Page 123 of On The Rocks

I patted her back. “Nice to see you too.”

She pushed me back. “Let me look at you.” She frowned then she moved closer. “What’s with the bruise?”

Griffin stood up, a frown on his face.

Matilda noticed him, pulled a wooden spoon from the jar beside the register, and went barreling toward him.

I raced after her. “Matilda! Wait.”

“Ma’am.” Griffin stood, arms at his sides.

“Did you do this to her?” She held the spoon aloft.

Griffin stiffened but he shook his head. “No, ma’am.”

“Matilda, no, he didn’t.” I grabbed her arm with the spoon. I knew firsthand how much that could hurt. “Sorry, Griffin.”

He nodded, but he didn’t say another word.

“Matilda, this is Griffin St. James.” I slid my arm around his back. “Griffin, this is my crazy friend Matilda. She didn’t mean to swing the spoon of death at you.”

Slowly, she lowered the spoon. “I’m sorry. I don’t abide by men who lay hands on a woman.”

“Neither do I,” he said gently. “Unfortunately, it was an accident while we were at a club.”

Matilda narrowed her eyes. “You hit her?”

I sighed. “Mattie, it was another woman.”

She swung her narrowed gaze at me. “And you hit her back?”

I laughed. “I would have but it was a sucker...er, elbow, I guess. Wasn’t a punch.”

Matilda nodded. “Well, all right.” She turned to the registers with a sigh. “I have to go back up there. Susie isn’t smart enoughto do math in her head yet. But she’s learning.” She thundered her way back up to the front.

“Sorry about that.”

He kissed my forehead. “I’m just glad you have people who care about you enough to come out swinging.”

“I have a few.” I hugged him then I went back up to pay. By the time I did, Frankie had a tray of food waiting for me.

Griffin came up behind me and took the tray as I took the two bottles of beer. “This smells amazing. Makes up for Matilda.” He sat with the tray and picked up one of the seasoned fries. “I’m not getting poisoned, right?”

“No.” I snickered. “No worries there.”

“Good.” He pulled off a paper plate that was already greasy, thanks to the fried mushrooms dripping from the sides. “I’m going to need our bed after this.”

I took mine. “Agreed.”

The food was amazing and both of us were ready to roll out of there. Between the fries and the burgers along with the beer and the long day, we were wiped.

Griffin ordered a share ride on his phone for us to go back to the hotel. When we got back, we wandered down to the beach instead of going up to our room.

We both held our shoes as we went down near the shoreline to let the lacy tide wash over our toes.

“This is a pretty amazing place,” he said softly.

It was dark and the breakers were starting to come in with more gusto. A few people dotted the beach, but it was well past midnight leaving, just a few of us. Much more were under blankets on loungers up closer to the hotel.

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