Page 59 of Fauxmance

"Hey Iz," I said, putting them down and pulling out the checkered handkerchief to dab my brow. "Can you get that?"

"Nah, I think you should get this one," she replied.

"But I just told Jane I'd bring out more food trays."

"Sorry, Magnolia. I can go help with that, but you should really deal with this."

Rolling my eyes, I turned around. "Is there something…oh."

My voice trailed off as I spotted the reason she was acting so strange. Turned out it wasn't a something but asomeone.

Hayden stood near the entrance, wearing his leather jacket, a black t-shirt and dark wash jeans, looking like something out of a magazine. His hair was tousled, and his eyes were on me as I stared at him. They shifted to my hand, and I realized I'd frozen with his handkerchief held in midair. Quickly pocketing the item, I tried to control my blush as he strode forward.

"Like I said"—Izzy threw me a knowing smile—"this one's for you."

"But…"

"I'll be in the back, listening to everything you say through the door."

She disappeared just as Hayden stopped inches away from the counter.

"Hey, Maggie," he said. "How's it going?"

"Fine," I said slowly, still trying to get over the shock.

"It's good to see you again."

"You, too."

He gestured to my side with a small smile on his face. "I see you're getting some use out of the handkerchief. That's good."

"Yeah, it's very soft and…absorbent." Groaning internally, I shook my head. "I didn't expect to see you, Hayden. How'd you even know I work here?"

"You mentioned a soup kitchen when we met," he pointed out. I knew he meant on the elevator, but I'd said a lot of things. "I also may have called Cole and made him ask your sister where I could find you."

My eyes widened. "You did?"

He nodded.

Why was it that when I'd thought of doing the exact same thing I'd deemed it desperate—yet when Hayden confessed to asking about me, it made butterflies erupt in my stomach?

"Well," I said, "the info you got was good. You found me. Was there something you needed?"

"Uh yeah," he said while rubbing the back of his neck. The move and the slight blush on his face was endearing as heck. I did my best not to swoon. "Actually, there is. Do you have time to talk?"

Looking at the clock set above the front door, I said, "I have a break coming up, but it's almost time for the dinner rush. I can talk after that. If you don't mind waiting."

"I don't," he said. "You do your thing. You need any help?"

My lips lifted at that. "It's going to be a madhouse in a few minutes. We're always short on volunteers."

Hayden lifted his hands. "Just tell me what to do. I'm at your service."

I thought about it and then shook my head. "Thank you, Hayden. But Izzy, Jane, and I can handle it."

"Okay, I'll just grab a seat."

"Awesome."

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