Page 41 of The Wrong Bachelor

“You didn’t have to do that,” I murmured.

“Ah, yeah I did. We need to make sure that Laurie girl doesn’t sink her claws in him. Poor Cole doesn’t deserve that.”

I shook my head at her. “Do you even know Cole?”

“Nope, but I wouldn’t mind getting to know him. If you know what I mean,” she said, wriggling her eyebrows at me.

“I’m not sure that Cole could keep up with you,” I laughed. Jazz was incredibly beautiful. Her thick black hair and large, chocolate eyes always mesmerized guys when they came into the restaurant. She was also renowned for being a serial dater.

“What? I can’t help it if I get bored quickly,” she replied.

“How many dates so far this week?”

“Three,” she replied, with a shrug. She spoke so openly about it and I had to give her credit. Jazz really owned her single status.

I dropped my bag off in the staff room before joining Jazz back in the kitchen. She was flirting with Abe, one of the kitchen hands. He stared at her adoringly, but I knew nothing would come of it. Jazz was a firm believer in not dating co-workers. I think it was her only rule.

“So how is that delicious boy toy of yours going?” Jazz asked, ditching Abe and joining me as I walked back through to the restaurant.

“Are you talking about Jake?” I asked. “We broke up.”

Jazz grinned brightly. “So you can date Cole then,” she said, as if that were the obvious next step.

“I could…but that doesn’t mean I want to.”

She ignored my comment. “Don’t be silly, of course you do. He’s yummy. And if it doesn’t work out, there are plenty of other guys on the football team.” She sounded serious, like it was a perfectly natural thing to date the entire team. It made me seriously wonder about what she was like at high school.

“Please don’t tell me you dated the entire football team,” I said.

“Well, not all of them at the same time, obviously,” she replied. “There were only a few overlaps…”

I held up a hand as she went to continue. “I really don’t want to know.” And I didn’t. It was bad enough that she went into excruciating detail about her dates every week.

“But—“

I gave her a look, warning her not to continue. Thankfully I was saved from the sordid particulars of her relationship with the football team as a family walked through the front doors.

“We’ll talk later,” she said as she walked off to greet the customers. Apparently, I wasn’t saved after all.

Jazz was still chatting with the family when the next lot of customers walked in. My eyes widened as I caught sight of the group. As if by reflex, I dropped to the ground behind the bar. I took several deep breaths in to try and calm my racing heart.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned, as I ran a hand through my hair.

It was kids from school. But not just any kids. It was the film club walking in with their cameras, and Cole and Willow were trailing in behind them.

I’d forgotten their single date was tonight. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

A head popped over the top of the counter and I nearly screamed. “Madi, there are customers here,” Jazz said, a wicked smile on her face.

“Yeah, I know,” I replied. “I’m not serving them.”

“They’re sitting in your section…” She glanced over her shoulder, licking her lips. “That Cole is even hotter in person than on film. On second thought, maybe I will serve them.”

A small wave of jealousy fluttered through me. Jazz got any guy she ever set her eyes on. I jumped up and received a knowing look from Jazz.

“Change your mind?” she asked coyly.

I glared at her, making her laugh. “It’s okay to like him, Madi,” she said.

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