Page 44 of Wildflower and Whiskey
“You got this with Braden. Little dude is a strong boy. He’ll rock daycare,” he continued and that made me smile.
“Thanks for saying that.”
“It’s the truth,” he said then his phone buzzed. “Damn, I better go. I’m late and everyone is wondering where I am.”
“You’re the boss.”
“Still got a business to run. I’ll see you later.”
Phoenix left and my emotions were all over the place. The loft felt too quiet without him, and I sank onto the futon, pressing my palm to my chest like I could steady the wild gallop of my heart. I hated how much I wanted him. Hated that a single wink, a few thoughtful words, could shake the walls I’d built so carefully. But even as my doubts gnawed at me, I couldn’t ignore the truth. Phoenix Thorne was dangerous in all the ways I never expected because he wasn’t just strong and sexy. He was kind. Attentive. The kind of man who could slip past my defenses without even trying.
And if I wasn’t careful, I was going to fall.
CHAPTER 23
Phoenix
By the time the lunch crowd started to pour in, I’d gone through two order sheets and one too many jokes from Dominic about how I “looked too happy to be Phoenix Thorne.” Cooper joined in, which just added to the fact these guys weren’t going to let me bask in my happiness on my own. They wanted to dissect the root of it.
Cooper dropped a keg at the back door, rolled his shoulders, and shot me a look that was all smirk. “Dude, what’s with the face?” he asked. “You’re grinning with like… actual teeth. You never grin during lunch rush.”
“I’m not grinning,” I muttered.
“You so are,” Dominic chimed in, not missing a beat. “It’s disturbing.”
“Shut up, both of you.”
They exchanged a look that saidwe’ve cracked the code, and I already wanted to fire them.
And then the bell above the door jingled, and there she was.
Elyna.
Her apron was knotted at her waist, and her hair was in a lose ponytail with some stray strands around her face. She gavea little wave to Dominic, then Cooper, and finally like she felt me staring, she found me.
Her smile was… soft, quick, just for me.
I shoved the clipboard under the bar before I did something stupid like drop it.
“Yup,” Cooper said, leaning on the counter. “Down bad.”
“Shut it,” I growled.
Dominic grinned. “She’s good for you. Keep smiling, boss.”
I tried to scowl, I really did, but it was useless.
My attention moved to the front door of the restaurant as it swung open. Now the cavalry arrived: Asher in sunglasses indoors, Eric with flour still dusting his arms, Becket in uniform, and behind them, Dad. They piled into a booth near the bar. Asher immediately yelled for a burger, Eric for a chicken sandwich, Becket asking if we’d finally fixed the fish tacos, and Dad who was the director of the police station sighing like he regretted birthing all of us.
I dropped menus. “Same as always?”
“Burger,” Asher repeated like he was ravenous.
“Chicken sandwich, extra pickles,” Eric added.
“Fish tacos,” Becket said, nodding.
“Cobb salad. No bacon,” Dad said, flipping the menu shut.
