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She shudders with something like ecstasy and then hurries off. Rex tosses his dark hair, which is cut short on the sides and back of his head, but grown foppishly long in the front. He has ditched his tux shirt and jacket for his usual tight-fitting black track jacket and black joggers. His clothes casually emphasize the muscles in his arms, his trim physique, and his powerful build.
The most standout feature on Rex’s body has to be his tattoos, though. Every single inch of bare skin on his arms and his neck is covered in colorful, scrawled artwork. Some are religious tattoos, some are funny, and some are thoughtful. There are at least two sets of song lyrics that I can see inked into his skin.
To me, most of his tattoos look like something an artistic school kid would doodle.
“Everybody is looking all over God’s green earth for you,” Rex says. “I thought you might head over here. I guess Rhett figured it out, too.”
Rex looks out the window at Rhett, who is on the phone trying to cancel the rest of the wedding vendors that haven’t set up already. Rhett catches his eye and nods, but turns back in the next instant.
“He getting you any money back?” Rex drawls.
“Nope. I’m on the hook for six figures.” I fidget with the knife and fork already laid out on the table.
“That’s absolute bullshit,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m sorry about all of this, Cole. It’s not what anybody wanted for you. Or for Charlie. God knows he’s devastated.”
I wince when Rex says my kid’s name. I make a noncommittal noise and pray that he’ll move on. Accepting apologies and being the object of someone else’s pity has never been my thing.
Rex leans over and snags my untouched water glass, pulling it across the bar before drinking it down into a couple of gulps. I shoot him a glare.
“That’s my water,” I snap.
“She’ll bring you another one.” He shrugs.
I give him a considering look. “You couldn’t have known that I would head here. I didn’t even remember it existed until I walked in the door.”
Rex rolls his eyes, scratching his stubbly chin. He cracks an easy grin. “It might have been the third place I tried.”
I usually have a lot more patience for Rex’s jokes. After all, aside from being my older brother, he is far and away my best client. But today, I have none of the goodwill or tolerance that handling Rex usually calls for.
I sigh. “What can I do for you, Rex?”
His answer is cut off by a woman and her young son rushing up to where we sit. The kid’s voice is excited as he shouts, “You’re Rex Bennett! You’re my favorite baseball player!”
The woman blushes, crowding Rex’s personal space. “Hi, Mr. Bennett. Would you sign my son’s jersey?”
In the moment it takes him to look over at his fans, Rex switches gears from his normal ornery self to Mr. Popularity.
“Of course. Let’s step over to the other side of the diner for just a minute. Give everybody else a little privacy.” Rex’s smile remains unbothered, and he winks at the boy. He stands up and moves the fans back with his sheer size alone. I see him accept a marker and jersey from the little boy as they walk away, asking, “What’s your name, kid?”
I slump lower on my uncomfortable stool. Pearl stands behind the autograph seekers, juggling a cup of coffee, another glass of water, and a menu. I motion her over to me, accepting the items one by one and placing them on the bar in front of me.
She looks at Rex and I see the same emotions I’ve seen on every girl’s face since before Rex went pro. A little awe, a lot of excitement, and no little bit of desire. I can’t fault her for being star-struck. Even Holly thinks Rex is ‘a perfect specimen.’
That thought irks me. I look down at my hands, trying not to clench them. Who cares what Holly thinks?
Holly dumped me this morning, in case I forgot.
“Can I bring you some food?” Pearl asks, tucking some hair behind her ear.
I want to pout, but I can’t do it here.
“Can you bring me some wheat toast and…?” I think of Rex’s fanatical diet and wrinkle my nose. “Two spinach salads and two plates of scrambled egg whites?”
“Sure thing. Would you like Rex’s regular order? That’s a five-egg white omelet with spinach and grilled deli turkey, a spinach salad with tomatoes and no dressing, and a cup of black coffee.” Pearl gives me a shy smile.
Ugh. That does sound like what Rex would usually order. I sigh.
“Whatever he usually gets is fine. Bring a second order of the same for me.”
