Page 13 of Counterfeit Connection

“Shit,” I whisper while Katarina quietly laughs her ass off.

It doesn’t take long for his food to hit the pass, so I carefully grab both plates and take them to his table.

“All right, I have brought you baked eggs on crusty bread with spinach, asparagus, and prosciutto, but I couldn’t let you leave without having some of Elliot’s sweet plum focaccia.”

“Wow,” he says with wide eyes. “And here I was expecting something simple like pancakes.”

“Well, I’m definitely not a simple girl when it comes to food. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that the next bite of food you take is going to change your life. I hope you’re ready for that.”

“I’m already ready for anything,” he says, and I watch as he takes his first bite of the eggs and bread. “My God,” he says a little under his breath after he swallows.

“I told you. I have great taste.”

“Then why don’t you prove that to me again over dinner tonight?”

“I’m sorry? Did you just ask me out?”

“Has it been so long, you don’t recognize a gentleman wanting to spend time with you?” The cloth of his napkin dabs both corners of his mouth before resting carefully back in his lap.

“Gentleman. Hmmm. Is that what you are? I’m still not sure.”

I didn’t intend to, but I fear I’ve hurt his feelings. His shoulders sink away from his proper straight back, his eyes lower from my face to the delicious food in front of him, and his pristinely shined shoes shuffle audibly beneath the table.

“I’ve done what I know to do to apologize for my boorish behavior last night. I thought if we could share a meal, I could show you honestly who my mother raised me to be.”

I don’t know how he managed it, but I feel bad for giving him such a hard time today, even though he’s really not seen me fully angry. “I have to work brunch service until three. If you’re willing to wait for me, I will agree to an early dinner here in the restaurant.”

His shoulders regain their life, along with his eyes as they trail up my body to finally find my face. “I think that would be lovely. Your exquisite tea and the occasional smile will tide me over until your shift ends.”

Griffin

I believe if you’d have told me last week that I’d be sitting in a small restaurant for most of my Sunday in New York City, waiting for a woman to get off of work so I could have dinner with her in the same restaurant I’d been waiting in all day, I’d have laughed my arse off. Somehow, I’ve managed to avoid the paparazzi this morning, so I’m being left alone for the moment. That’s a plus.

And yet, here I am, sipping my third cup of tea and replying to emails on my phone, all the while catching glimpses here andthere of her while she works. I needed to see her again, to let her know I’m not as much of a shit as I’d appeared to be last night.

While Katilyn is taking the order at a table just in front of mine, she glances over her shoulder at me with a smile. Just as I try to fully enjoy it, my phone vibrates in my hand.

It’s a text from Tobias.

Tobias: Should I be concerned you’re still out?

Me: Since when do you keep tabs on me?

Tobias: Since you seemingly developed stalker tendencies over this girl

Me: Point one, I’m not a stalker. Point two, I’m doing this to apologize to her…

Tobias: I can hear the dead air as you're trying to come up with other crap excuses or reasons you’re wherever you are

Me: Sod off

Tobias: Careful, my friend. There comes that temper again.

Me: When you’re trying to take the piss out of me, I’m going to let you have it

“Hi.”

Her sweet voice pulls me away from having to tell Tobias he may have a point…or two. “Hello.”

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