Page 5 of Take the Bait

It was Tucker’s least favorite day of the month.

The day he forced himself to do all the admin work that came with running a business—organizing schedules, restocking supplies, and paying the bills. He’d much rather be creating menus and testing new recipes, or even having check-ins with his employees. But even then, he knew he worked too much.

On the last Sunday of every month, he took care of all the not so glamorous, but necessary tasks that came with being a business owner while treating himself to breakfast at his favorite coffee shop. It was nestled just outside the touristy part of Orange Beach, just around the corner from his restaurant.

He heaved a sigh, took a sip of his black coffee, and scrolled through his to-do list. He’d gotten about half of his tasks done so far. Still far too much to go—enough that he knew he’d be here for at least a few more hours. He’d worked 13 days in a row, but this needed to get done.

Which meant it was time to order a sweet treat to reward himself—even though he’d already demolished a breakfast sandwich.

He looked over toward the display, trying to decide which pastry he’d order, when he saw a short girl with fair skin and straight, dark brown hair walk up to the counter. His eyes trailed down the tiny tattoos scattered across her arms to her midriff, appreciating the way a crop top fitted her tight little body.

It couldn’t be.

She shifted, and Tucker glimpsed her face.

He felt himself grin.

Itwasher—the girl from Friday night.

Burp girl, as he’d fondly called her in his head.

When she belched and ran off, he didn’t have the wherewithal to stop her. But a small part of him hoped she’d come back. He wanted the chance to ask her how someone so little could produce a burp so monumentally gigantic.

Tucker watched her with keen interest as she chatted happily with the barista, a Black woman with long braids and a shirt with a coffee pot on it that said “Pot Head.” Burp girl told her something funny that sent them both into a fit of giggles.

When Tucker had first seen her, he was floored by how stunning she was. He felt bad that her date was so terrible the other night. He could tell she was uncomfortable as soon as the asshole started complaining about the food he ordered, so he tried to keep it light. Unfortunately, her date had other plans.

And Tucker had to admit, her date’s blatant lack of self awareness was so shocking it was hilarious. He couldn’t blame her for the way she laughed at him.

But he also couldn’t stop thinking about her—how gorgeous she was when she smiled, how her laugh lit up the restaurant, and how adorable she was when she couldn’t get control of her giggles.

She grabbed her iced drink from the barista, then turned around, and ran straight into the person in line behind her.

Who just so happened to be a grumpy old man.

A grumpy old man Tucker knew better than he wished.

His name was Tom. And Tom came to Tucker’s restaurant every Sunday night just to eat the same meal and tip his staff a measly eight percent before returning to the hole he emerged from.

“JESUS CHRIST!” Tom yelled at the same time Tucker stood up and headed toward the commotion. “Young lady, what do you think you’re doing?”

For a tiny woman, she really knew how to instigate chaos.

“Oh my god,” her cheeks reddened, and her eyes widened in mortification. “I’m so, so sorry. I can just?—”

She’d grabbed a few napkins and tried to wipe the man’s shirt off.

“You’ve ruined my shirt and spilled coffee all over me,” Tom said, and Tucker felt his jaw clench. “There’s no fixing this. You’re a menace to society.“

Her mouth twisted, and her eyes became glassy. “Sir, I’m so sorry. I’m happy to buy you a coffee as an apology for?—”

Tom released a humorless, taunting laugh. “An apology? You little?—”

“Tom,” Tucker stepped in, clasping his shoulder. “This woman didn’t mean to run into you. Looked to me like you were standing a little too close.”

Tom’s face reddened, and Tucker glanced at the woman responsible for this mess. Her eyes widened in recognition, and her jaw opened and shut in disbelief.

“I wasn’t standing too close,” Tom said, and Tucker returned his attention to him. “This woman should watch where she’s going.”

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