Page 7 of Hit the Ground
His chuckle was so low, it rattled my bones. “Damn, am I that predictable?”
My lips twitched. “A creature of habit, I guess. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I felt him studying me more than I saw it. Since it was impolite not to look at him, I swept my eyes past his, pausing for a moment. Long enough to steal my breath, not so long it was dangerous.
“Thank you, Alice. Appreciate the vote of confidence,” he rumbled.
Remi patted his shoulder. “Think she’s too polite to tell you you’re boring.”
Caleb cocked his head, still pinning me with his gaze. “Am I boring?”
I dug the tip of my pen into my pad, willing my heart not to fly out of my chest. Joy wouldn’t appreciate the mess that was sure to make.
I flung my gaze at him like a plate of spaghetti, hoping it would stick. And it did, for a long, sliding moment. His grin slowly fell, and something passed over his expression…something I didn’t recognize but really wanted to.
“I doubt it, Caleb,” I whispered, using his name for the first time.
My belly ached. I’d overindulged. It was time to get the hell out of here.
“I’ll get those orders in.”
I didn’t scurry away this time, but it was close.
Chapter Three
Alice
Ihadtoreturnto their table eventually, but I’d calmed myself enough I wasn’t in danger of imploding. The three of them were deep in conversation about a trip Phoebe and Deke were taking soon, so I wasn’t the center of attention when I slid their plates in front of them.
I saved Caleb’s for last.
He looked at the food then up at me. Just a flash of his eyes. A beat. Then he gave me the smallest nod. Like he approved of me.
“Thanks, Alice.”
My heart beat too fast when my name formed on his lips. It was a problem to be sure.
I stepped back. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
I turned and took a deep breath, getting a handle on myself. There were other tables to see to. Keeling over because Caleb Kelly said my name would be incredibly inconvenient for everyone.
Nearing the hi-tops and two-seaters in the back by the pool tables, I slowed, dreading checking in on my last customer. Bart Miller was soused. There was no two ways about it. I didn’tknow what it was about him that rubbed me the wrong way. Plenty of rough men got drunk around here, and their antics and insinuations slid off my back. Bart wasn’t always hard to deal with, but he got meaner with each passing year—divorced, bitter, and twice as loud when he drank.
But I had a job to do, and since he’d been watching me cross the room, I couldn’t exactly avoid him any longer. I approached, my pen and notepad poised in front of me.
“Damn, Alice,” he gruffed, his voice thick with beer and bad intentions. “You ever get tired of playing waitress and want a real man to take care of you, you let me know. I got a feeling there’s a fine-looking woman under all that baggy shit you wear.”
This wasn’t anything new. Ignoring him, I steamed right ahead. “Would you like me to get you a glass of water or something to eat?”
Faster than he should have been able to, he moved, his fingers wrapping around my wrist like a steel cuff. Before I could process what was happening, he yanked me forward. My hips collided painfully with the edge of his table.
“Sounds like you think you can cut me off.” His eyes narrowed into slits. “I got rid of my bitch of a wife for tryin’ to tell me what to do. Not gonna stand for that shit from you, girl.”
I tugged my hand, but it didn’t budge. “Let go of me, Bart. This isn’t how you get what you want.”
“Maybe I don’t need another drink. Not if you keep me company.” He leaned back in his chair, spread his legs, and pointed to his crotch. “How ’bout you park that sweet ass right here, Allie?”
“You’re hurting me.” I pulled harder, but he was stronger than he looked and determined to keep me here. “Let go, Bart. You don’t want Joy to step in.”
