Page 28 of Coerced

“Yeah, we have moments of downtime, but it’s always relatively steady in the evenings,” she revealed. “If you’re ever here earlier in the day, you’ll notice it’s much quieter.”

Nodding, I explained, “That’s likely only going to happen on the weekend for me, because I have another part-time job I’m working during the week.”

Her brow quirked curiously. “Oh? Where are you working?”

I smiled. “I’m actually working with Mallory at Grant’s Deli. Before I came here today, she told me she was excited I’d have the opportunity to meet you.”

Surprise widened her eyes. “No way. What a small world.”

“Even smaller when I tell you that I applied for jobs at Grant’s Deli and here at the suggestion of my new neighbor, Paxton.”

“Paxton? The same Paxton that works with my husband at Harper Security Ops?”

Grinning, I confirmed, “That’s the one. And congratulations on the wedding. Mallory had mentioned it was at the end of August and that she was pretty sure you were back from your honeymoon.”

“Thanks. We just got back two days ago. It’s honestly been the best two weeks of my whole life.”

I wanted to say these last two weeks had been the best of mine as well, but I didn’t share that information. “I can imagine. Clearly, it’s been great for you, because you’re absolutely glowing.”

The smile on Sawyer’s face grew. “It’s my husband, Jesse. He’s the reason I’m so undeniably happy.”

“Yeah, Mallory seems to be that way, too. I’m beginning to think the move here might result in good things for me in that area as well,” I teased.

Sawyer let out a laugh, but her expression quickly turned serious. “Well, you are Paxton’s new neighbor,right? Obviously, the two of you are friendly, but is there?—”

“Oh, God, no. No, it’s nothing like that,” I insisted. Paxton was friendly enough, and he clearly was a great guy who had remembered my name, but I didn’t think he was even remotely interested in me. “We’re just friendly neighbors.”

She nodded slowly, sending me a look that told me she didn’t necessarily believe me. “Well, you never know what can happen. I mean, I think most of the guys at Harper Security Ops who are now spoken for would say that they hadn’t anticipated winding up right where they are.”

“Mallory mentioned there was a whole group of you,” I shared.

“Yep. We’d love to add another to mix, too. I think you’d make number seventeen.”

My eyes nearly fell out of my head. I ignored the intent behind her words—the notion that I was going to wind up with Paxton—and focused on something else. “Did you say seventeen?”

“Seventeen.”

“Wait. Paxton told me Harper Security Ops was a small business,” I reasoned.

“It is.”

“How many guys work there?”

“Just over twenty, I believe,” she shared.

My jaw dropped. “Wow,” I marveled.

Sawyer shrugged. “It seems like a lot, but it doesn’t feel like it when you’re in it. Plus, we always have the best time whenever we’re together. So, you said you’re Paxton’s new neighbor. Are you from this area, or did you move from somewhere else?”

Just as I was about to answer, Deanna said, “Hey, Aria, another table just walked in.”

My eyes shifted to where she was indicating before they went to her. “Got it.” I looked back at Sawyer and said, “Hold that thought.”

She waved me off. “Go. We’ll have more time throughout the night.”

So, that’s what I did. I stepped out from behind the bar and went to take care of my table. And for the next little while, things picked up, giving me a steady flow of work. But eventually, I wound up with another break and used that time to catch up again with Sawyer.

By the end of the night, when I was walking to my car and about to head home, I did it with a smile on my face. This had been the best day I’d had in a long time.

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