned away from Dawson’s table. He wondered what Dawson had said to her.
As he cleared the plates from another table, he watched Dawson out of the corner of his eye. Dawson continued to scroll through his phone. Didn’t look at anyone else in the restaurant. Nico gradually relaxed, although he never lost track of Dawson.
Riley brought Dawson a glass of iced tea with a straw, giving him a too-bright smile as she set it down. Nico followed her into the kitchen with the dishes he’d cleared, and after setting them in the pan near the dishwasher, he hurried over to her.
“Did your singleton customer say something to you?” he asked the young woman in a low voice.
She frowned at him. “Why do you ask?”
“Because you were smiling too much at his table.”
Riley shook her head and relaxed. “You always this protective, Nico?”
“Pretty much,” he said. “It pisses me off when customers hit on their servers or bussers.”
“He was just another jerk in a long line of them,” she said. “When someone like that hits on me, I smile and ignore it. Falls into the ‘life’s too short’ category.”
“If he says anything more, dump a glass of water on him,” Nico advised her. “Accidentally, of course. Quickest way to get him to shut up.”
Riley laughed. “You have worked in a lot of restaurants.”
“More than I can count,” he said lightly.
Nico watched Dawson as he ordered his meal, then as he ate it. He didn’t appear to say anything else to Riley, and he lingered over his dessert and iced tea. Nico never saw him actually touch the glass, but he’d save it anyway.
There were several tables of patrons left, including one with a toddler who was cranky and whiny. Poor kid probably should have been in bed an hour ago.
Dawson finished his dessert, then stood up to use the restroom. As he walked toward the restroom alcove, still looking at his phone, the toddler threw his plastic cup of apple juice onto the floor. The lid popped off, and a pool of juice formed in the aisle behind his highchair. Apple juice, judging by the fruity aroma.
