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“No. My manager wouldn’t care. Just that I carry on with my job.”
“Seriously?”
“As long as the customers are happy.”
I am beginning to regret coming to this restaurant with Marcus. The food was great, but the way the staff were treated was less to be desired. I am not uncomfortable with being there anymore. I push my mostly-eaten meal away and reach for my wallet.
“You shouldn’t have to put up with that.”
“I need this job as Dad isn’t paying my tuition anymore. I don’t have a choice.”
“We all have a choice, and you need some pride.”
She straightens up.
“I have pride. But I’m also practical.”
“You’re also undeserving of this treatment.” I get out my card and hold it out to her. “I want to pay now. Can you do that? Then you and I are getting out of here.”
Her eyes widen.
“What? You…what?”
“After what I just witnessed, you should be heading home, or getting out of here, at the very least. Once I’ve paid, I’m going to take you away from here.”
She is staring at me like I’ve gone mad. And maybe I have gone mad. I’ve never done this with a woman before. Never had I suggested that I take a woman with me and I don’t even know her name. Then again, I was with Hannah for a long time; maybe I’m out of practice.
Don’t think about her. Focus on the woman before you.
“I…I don’t…” She swallows. “I don’t know what to say. How do I know you’re not going to be like them?”
“You don’t. But I prefer that you were out of here and safe and not in here close to tears.” I peer at her. “Maybe you just need someone to talk to. I don’t mind if you vent to me.”
She still looks confused and unsure what to do. I know that I’m behaving in a manner that would make anyone suspicious, but seeing her upset like this and knowing that she’s close to breaking, I don’t want to walk away from her.
The emotions running through me right now are too much, and I don’t know what to do about it.
After what feels like forever, she reaches over and takes my card from my fingers. Our hands touch, and I feel a warm tingling that makes my hand feel ticklish. From the way she pauses, her cheeks flushing a little, she feels the same thing. She gets to her feet.
“Let me get your bill for you,” she whispers. “Then I’ll get my belongings.”
“You’re going to come with me?”
“That’s what you want, isn’t it?” she shoots back with a wry smile. “Besides, I’ve had enough of this place. I can find another job.”
I can’t stop myself from smiling. There is a bit of fire still there in her.
“I’m Luke, by the way.”
She hesitates.
“Elle,” she mumbles.
Then she hurries away, and I watch her go, knowing that those hips are going to be in my dreams for a while now.
Chapter 3 Elle
I stand in the middle of his apartment and look around in awe. This place is huge, far bigger even than I anticipated. I feel like I shouldn’t be here; it is too intimidating.
