Page 9 of Room for Three

“Owner?” Cole asks, an eagerness in his tone. “This girl right here is looking for a job.”

“Is that so?” Aiden says, grinning at her. “Can you serve alcohol?”

“I’m eighteen,” Savvy answers. “Do you have to be twenty-one?”

“Nope. Eighteen is good. Free to work nights and weekends?”

“Yes. Anything. I really need money.” Her cheeks burn bright red, and she fidgets in her seat. “I just moved to this side of town. I’m starting at Brown tomorrow.”

“Good school,” Aiden says. “Why don’t we get your order going and after you enjoy your meal, meet me afterwards? We can discuss it more.”

This guy seems cool, and the place is fancy. It could be a good job for Savvy. Then, maybe she’ll relax a little.

Putting a few hundred bucks on my credit card will be worth it.

Right now, I’d do anything to make that girl happy after all the hell she’s been through. Even if that means eating an overpriced steak and some charred bone marrow.

Savvy

Iwake up feeling hopeful for the first time since my parents’ death.

Things will be okay for me. Though my initial arrival yesterday was awkward to say the least, it did get better. And now I’m officially employed by Smoke & Sugar.

My bedroom door has been closed, and I’m not the one who did it. If I had to guess, Cole wanted to stick to his rules. After climbing out of bed, I slip out of the room and brush my teeth in the bathroom before heading downstairs.

The microwave beeps, alerting me to someone else already being up. Travis, standing shirtless, and in a pair of sweatpants, watches as the microwave cooks what smells like leftovers from last night.

He’d been oddly insistent we take every bit home to eat later. Cole thought it was because, and I quote, “He’s a human garbage disposal,” but I felt like there was more to it.

“Morning,” I say as I enter the kitchen, making my way over to the coffee machine that’s already been started. “Did you make this for me?”

“Nah, must’ve been Cole. He gets up at the ass crack of dawn to run.” Travis turns around to face me, a sleepy grin on his face. But, when he sweeps his gaze over my form, the smile falls, and he gapes.

“What?” I ask as I pour myself a cup. “Leah got me started on coffee when I lived with them. I like it. Makes my mind sharper.”

He makes a choking sound. I glance over at him to see what’s wrong, but he’s already turned his back on me again, to fumble with the microwave. Don’t get me wrong. His back is nice. Really nice. Muscular, tattooed, smooth. But his whole demeanor changed in a second.

Why is he acting so weird?

I stir in some sugar and then hunt down some creamer in the fridge. Each time I pass him, he turns slightly away as if to avoid looking at me. Unease washes over me. Did I do something wrong?

“Is everything okay?”

He nods and then rushes out of the kitchen. Maybe he’s just one of those people who are grumpy in the morning.

The front door opens, and I hear Cole greet Travis. Then, Cole strides into the kitchen on a hunt for a cold water bottle. He guzzles it down in three gulps, not even noticing me standing there. I, however, can’t seem to peel my eyes off the way his soaked-with-sweat shirt clings to his muscular body. In just a pair of running shorts and T-shirt, he looks good. A lot younger too. And, if I’m honest with myself, really hot.

Now my cheeks are turning hot.

Great.

Finally, he turns his eyes in my direction. He flashes me a warm smile that lights up his handsome face, and then his eyes slide down my body. By the time he reaches my bare feet, he’s scowling and tense.

Not again.

“What the hell is that, Savvy?”

Travis sniggers from the living room.

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