Page 93 of Make Me Swoon

Coraline

The rush has finally slowedand I take a break, leaning against the counter with the fan blasting at my face. It’s got to be close to ninety degrees out and it’s even hotter in the food truck with the grill and fryer going.

Tonight’s special is an aioli burger with aged sharp cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon, caramelized onions, tomato, lettuce, and a roasted garlic aioli. I was surprised when almost every customer so far has ordered it. It comes with a serving of fries and I’m glad that I portioned those out earlier today so that I just have to dump them in the fryer and then I can work on the burgers.

My eyes stray across the parking lot toward the neon pink glow of the Eye Candy Ink tattoo shop and I wonder if Harvey will be stopping by again tonight.

As if my thoughts have conjured him, he steps out of the shop and our eyes lock from across the street. I raise my hand and wave and he grins, jogging across the street.

“Hey, Coraline. Did you just come out of the oven? Because you’re hot,” he says with a mischievous smirk.

“Hey, Harvey. What can I get you?” I ask with a laugh.

“I’ll take the special. I’ve been smelling it for the last hour and it smells delicious.”

My face flushes from the compliment and I give him a smile before I turn and get started on his order. I dump an extra serving of fries into the fryer and get started making the best burger of my life. I want him to think that I’m the best chef that he’s ever had cook for him. I want to give him a reason to keep showing up every night, although I suspect that he would do that even if my food was shit.

“How has tonight been?” he asks after a beat.

“Good. Pretty steady crowd over here. If it wasn’t so hot, it would be perfect,” I joke, fanning my face.

“Want me to grab you a cold bottle of water or something?” he offers and my heart melts at how sweet he is.

“No, I’ve been sticking my head in the cooler every few minutes, so I’m alright,” I joke and he laughs.

I finish his order and pass the box over to him. He looks inside and smiles.

“Extra fries, Coraline? You better be careful or people are going to think that you’ve got a crush on me.”

“It’s not that. I’m just trying to fatten you up. You’re so skinny and it looks like the last time you ate was sometime in the nineties.”

“I’ve got to give the ladies what they want.”

“What ladies? I don’t know anyone who is searching for this look,” I say with a grin, eyeing him from his shoes up to his messy hair.

“I took a poll. Tall and lanky is hot right now.”

“I think maybe you should retake that poll,” I tease.

“Haha. You know, if you really wanted to fatten me up, you could give me a slice of that cheesecake,” he says, pointing to the dessert menu for tonight.

I take a step closer and lean over the food truck window.

“I can’t do that, Harvey. People might get the wrong opinion and think I have a crush on you or something.”

He throws his head back, laughing up at the dark sky and I join him. I’ve never had this kind of easy relationship with a guy before. I’m used to sexist pricks or fuck boys. No one like Harvey.

Culinary school was filled with a bunch of cocky guys and even if I had been interested in one of them, it was too competitive to really nurture any kind of relationship. Before that, I was busy trying to keep a roof over my head and save up for school. I didn’t have time for boys or dating.

I technically still don’t.

I need to get this food truck off the ground or find a chef position at a restaurant around here. I need to hone my craft and become the best chef that I can possibly be. The best chef in Pittsburgh.

A few more customers head my way and my mood sours. I don’t want to help them right now. I just want a few more minutes with Harvey.

That’s how I know that he’s dangerous.

Sayler couldn’t stop talking about Harvey and Rooney last night and she kept up that conversation long after we had shut down the truck and gone home. I know that she’s already started planning double dates out in her head and I hate having to tell her that I don’t have time for dating right now. I know that she’ll try to get me to change my mind.

---