Page 17 of Waitress at the Shadow Ridge Inn
I wasn’t a bitch. I made an effort to be kind and nice and polite to everyone. But the moment someone started pressuring me, I got my back up. It was just the way I was wired.
Note to self: Talk to Rose and put in your notice tonight. For real.
Lou rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Well? What’s it going to be?”
“Fine,” I growled, grabbing my notepad and shoving my way past Michelle and Lou.
Any false hopes I’d had of this being a prank faded right about the same time butterflies took flight in my core. Seeing Steve had that effect on me.
He looked up, and our eyes met. My heart sped up, adding to the butterfly thing. And—oh good—the tinglies were back.
He graced me with one of those crooked smiles, and I could feel my bones melting, right along with every sound, logical reason why I could not and should not give in to the inexplicable attraction I felt to this man. I didn’t believe in love at first sight or soul mates, but I didn’tnotbelieve in them either. Regardless, I was not at a point in my life where I could do anything about it.
I summoned up my resolve and a polite smile. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Michelle said you asked for me?”
“Yes.” His hand came up to the back of his neck and he looked adorably self-conscious. “I wanted to apologize.”
That was unexpected. “Apologize? For what?”
“I understand my parents were in earlier.”
Realization began to dawn. In that moment, I considered the possibility that I might have completely misread the situation. Maybe the attraction was purely one-sided, and Steve Ziegler’s so-called interest was nothing more than the fabrication of a bunch of amateur matchmakers.
“Rose said they’re old friends.”
“They are, which means collusion is not just possible, but probable,” he said with a wry grin. “I’m sorry if that made things awkward for you.”
I blinked. I hadn’t expected that either.
“So, you’re saying youdon’twant to ask me out?” I blurted out.
“Oh, I do,” he informed me. “But it’s none oftheirbusiness.”
Keeping my lips from pulling into a smile required much effort. The man was as charming as he was gorgeous. Confident yet oddly humble. If things were different, I could definitely see myself going out with him.
But they weren’t, and I couldn’t. My next words didn’t come easy and felt all kinds of wrong, but I said them anyway. “Let me save you some time. The answer is no.”
He seemed neither surprised nor disappointed. He inclined his head slightly and regarded me with curious interest, almost as if I’d said exactly what he’d expected me to say. “May I ask why?”
“It’s nothing against you. In fact, you seem like a really nice guy. But I don’t plan on sticking around for much longer. I’m not into one-nighters, and I’m not willing to start something I can’t finish. I’m sorry.”
He continued studying me for several long seconds with those beautiful eyes. I feared he saw more than most.
Finally, he nodded. “Fair enough. Thanks for being honest.”
Equal parts relief and irrational disappointment speared through me at his easy acceptance. “You’re welcome.”
He gave me that crooked smile again. “It’s better to know where I stand up front. I have a feeling once wouldn’t be nearly enough when it comes to you.”
My bones melted a little more. Heat was rising in my cheeks for sure.
I thought he’d get up and leave then, but he didn’t. His gaze dropped meaningfully to the pad and pen in my hands, reminding me of where I was and what I was supposed to be doing. This man had a way of short-circuiting my brain. I felt the heat in my cheeks intensify.
“What can I get for you?”
