Page 30 of All Mine

“Can’t say that I do.” His dark eyes studied me. I turned away, unable to meet them.

My throat tightened. If only I could melt into the floor. But, no, that probably wouldn’t happen.

“I’d asked about your last name… Was that it?”

“That’s all you were there for,” I said, remembering why he’d asked me out. He released me quickly when I pulled away and headed to open the door.

“Lauren, I don’t give a shit what your last name is,” Camden called.

I took a deep breath and flipped the lock on the door. He might claim that he doesn’t care that I’m a Hart, but men had burned me before. A guy like Camden, who went to an Ivy League school just for the perception of it, had ideas about what being part of the founding family meant. But my grandfather had brought shame to the Hart name in town, and it no longer held any power.

The morning rush started typically with a barrage of boaters heading out for the day, and then some locals trickled in. It wouldn’t take long for word of Camden working with me today to spread.

Initially, he was slow, but no one was angry with the charming bastard. He was a quick study of the menu and pricing, and he didn’t appear to get flustered at any mistake. Everything rolled off of him with a good-natured attitude. It was a study to behold. He was a chameleon. The women swooned, and the tip jar on his side of the counter was over half full, which irritated me further. What if he didn’t have any issues at all?

“Hello, dear,” Mrs. Pennington called out. She sauntered into the room and straight to the counter, cutting six people.

“We’ll be with you in a minute,” I called out.

“I know, dearie. I just wanted to get a good gander at the delicious offerings behind the counter today,” she said, staring at Camden.

“This is Camden.”

“I know. You’re the hero from Lou’s the other night,” she said.

“I just did what anyone would,” Camden said, shaking it off and handing over an order.

“Oh, I don’t think so.” Mrs. Pennington studied him. “You know they were all right. If I were thirty years younger, I’d rock your world.”

Camden stared wide-eyed, like a deer caught in headlights, and all the color had drained from his face. I bit back a laugh. It wasn’t funny.

“Now, Mrs. Pennington, I can’t have you harassing my employees. Even volunteer employees.”

“He’s not a permanent hire? Such a shame,” she cooed. “So cute and so brave.”

Oh, gag me with a spoon.

“Excuse me,” a customer said to Camden, “That’s not what I ordered.”

Oh yes, hallelujah, Camden Carter was not perfect.

“Let me fix that for you,” he said, flashing her a killer smile. He quickly gathered the order on a plate and handed it over with another panty-melting smile, and I sighed to myself.

When the breakfast rush finally died down, Camden pulled the cup of cold latte out from under the counter and took a long slug. Mr. Charismatic appeared a bit haggard. It pleased me. I was right, most of the town had shown up to witness Camden and I working together. Lord knows what rumors were running rampant. If my sisters were home, they’d have a field day with this. My older sister, Lindsay, was in Baltimore completing her residency at Johns Hopkins. And my younger sisters, twins Lucy and Lacey, were finishing their sophomore year at UT Knoxville. They’d probably be home in a couple of weeks.

“So, you still think it’s easy to get every order right?”

“I think I would have if that horny old lady didn’t freak me out.”

I laughed, then chastised myself. It only encouraged him. “That’s part of the job.”

“No, I don’t think that is. I’m just glad there was a counter between us.”

“She’s harmless. Just a big talker.”

“Right.”

“If she’d been younger, you’d been into it.” I picked up the coffee pot to offer refills.

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