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“Stubborn,” Reggie said, but she wasn’t certain if he meant her or Malcolm.
“I’m here, coz!” a boisterous voice called out as the woman it belonged to bounced in through the back door. She was gorgeous, with hips and breasts Jami envied, and dark, tight curls cascading past her shoulders to the middle of her back. Her skin was just as tanned as Reggie’s, and she had the cutest black mole at the corner of her eye.
Reggie grunted, but he grinned when the woman planted a wet kiss on his cheek that smeared red. She wiped off the lipstick, then wrapped a quick arm around his neck in a hug. “Where’s this boss of yours?”
Reggie finished plating the burger and turned to the window. When a familiar hand gripped it from the other side, he held on. “In here, Mal,” Reggie said, setting the plated food in the warming window when the hand released it.
Malcolm pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen. His eyes found Jami’s first, and he nodded at whatever he saw there before focusing on the other woman.
“My cousin,” Reggie said, then turned back to the stove.
Instead of holding out a hand, the woman hugged Malcolm as well. “I’m Tanya. And you must be my coz’s Malcolm I’ve heard so much about.”
“Wait, Reggie talks?” Malcolm asked, smirking at his cook.
Tanya laughed. “Well, his one-word grunts anyway. So, where do I start? I’ve done the waitressing thing before.”
“Come on. I’ll get you an apron and point you in a direction,” Malcolm said, pushing open the swinging door again.
“Malcolm!” Jami called, flushing when he paused and his eyes rested on her. “I can run the register again. And maybe pull beers?”
He studied her before nodding. “Your color looks better. Take your time getting settled.” He moved through the door.
Tanya smiled at her before following him out.
Jami took a breath. She glanced at Reggie. “Thanks for the food earlier. It was really good.”
He nodded but kept his gaze on the grill. “Too itty-bitty, chickadee. I’ll bring more sweet fries.”
“You don’t have—” His glance cut off the words, and she swallowed. “All right. I’ll eat them.” They’d been delicious.
Her cast dragged less as she made her way behind the bar. The rest really had done her good.
The dinner crowd was larger than lunch had been. At first the loud bustle was a little overwhelming, but as Jami focused on the tickets and pulling the occasional beer, when Malcolm didn’t beat her to it, she found a rhythm again.
“Coz says this is for you,” Tanya said a little while later, pushing a basket of fries at her with two cups of brown sugar butter this time.
Jami took it, her mouth already watering. “Thanks.”
Tanya remained beside her, holding out a ticket with a credit card. “Here.”
Jami ran the card, her fingers less than steady under the woman’s gaze.
“So you got a thing for the boss, huh?” she said, taking the finished receipts.
“What?” Jami gaped at her.
“Just wanted to say, don’t worry about me. I’m not looking for a guy.” Tanya rolled her eyes. “Men are such a hassle.”
“Uh,” Jami said, not sure where to start.
“Back to the rounds.” Tanya took the receipt and card, rushing back to the bar’s pass-through. Her smile was dazzling as she turned it back on the customers.
Jami wondered exactly how she’d been looking at Malcolm for the new server to think she had a thing for him. She reached for a fry, adding more butter than it strictly needed, but loving the spread of sweetness as she popped it in her mouth. She closed her eyes to savor it. It reminded her of Skylar laughing at her at the local fair. Her sister had gone for the rides and the press of people. Jami had always loved the fried sweets. It wasn’t often their parents had indulged them, but it was one of the best memories she had from before things had fallen apart.
“I thought you’d like those,” Malcolm said.
Jami opened her eyes to see him reaching for a liquor bottle with the happiest smile on his lips.
