Page 15 of Stone Rules

He cranes his neck around me to have a look. “Nah, you go ahead. He’s a pain in the ass. Do not put a lemon in that man’s water or you’ll never hear the end of it.”

“But he’s your cousin,” I state the obvious.

“Yeah. And he’s a great tipper.” He loads drinks onto his tray. “Still. Pain in the ass.” Then, despite the fact there’s more than enough room for both of us at the drink station, he brushes up against my arm as he passes me.

I turn around to see that Ethan was watching our little exchange. I decide to add a water to my tray. No lemon.

I drop off the sodas at table twelve and a check at table seven. Then I ceremoniously place the glass of water, sans lemon, in front of the mercurial man at table number nine. “Is this acceptable, or did I put in one too many cubes of ice?”

Air comes in short spurts from his nose in a quiet laugh. “You must have talked to my cousin. He’s a pain in the ass.”

“Ha! He says the same thing about you.” I pull a paper coaster from my apron and put it under his glass. “Actually, Jarod’s been great. He’s been a huge help today.”

“Yes, I can see that.” His eyes dart over to Jarod and back to me. “So you finally met him.”

“Well, I haven’t metallof him yet. If I recall, you said I would love his tattoos. But, sadly, his shirt covers them all when he’s at work.”

He shrugs a careless shoulder. “They’re really not all that great now that I think about it. You may not even want to bother.”

“Is that so?” I bite my lip in an attempt to keep from smiling. “Will anybody be joining you today? Barbie maybe?”

He furrows his brow. “Barbie?”

“Sorry. Gretchen.”

“It’s just me,” he says, shaking his head in amusement. “Rule number two—never take out a woman who won’t eat in front of you.”

“That’s a P.I. rule?”

“No. That one’s a Stone rule.”

Hearing the hustle and bustle around me, and not wanting to screw up on my first shift, I nod to his menu. “Have you decided what you want? And can I bring you anything besides the water? Extra lemons perhaps?”

His dimple finally makes an appearance. “Just the water, thanks. And I’ll have a Reuben with a side of fries.”

“Great. I’ll put that right in for you. I know you’re in a hurry.” I give him an obligatory smile before I spin around and walk away.

“Take your time. I know you’re busy, Tate.”

A shiver runs through me and it takes all my willpower not to turn back around and look at him.

~ ~ ~

Walking back to the apartment, I think of how Ethan’s eyes followed me around the entire time he was there. Even when I couldn’t see them, I could feel his dark-chocolate gaze on me. Like somehow his eyes had a direct connection to my senses.

It was so busy we didn’t exchange more than a few additional words. And Jarod was not exaggerating when he said his cousin was a good tipper. He all but doubled the cost of his meal.

I smile wondering if he tips everyone that well or just women who like to grab his dick.

When I enter the apartment, I have to double check the number on the door to make sure I’m in the right place. I am. And upon further inspection of the fully-furnished living room, I come to recognize the couch as being the one from the Mitchell’s basement that they later gave to Baylor; a chair from Skylar and Griffin’s; and even the very same television I admired at Piper and Mason’s place a few days ago.

Big balls of tears balance on my lower lashes as I look around the rooms that were bare just this morning, with the exception of the borrowed air mattress I slept on.

On the kitchen table is a note. The tears finally spill over when I read it.

Welcome Home!

It’s signed by everyone. All the Mitchells and their significant others.

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