Page 20 of Sail Away with Me

“Cheddar.”

“What kind of sauce would you like with your tots?”

“How many times have you come in?” Tidal asked, interrupting Galvin and Sail’s staring competition. Sail’s gaze turned sharply toward his brother. There is a noticeable tick in his jaw. Tidal must’ve recognized something in the look because he looked away.

“Lemon garlic aioli since it’s my favorite.” He winked and her knees almost buckled. Galvin needed to get away from the table as fast as she could.

One of the brothers cackled, and while she wanted to ask what was so funny or off-putting, she also didn’t want to know anymore about them. As she had said to Rhianna, she was there to work and go to law school. Besides, her attraction to Sail didn’t negate that he was the owners’ son. If something wentsouth, she’d lose her job and there would be no way she could face her dad if that happened.

Galvin repeated the orders and then made her way back to the counter where she went over the items listed on her order pad, added the order to the wheel for the cook, and went to her next table. After serving other customers, she came back to the Carter table with four fresh drinks, taking their empty glasses away.

“Your meals should be up any minute now,” she said, trying to treat them like any other customers versus the men who could get her fired from her job. At the thought, a pit formed in her stomach. She quickly backed away from the table and made her way into the kitchen where she went right to the prep line to see where her order was.

“How much longer on my four top?”

“Plating right now,” Andy said as he moved plates around. “Give me a minute.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Fill the sauce cups.”

She did and doubled checked her ticket to make sure everything was perfect.

“What’s the deal?” Andy asked. “Is there a food critic out there or something?”

“No, Jack and Pearl’s sons are and they’re in my section.”

Andy started laughing. He keeled over and heaved in big gusts of air. When he righted, he wiped fake tears from his eyes.

“What’s so funny?”

“You, going to the extra mile for them.”

“Uh . . . they could complain to Jack or Penny, and I’d lose my job.”

Another bout of laughter rolled through him. “You would need to physically harm one of the boys for them to complain. They’re literally the nicest guys in town.”

“Still.”

“Stop worrying your pretty little head over them.”

It was easy for Andy to think. He was a local and had been working for the Carter’s for some time. Galvin shook her head and picked up the first two plates and set them on her arm. She reached for the next one, but Andy took it and the last one.

“What are you doing?”

“Showing you that you have nothing to worry about.”

It took her a minute to gain her composure and while she had, Andy walked out of the kitchen and into the dining area. “Shit,” she muttered, and she tried to catch up. Galvin reached the table just as Andy started talking. She cringed when she overheard him say, “Sail, you mother fucker. I didn’t know you were home.”

Well, there goes my tip.

Galvin set the plates she held down in front of Dune and Crew, and then took the two Andy had. Putting Tidal’s in front of him first, not realizing she left Sail’s for last. Not that he’d notice because he was deep in conversation with Andy. Or so she thought.

She used this opportunity to look at him, just this once, while he was occupied. Except Sail glanced at her right when she gave him an appraising look. He licked his lips and winked. Galvin held his gaze until something crashed in the kitchen. She cleared her throat and turned her attention to Dune.

“If you guys need anything else, let me know.”

As far as she was concerned, they had everything. She hadn’t missed anything in their order, drinks were full, and she had filled the condiment bottles earlier. She excused herself and walked to the back to collect her thoughts.

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