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“Um… yeah, I could eat.” His eyes go up to the chalkboard menu on the wall behind me. Our offerings are simple, but they are delicious. “I’ll take a Reuben.”
I key the order in as he pulls out his wallet. I wave it off. “You don’t have to pay.”
Boone ignores me, pulling out a credit card and offering it to me. “You’re running a business. I’ll pay.”
We lock eyes for a moment and I can see he’s more stubborn than I am. I reach for the card but he pulls it back. “Did you eat?”
I’m confused for a moment but then slowly shake my head.
“Join me for lunch then.”
“Oh, I can’t,” I say, throwing a thumb behind me. “I’ve got work to do.”
“Fifteen minutes, Lilly. You can spare it and I’ve got stuff to talk about regarding your dad.”
As if on cue, my stomach rumbles. “All right… I’ll join you.”
I try to take the card but he pulls it back. “Put your order in.”
“I don’t need to have mine paid for. It’s one of the perks of owning a deli.”
Boone nods at the iPad we use for transactions. “Put in your order and let me pay for it.”
Another staring match ensues but finally I give in, punching in a turkey on wheat.
“Add bottled water and chips for both of us,” he demands with a wink.
I roll my eyes but I can’t stop the small smile before doing as he commands. “What makes you think I like bottled water?”
“I don’t,” he says as I turn the pad for him to tap his card against it. “But it’s healthier than soda.”
I snort. “You’re lucky that I do, in fact, drink only water.”
The screen updates and presents him with the order total and a place for his signature. He enters a custom tip of thirty bucks and holds up one hand as he signs with the other. “Don’t even think to complain about that.”
My mouth snaps shut as I was indeed getting ready to lay into him for such an extravagant waste of money. At least to me, but maybe not to him. I’m sure he makes a fortune as a hockey player.
While Boone grabs bottles of water and chips from the self-serve rack and cooler, I stick my head in the back. “That order is for me and a friend,” I say to Charles. “I’m going to take a quick break.”
“Take longer than a quick break, boss,” Georgie says. “We got you covered.”
I give them both a smile and nod my thanks. “I just need about fifteen minutes.”
Charles and Georgie exchange a mocking look but it’s Charles who drawls, “Oooh… a whole fifteen minutes. Wow.”
“Smart-asses,” I mutter as I let the door close and turn back toward Boone. He chose a booth farthest away from the counter, I assume for privacy since we’ll be talking about my dad. One thing I’ve learned about the meddlesome hockey player, he’s nothing if not thoughtful.
I slide into the booth opposite him and Boone pushes a bottled water and chip bag to me. I note he chose barbecue, which is fine. I like them all as evidenced by the padding on my hips, but I push the bag aside until my sandwich gets here.
Boone opens his bag and pops a chip into his mouth while staring at me.
“What?” I demand as I unscrew the top of my water.
“You look absolutely pained to be taking a break,” he observes after swallowing.
“I’ve got a ton of stuff to do. I don’t have the luxury of breaks.”
His expression softens. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make light of how busy you are. I don’t know that I’ve ever met a single person with as much responsibility as you carry.”
