Page 16 of Mr. Delicious
I continued to the counter where he greeted me.
Stella flashed me a dazzling, knowing smile, and cocked her head toward our Mr. Delicious.
“Hi,” I said to him, trying to steady my poor heart before it beat right out of my chest.
“Hey, I hope you don’t mind but I took the liberty of calling in some friends who were looking for work experience.” He motioned to the two waitresses.
I looked and saw they were doing an excellent job with my customers. Didn’t seem like they needed work experience at all.
“Work experience?” I knew I should have said thanks but all I could do was look back to him and stare.
“Yeah, they wanted a taste of working in a busy environment. And best of all? They’ll work for free.” The smile widened.
I couldn’t believe it. “Really, you did this? And you’re helping.”
“I hope I don’t poison anyone. I got stuck on some of the drinks but hey, no one’s complained yet.”
Probably because they would have taken whatever he gave them and still been satisfied. It didn’t escape me that there were more women than usual in here today and the line took up the runner to the door.All women.
I couldn’t blame them. I would have probably lined up too. I looked at him wearing his white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and his tie loose.
The black pants he wore added to the effect and a lock of hair hung over his sexy eyes.
“Thank you… thank you so much.” Thank God I could still talk.
“Don’t mention it.” A tentative expression washed over his face. “Do you mind if I talk to you for a second?”
He could talk to me forever if he wanted to.
“Of course not.”
“Cool.”
He placed a hand to the small of my back to usher me over to the side so we could talk in private. The touch was electric, sending sparks up and down my lonely body.
I swallowed hard and tamped down the swirl of emotion that zinged through me with a cool smile.
“Thanks so much for doing all this for me. You shouldn’t have had to. I can’t begin to imagine what the place must have been like earlier for you to have to step in and help like this. I’m really sorry.”
Nice as it all was. It made me look bad. And unprofessional
I couldn’t even remember what happened last night. I knew I worked myself into a coma. Didn’t even have time to think about Billy, like I did the night before.
“No need to apologize. I know what the place is normally like remember?”
“I swear you can have a lifetime supply of cinnamon bagels and cookies.” I offered knowing he’d like that.
“I may hold you to that.” He held my gaze and really looked at me. “But, what I really want to do is convince you to take the rest of the week off. To rest.”
I actually laughed. Then caught myself because there was nothing funny to laugh at.
“I wish.”
“Good, then your wish is my command. Take the rest of the week off. Stella said she can work for half the day and there’s two more like my waitress friends who’d be eager to help. They’re fully trained and come from an agency a friend of mine uses in town. I can check up on the place and let you know if all’s well.”
I blinked again, unable to accept that what he was saying was real. Thathewas real, and making such an offer.
Except Stella, no one helped me.
