Page 17 of Just for Him
I was wrong about asking twice being the hardest thing. Watching a beautiful woman trying to let you down easy was harder.
“Hey, no problem. Can’t blame a guy for trying, right?”
She touched my hand lightly, her eyes soft and scolding. “You didn’t let me finish. I was going to say that with you working second shift and me working third, we might have to get more creative than dinner or a movie.”
It took a moment or two for her words to process. “Is that a yes?”
The smile she gave me set fireworks off in my chest. “Yes, Vinnie, that’s a yes.”
I wanted to do a fist pump and let out a great big “Yes!” but I managed to maintainsomedignity. “Great! How about tomorrow? Around lunch time?”
“Sure, I’d like that.”
“Great.”
The grill cook, Cal, rang the bell to signal an order was up. When Haven turned to get it, I felt Wanda patting me on the shoulder.
“About time,Mr. October,” she said on her way past.
I felt heat rush to my face. I wasn’t the blushing type, but thinking about that calendar shoot did it. The project had been for charity, and my cousin Lucia was the one who had done the shoot, which were theonlyreasons I did it.
I had been uncomfortable about the whole thing, but Lucia had smirked and told me she’d taken it easy on me because we were family. She had let me wear my uniform, complete with my hat, which I had pulled down low, and mirrored shades. However, she had insisted my shirt be left unbuttoned and open to showcase my “ripped gym body,” as she had put it. I’d had to dangle a set of handcuffs suggestively, too, whichIthought was ridiculous, but which she said women would think was “hot.”Yeah, right.
Lucia had talked my younger brother, Dom, into doing the calendar, too, so at least I hadn’t done it alone. He’d had it even worse. He was a fireman, and she had posed him shirtless with just his hat and his fire pants partially undone, held up only by suspenders. He had taken it all in stride, though. Dom was a ladies’ man through and through. Months later, he was still reaping the benefits.
I paused, coffee midway to my mouth. If Wanda had seen the calendar, did that mean Haven had, too?
I turned on my stool and met Wanda’s eyes as she walked past again. When she smirked and winked, I had my answer.
Well, hell.I wondered what Haven had thought when she’d seen it. Then I wondered if she had found the handcuff thing “hot”...
I shook my head, dispelling the images that tried to take hold. I already felt like an awkward teenager around her as it was. If I started adding fantasies to the list, I might as well resign myself to sitting behind the counter for the next hour or so.
Lindelman’s was busier than usual, so Haven and I didn’t get to talk much. I didn’t mind. She still gifted me with plenty of smiles, and that was good enough for me.
I had been pleased to find her brother Joel sitting at the counter when I’d walked in. It suggested that some of what I’d said to him had gotten through.
At one point last night, I had turned the conversation to the recent increase in criminal activity around town. I hadn’t mentioned Slash specifically, but I had shared that we believed the burglaries and attacks were the work of a local gang. I had described, in detail, what had been done to Kat when she had been walking home alone one night, as well as how places like Lindelman’s were being targeted. When his eyes had hardened and his nostrils had flared, I knew he’d received the message loud and clear. Whether or not it made a difference remained to be seen.
Reluctant to leave, I lingered over a couple of coffee refills, but eventually, I made myself go home. It was easier than it usually was, knowing that I would be seeing her again in a few hours.
“Here.” Haven slipped me a piece of paper when she came to collect my empty mug. “It’s my address. I’d give you my phone number, too, in case something comes up, but Wanda already took care of that.”
I grinned, happy that she had been thinking about our first real date, too. Then I glanced down, as if I didn’t already know exactly where she lived. “Got it. See you around noon?”
“Perfect.” She beamed.
I left Lindelman’s feeling lighter than I had in a very long time. I wished that feeling could have lasted longer than it did.
***
Igot the call justbefore dawn. My phone went off, pulling me out of a deep sleep. When I looked at the display and saw my brother Dom’s number come up, I knew it couldn’t be good.
Instantly awake, I sat up. “What’s up?”
“Fire at Lindelman’s Diner. Got a friend of yours here who asked me to call you.”
My heart stopped.Haven.“Is she all right?”
