Page 4 of Hard To Leave

Resting my hands on the silver metal table by the sink, I snuck a quick glance at my reflection in the mirror and blanched when I noticed how tired and run down I looked. Once I noticed that Jack’s order was ready, I was sweating with nerves and feeling a little eager to get out there. My reaction to the man made no sense.

“Enjoy your lunch,” I said, placing his soup and sandwich down in front of him. “I’ll check back with you in a few minutes to see how everything tastes. Can I get you another coffee?”

He looked up at me with a serious expression, as if he were trying to figure me out. “Just water, please.”

I met his eyes head-on and did my best to seem cool and collected. His mood seemed somber suddenly, and it threw me off. “Sure thing.”

I brushed past him, unsuccessfully ignoring the whiff of his cologne that crossed my nose. It must have been a slow day at the Seaside because half the staff was staring at me. They really needed to get a life.

I pushed open the double doors to the kitchen and nudged my way through as Ree and Kristen shared a laugh at my expense.

“What?” I snapped, reaching over and grabbing a glass off the shelf.

“He’s not so bad once you really stop and take notice, huh?” Kristen teased while I set the glass under the ice dispenser.

“Kristen!” I huffed. “Would you knock it off.” She gave me a grin while straitening the collar of her shirt. I pointed to the row of plates that were lining the counter. “Don’t you have customers to serve?”

“Whatever you say, boss,” she replied sarcastically. I wasn’t Kristen’s boss. Far from it. She was normally a good waitress and got the job done, even though her back had given her problems lately. She never complained about being on her feet all day, but I could see that she was in pain. She took the job for benefits and picked up extra shifts for cash. I overheard her talking to the cook the other day about needing $1000 for a back injection. That might explain the increase in chain smoking lately, although, at $13 a pack, she wouldn’t have to give up too many cigarettes to put toward the injection, but who was I to judge.

Jack looked comfortable as he sat in the back booth, one long arm hanging along the cushion. He was facing the window, silently watching the light rain streak the glass. He rubbed his free hand along his bottom lip, drawing attention to it as I set down his drink.

“How is everything so far? Bread toasted enough for you?” I asked, tilting my head to his plate.

His smile stretched wide. I guess his playful side was back. “It would be better if you were sitting across from me.”

Instead of looking away like I wanted to, my eyes stayed locked on his. It was hard to concentrate on anything else but those blazing blue eyes that stared back at me. I didn’t want to feed into his interest, so I dropped my gaze to the floor and studied the pattern of the triangle shaped tile underneath my feet. As much as I wanted to give in, I just couldn’t.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

Thrown off by his question, I let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not sure what that has to do with the French onion soup?”

“Actually, I would be able to enjoy it better if you were to tell me you were single.”

Sweet Jesus. He was relentless.

“Is there anything else I can get for you?”

He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “Yes, there is. How about you answer my question?”

I blinked. I would be lying if I said his flirting didn’t excite something inside of me. It was actually quite flattering.

“No, I don’t have a boyfriend. You should also know I’m not looking for one either.”

He smirked. “I kind of got that when you turned down sleazy Mr. Rogers over there.”

I knew he heard that exchange. “He’s harmless.”

“He may be, but I’m not. Besides, I think you really like me.”

I blew a piece of hair out of my face, trying to seem unaffected. “What gives you that idea?”

His lips tugged to the side. “I’m good at reading people. Plus, the way you blush every time I look at you and the way your breathing picks up is a dead giveaway.”

I needed to pull myself together. Although he was charming and drop-dead gorgeous underneath all that stubble, I was not looking for a relationship of any kind. Not even a one-night stand. My life was put on hold, and my focus was raising my seven-year-old son. I’ve turned down many opportunities, and Jack would be no different. There was nothing special about him. He was just a guy.

Kristen walked up behind me and whispered in my ear. “Table six is waiting for their check.”

I was thankful for the reprieve.

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