Page 43 of Everything I Crave

“You’re telling me you haven’t once noticed how often she finds an excuse to be in Gunnar’s office or in his way?” He raises a brow at me as if to sayare you serious?

“I mean, he usually pisses me off so I’m typically trying to avoid him.” I shrug, placing my full bin on top of the bar.

He laughs at me. “Willow, baby, she isn’t mad she had to work alone without you last night. She’s mad because she’s been trying to get into bossman’s pants since last summer when he rejected her. Now you’re in his pants for real so you’re enemy number one.”

“Seriously? Does everyone think just because we went on one date we had sex?” I throw my hands in the air.

“No, baby girl. We think you had sex because the tension around here since you started has been off the charts, and now it’s gone.” He laughs harder and throws some clean rags he was folding on top of my bin.

I grab one off the top and throw it back at him before heading to the patio with my supplies. I can still hear his laughter as the door closes. Bennett has now moved to my least favorite friend.

Guess that explains Madeline’s comment from earlier aboutfucking the bossand her anger. I can’t believe I missed the signs. I was so involved in my own feelings for Gunnar, I totally missed Madeline’s efforts.

By the time I’ve finished setting up the server station the crowd is already trickling in. Tonight is going to be busy, and I’m glad that we’re as prepared as we can be. Despite Madeline coming behind meand undoing everything I've set up, or taking tables that aren't hers to take.

Gunnar walks out to the patio mid-rush and the way Madeline rushes to him, batting her eyelashes and finding a way to touch him is nauseating. How the hell did I miss this?

Because you were too busy thinking about the same thing, idiot.

Gunnar nicely pushes her off him and makes his way over to me.

“You doing okay? It’s busier than usual.”

“I’m good. Can you just bring this tub inside and bring it back?” I hand him the tub full of dirty dishes for the kitchen.

He kisses my forehead. “Sure thing, darling.”

I follow his ass all the way to the door, and then find Madeline standing with her arms crossed, staring at me like she’s counting the ways she could murder me for her own chance with Gunnar.

Tonight was in fact busy like I thought it would be. It left little time for Madeline and I to interact, and true to Gunnar’s observations, she is a great waitress so she keeps it professional in front of customers. When it starts to thin out, Gunnar cuts her before I have to deal with her at clean up. Something I’m very grateful for. And I might have to show him just how grateful I am later.

Gunnar cuts Bennett next at closing time, telling him that we will finish up the rest. He obviously didn’t have to be told twice and ran before Gunnar changed his mind.

I’m locking the door to the patio when Gunnar comes over and picks me up throwing me over his shoulder.

“What are you doing? Put me down! I still have stuff to put away!” I smack at Gunnar’s muscled back, not that it has any effect on him.

“Darling, we’ll get it later, but right now I’ve been watching you bend over in those tight ass jeans, with your boobs about to spill out the bottom of that shirt, and now that I know that I have the freedom to touch you, you need to come to my office. Now.”

With that he slams the door shut and locks it for good measure just in case someone comes back in.

He drops me on his desk and shows me exactly what he’s been thinking of all night.

Gunnar is making breakfast as I sit at the island writing music in my notebook.

“I’m just saying I think I’m your muse, or whatever.” He grins at me over his shoulder.

“My muse?” I laugh at him, but his skills in the sheets might actually be my muse. I’ll just never admit that to him. “Not so much, but maybe you could talk to Madeline. I bet she’d love to have you as her muse.”

“What?” He turns to face me, confusion written all over his face.

“You know because she wants you so bad.” I shrug. “Bennett told me last night how she’s always pissed at me because you rejected her last year, but not me. Then she had to cover for me so we could go on a date, let’s just say it didn’t make her any friendlier with me.”

The fire in his eyes immediately makes me regret saying anything.

Chapter Sixteen

Gunnar

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