Page 22 of Engaging with Her Enemy

She didn't miss the way two of the guys glanced at each other. The older man with the bushy white mustache didn't even blink. “I don't see how you would be related to the project for me to discuss the details of the complaint with you.”

That was a slap in the face. Not the grandfatherly type. No. He viewed her as just a lowly waitress without any ambition. “Y'all let me know if you need something else.”

As she turned to walk away, she heard the mumbling at the table start again. Acting as nonchalant as possible, she paused by a table, wiped it down, and then took another customer's order.

The minute the kitchen door closed behind her, she snatched her phone from her pocket. He picked up on the first ring. “Hudson.”

“Becky,” he replied with the same rushed, serious tone of voice she'd used.

“Now isn't time for jokes.”

“I thought I was the only one who thought your name was funny.”

She couldn't help but smile. “Shut up, this is serious.”

“Okay. I'm serious now.”

Shaking her head, she said, “I can't take you seriously, even saying you're serious.”

“Becky…”

“Okay. There are seven guys here.”

“Doesn't sound too busy.”

“Shut up.”

He laughed. “I think you like telling me to shut up.”

“You keep giving me reasons. Now, there are seven men at one table with little logos on their shirts. They said they were here because they had a report of negligence at the worksite.”

“Damn, Barry. That's all I need.” He paused and then added, “Thanks.”

“This is a bad thing, isn't it?”

She heard his truck start in the background. “It can be. Or it might be nothing. I'm about to take a drive past the rest of the work site to double-check on things. It'll slow us down for a few days.”

“I'm sorry. Good luck. Let me know how it goes.”

“I'll tell you tonight.”

Amazing how that small commitment from him thrilled her. “Okay. Don't eat. Eliza will be here around five to relieve me. I'll cook something.”

“You don't have to do that after working all day.”

“I want to.”

“Then I'll be sure to eat whatever you cook and tell you it's amazing. I gotta run.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.” She put her phone away and grabbed the next tray.

Ron added two pieces of bacon to the grill. “I don't know who put that grin on your face, but I'd say it was a better man than Tommy.”

“Definitely not Tommy and yes, a better man. But we're friends.”

“Hmm. If you say so.” Ron began to hum a song she didn't recognize. “Last I checked, you were friends with Cameron, and he didn't make you smile like that.”

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