Page 4 of Pallas & Kawehi

“That happens fairly regularly. Lanikai might not be like Waikiki, but we get our share of guys and girls who can’t hold their liquor. Or the guys who think because they have money, they can pretty much run roughshod over anyone in their path.”

“And the other part?”

She picked up a pitcher and then started filling it with draft from the tap.

“You mean a guy standing up for me like that?”

She didn’t even look to see if he nodded. She continued to fill the pitcher with beer. “Not really. My usuals in here don’t take guff from guys like that, but no. Not like the way you did it.”

Kawehi knew that she didn’t want to talk about that. Especially not to someone she’d just met.

The pitcher was filled up and she gave him a smile. “I’ll deliver this to their lane and come back. Are you ready to order?”

He gave her a stiff nod and she walked away with the pitcher in one hand and three acrylic mugs in the other.

She didn’t know what it was, but she felt like he was watching her.

It wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling. Instead, it felt like he was watching out for her.

Crazy? Absolutely.

But it was just a feeling. Likely the product of not enough sleep.

Kawehi crossed from the rug area over to the hard floor where the bowlers were waiting.

As she set the tray down on the unused bench at the back of the area, she saw Number three leaning over. She had a feeling that he was staring at her backside.

Childish. That’s what they were. But they were also old enough to drink.

Maturity wasn’t something these guys had in spades… or in anything.

She just hoped that they were mostly talk. She didn’t think she could handle three of them if they got rowdy at closing.

She walked back to the counter and sighed a little as she walked up to his seat. “So, have you figured out what you’re going to eat?”

“What do you order when you eat here?”

She smiled and shrugged. “There’s a lot of things that I love to eat here. No bad dishes coming out of this kitchen. But if I had to pick one. I’d go with oyako donburi.”

She saw his expression and shrugged.

“You asked.”

He was also smiling, and she found it made him even more handsome than she thought before. “I did, didn’t I. Can I ask what’s in it?”

“Sure. It’s a bowl of white rice topped with a mix of egg, onions, and meat. In this case it’s chicken. It doesn’t look like much, but I like it. Perfect after a long day at work. Comfort food. But I can suggest a few other dishes if you-”

“I’ll order that. I’m in the mood for something new.”

“Okay. And something to drink?”

“Just some water, please.”

Better and better. “Sure. I’ll get that started.”

She walked into the kitchen and leaned against the wall. “Oyako donburi, onegaishimasu.”

“Ai? You hungry all ready?” Her uncle looked up at the clock. “So early?”

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