Page 10 of Tangled Sanctuary

The restaurant was packed, as it usually was this time of the day. Everything from couples with children to people here for business meetings lingered, and I’d been moving nonstop since my shift started.

Not that it was surprising. In the few weeks I’d been working here, I’d realized something about small towns with only a few food places to eat... The restaurants thatwerethere were insanely busy.

Moving to table three, I picked up the dishes and wiped off the surface. Once done, I set the dishes inside the kitchen before smiling at the next couple in line waiting to be seated.

They barely spared me a glance, eyes only for each other as they stayed in their little bubble, and I respected that, leaving their menus after taking their drink orders.

I remember when I’d been like that with Harvey, eyes only for him.

Now that I had space from him though, I realized that he’d never focused that same way on me. He’d always been watching his phone, taking calls, or messaging…

At the time, I’d written it off as him being busy with his job; hewasa workaholic after all, but now I knew better. Harvey hadn’t liked me for me. He’d wanted my family’s money, that’s it.

It still stung, even now, but I shoved it away. Work wasn’t the place to be sinking into a depressive episode.

I blinked back to the present just in time to narrowly avoid crashing headlong into a broad chest. Staggering back, dishes balanced haphazardly now, I sputtered.

“Sorry!”

The last voice I expected to hear was Oliver’s.

“It’s fine. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” His hands lingered on mine, making sure I was steady before stepping away. Shifting the dishes into a more comfortable position, I took him in.

He’d switched out his usual t-shirt for a button-up, his hair slicked back and held in place by some kind of product, in contrast to his normal style. When I caught a whiff of cologne, I blinked.

“Are you here on a date?” I blurted, immediately wanting to stuff the words back in. That wasn’t my business! Yes, we were friends now, and our occasional shooting lessons were fun, but I shouldn’t ask things like that.

Before I could take it back, he waved his hand and smiled. “No need to combust on me. I’m not offended, and I’m also not here on a date. Not a romantic one, at least. It’s my sister’s birthday, so I promised to bring her out. She grumbled about how untidy I looked last time we went somewhere, so this is my peace offering.”

He gestured to his hair and shirt, my eyes following the movement and sticking. It was one heck of a peace offering…

Not saying that, I swallowed down my hormone-drenched thoughts and gestured to one of the tables that’d just been cleared. “I can seat you in a moment.”

He nodded, and I brought the dishes back to the kitchen. Before I could move back to him, though, a hand caught my arm. I turned, facing Emily’s wrinkled features. Her face was a mask of careful concern, and when she spoke, it was the last thing I expected.

“I know he’s pretty, but you shouldn’t tangle with that one.”

My mouth dropped open, and I sputtered, too shocked to say anything. She continued, either not seeing or caring about my surprise.

“He’s well known for the way he hops between women, and you deserve better than to be cheated on or hurt.”

She shook her head, disappointment clear, and then she went back to work, leaving me standing there slack-jawed. I knew that small towns were famous for gossip, but still…

Forcing aside my surprise and the embers of anger on his behalf, I focused back on my job and snagged two menus. Gesturing for him to follow to the table, I set the menus down and took out a notepad. “Do you want to wait to order or have a drink in the meantime?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Water, but the food can wait until she’s here.”

I nodded, getting him the water and setting it down. I didn’t have a chance to walk away before he spoke up, concern furrowing his brow. “Are you alright, Jen? You look a bit off.”

Considering I’d just had a woman warn me about him, I wouldn’t say he was wrong. This wasn’t the place to say that though, so I only shook my head.

“It’s nothing, just something a coworker said that caught me off guard.”

His face shifted into a dark scowl, protectiveness inching in as he growled. “Is someone harassing you?”

A bubble of warmth pressed against my chest and I hastily waved a hand, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. “No, no. Nothing like that. If it’s going to bother you, I’ll tell you later, but you should focus on enjoying your time with your sister.”

To be honest, I wanted to ask him why someone would warn me about him, but I wasn’t wrong that this wasn’t the place for it.

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