Page 14 of Broken Rules
“Enough,” she snapped out loud.
What was wrong with her? She should be terrified of him, not ridiculously turned on. Who the hell got turned on by armed robbery? Savannah freaking Honey, that’s who!
And after the emboldened speech she had given Brandi earlier about swearing off bad boys, now she caught herself thinking about a man who was potentially the baddest boy of all—an actual criminal, mask and all. Usually, the men she dated hid behind falsely-sincere smiles, not actual balaclavas.
But, there was something about him, something almost...comforting, something—
“What the hell,” she exclaimed, catching herself again.
He was a criminal!
Determined to put him out of her mind, once and for all, she focused on the frozen drinks she was making. For at least another few nights, the restaurant was her responsibility. She had to get a grip.
Another hour passed when, finally, there was a lull in the orders.
“Cover for me,” she said to her bar-back, Sam—a gangly senior in high school with red hair and a smattering of orange freckles across his nose—who was stocking the beer cooler. Too young to serve alcohol, she told him to offer free soda, if someone came in. “This will only take a minute,” she said before ducking beneath the service counter and hastening across the main dining area into the kitchen.
Leaning under the heat lamps, she said to Wally’s back as he manned the meat-laden grill, “Sorry I’ve been in such a foul mood today.”
Wally turned, spatula in one hand and a set of tongs in the other. His whites looked like a Jackson Pollack painting. He bent down to see her under the lamps. His furrowed brow disappeared, replaced by what she knew to be a heartfelt smile. Setting the tongs down, he reached out, squeezing her offered hand. “Forgiven. Now, can you fix Brandi so she’s not coming back here to ream us out every ten minutes?”
Savannah lifted her shoulders. “Not much I can do about that—she hates all men right now.”
“Oh, we know. She’s made that clear on several occasions tonight.” Wally turned his head, looking down the line. “Hey guys, what was the last insult from Brandi.”
A heavy-set, short man in his late thirties stood at the fry station, scratching his dimpled chin thoughtfully. “I think she said that our balls were all the size of peanuts.”
“No,” Wally chimed in. “That was earlier. I think the last one was that she hoped we all died penniless and alone.”
“Oh God,” Savannah groaned. “Sorry guys, but I’m afraid you’re just going to have to ride out the night.”
A slow sideways smile curved Wally’s lips. “Come on, Savvy. We’re all nice guys back here. We don’t deserve this.”
Savannah rolled her eyes. Then she set her hands on her hips. “How many innocent Cove hearts have you broken?” She scowled at the other cooks, all insatiable flirts with dirty thoughts that seldom went unexpressed. “The only nice guy I see back here is William.”
William looked up from the salad station and gave her a slight smile before returning his attention to his work.
“Please, Savvy,” Wally beseeched, once more plying her with a smile. “No one can manage Brandi like you.”
She sighed. “Fine. Let me think.” Chewing her lip, she considered her options. Then, it came to her. “William, come here.”
“What’s up, boss?” the young man said, coming out from behind the line. He was tall and slim. There was nothing rugged, overtly sexy, or even notable about his looks. He would never make a woman’s mouth drop open when he walked into a room. But he was handsome enough, and his eyes were a lovely shade of blue.
“You’ve got plans tonight?”
He shook his head.
“Good. The next time Brandi comes back here, ask her out.”
William’s baby blues flashed wide. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“But...but...” he stuttered. “She’ll never go out with me.”
Savannah smiled at William, remembering Brandi’s earlier comments about nice guys being nervous and sweaty when they asked her out. Savannah had told her that was just a myth, but as evidenced by the sudden sheen on William’s forehead, Savannah realized that she may have been mistaken.
Still, even with his lanky frame and beads of perspiration, William was ten times the man than any of the gorgeous assholes Brandi had dated in the past. Going on a date with William would do her good.
