Page 14 of Raspberry Cake
“I need this job,” he whisper-begged, unable to meet her gaze.
“I’m not going to fire you because of what happened between us,” Eveline clarified, and it was the only thing that settled the anxiety buzzing through his veins.
“Thank you.” But he couldn’t stop staring at her, at the kind eyes looking over his shoulder to his colleagues at the bar. “Why?”
Confused, Eveline met his gaze again. “Why won’t I fire you? Well, Jeronimo said you’re a hard worker, we always need guys like you.”
He shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. Why did you reach out tome? Why paymeto spend time with you?”
She sighed, sadness washing over her eyes as she ripped her bread in half. “You know why.”
“If I did, I wouldn’t ask.”
“Men don’t look at me like that.” And then with the saddest of half laughs she added, “You wouldn’t have.”
“I’m doing it right now.” His filter was long gone—probably with the second or third shot—and he was saying things he’d normally be able to sensor. “Look at me.”
It took a few moments before she did. “You don’t have to be nice about it, you know.”
“Eveline, I wasn’t being kind to you because I was getting paid to do so. I would’ve done everything the same if I had picked you up at a bar.”
A rosy pink tinted her cheeks, a brief flicker of something breaking through the sadness—but then it was gone. “If we had met on the street, you would’ve walked past me without a second thought.”
“I would’ve walked past you, yes, but only because you deserve a guy who has his life together at least half as much as you. I wouldn’t have picked you up at a bar because you deserve aman, not an adolescent who just got out of jail and is homeless. Hell, the only reason I don’t live in my truck is because my best friend hasn’t completely written me off yet. You seem like a woman with standards and I’m not about to have you lower them only to regret it later.”
“You say that, yet I’m still here paying a stranger to cuddle me for a few hours. I’m nothing but a crazy old cat lady in a wheelchair.”
“You’re an accomplished, smoking hot woman, who will meet the right guy when the time is right.”
The colour over Eveline’s cheeks deepened, and a mischievous grin curled her lips. “Maybe a young, handsome man in the construction industry will ask me out soon.”
“Let’s hope he gets his life together before someone else beats him to the punch.” He gratefully sipped at his water, feeling the alcohol slowly fade from his system—too slowly. “So, you have cats, huh?”
“Two—Flake and Luna.”
“And you call yourself a crazy cat lady. I expected a whole litter of names.”
“Oh, I’m banned from the shelter. Otherwise, I’d be building a whole house just for cats.”
He chuckled, loving the sparkle that thought brought to her eyes. “So that’s why you started your own company—to have access to willing hands when it ever comes to that.”
“Shh, don’t tell them. They have no idea what is coming for them.”
God, she was cute. “I’m sure you’ve already drawn up plans in that sketchbook of yours.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Head pounding, Renley rubbed his temples. “Shit, I didn’t come here meaning to drink.”
“Now you know better for next time than to drive yourself,” she laughed, handing him another piece of bread. “You can pick up the truck tomorrow. The owner knows how these guys can be.” Then her gaze drifted back to the bar, and she shook her head.
Renley followed her line of sight, seeing another round of shots coming his way. “Fuck.”
“You can’t tap out already,” Lukas teased, setting a double in front of him.
“Well,Iam,” Eveline announced. “You guys have fun.”
There were disapproving grumbles from the whole group, but Jeronimo rose from his seat the second he had sat down. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
