Page 105 of Gideon's Gratitude

“I have your drinks.” Timothea put them down first. “And pita bread with hummus. Anything else before dinner?” Her grin revealed perfect teeth.

“Honestly, I think we’re good.” Archer offered her that charming smile again.

She grinned back, then took off.

“Very friendly.” I picked at my cloth napkin with the hand Archer wasn’t holding.

He cocked his head. “Well, that’s true. I’ve found, generally, people who work in a tip environment tend to be friendlier. Although, working for her uncle…” He frowned. “I’m trying to discern if she would need to be even happier than she felt or if she could work at a normal level of friendliness.”

“Something I’ve honestly never thought about.” Did that make me unobservant? Not curious enough?

Archer caught my gaze. “I’m overly inquisitive. Snooping. My job is to ferret out the truth of people—part of that is reading them. Knowing when their happiness is a ruse. Determining who are good people and who are questionable assholes. Wolves in sheep’s clothing, if you will.”

I scratched my chin. “I guess. I never had to deal with that. My boss was a good woman. I worked with guys who were even rougher than me. I just fit in, you know? Where I faltered was when I accompanied Leo to medical-related events. That stuff was way above me.”

“Surely that’s not true. You’re a smart man, Gideon.”

“But not book smart. And I’d argue with your calling mesmartin the first place, but I’m not going to turn down a compliment.” Except, basically I was. “I just want to be smart enough to help the kids. I know, though, one day they’ll pass me. I’ll be so fucking proud that day, Archer. I want them to do better than working the docks.”

“Honorable work. Don’t ever forget that—or let someone else diminish it.”

“Calamari and kebobs.” Timothea placed our plates before us.

A fragrant aroma wafted from the plates, and I sniffed. “This smells amazing.”

“Tastes even better. Just wave if you need anything.” With a wave of her own, she headed back toward the front of the restaurant.

I wasn’t a fan of eating super-hot food, but Archer, heedless of temperature, dug in.

He grinned like a loon as he devoured the first kebob. “You okay?”

“Sure.” I poked at the calamari.You’re doing this for him. It’s healthy for you, and there’s nothing wrong with trying something new.Going out to a restaurant was novel in this new phase of my life. Coming into town was sort of new.

Archer was definitely new.

Before I took a bite, though, I put a piece on his plate.

“Oh, I love you. I wasn’t going to ask, but…” He put the piece in his mouth and clearly savored.

I love you.

He hadn’t meant to say that. Well, he loved that I’d ordered his favorite so he could have some. But he didn’tlovelove me.

Although I mightlovelove him.

Too soon, right? Savior complex? Except I’d saved him. At least that first night. But he’d been saving me too—continuously. Driving me to counseling, helping me cope with the grief about the kids. Except seeing them this week hadn’t brought feelings of helplessness. Maybe because Trevor had been more engaged. Or because Melodie had pictures to show me. I shouldn’t have hope…but I did.

“Gideon?”

“Hmm?”

“I asked how your food was. You seem…distracted.”

I gave him my best coy smile. “I want to distract you tonight.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Oh, really? If this was a rom-com, I’d be flagging Timothea and asking for the check—”

“Archer?” A man stood near the table.

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