Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
“No—” He starts to say “nothing,” but the look I give him has him clearing his throat and changing his mind. “Right, your bar. I’ll take whatever you have on tap.”
“You’re letting me choose?”
“I trust you.” The look he gives me is… soft, just like the other night, and it makes me uneasy. What is going on with him?
“You’re never early,” my brother says, taking the stool next to Eli, just as I’m sliding his beer across the bar. I reach for another and do the same to Cameron.
“Thanks, sis.” He smiles, taking a huge swallow.
“Maybe back in college, but I’m a professional now.” Eli smirks.
“That’s right. How has your first week at the helm been?” Cameron asks him.
I pretend to be wiping down the counter and messing with the napkins to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“It’s been… interesting, to say the least. I had to fire someone earlier.”
“Damn, that sucks.”
“Yep. The worst part of the job, but it had to happen.”
“Do you guys want me to get a waitress over here to get you a table?” I ask.
“You good with eating here?” Cameron asks Eli.
Eli’s eyes find mine, and he nods, his gaze still locked on me. “Yeah. I’m good with eating here.”
“Couple of menus, Mar,” Cameron says. He’s oblivious to the look that his best friend is giving me and the way my heart stumbles over in my chest.
What is happening? This is Eli, the guy who made my life hell growing up. Hell, he and my brother, but Cameron is family, and he’s redeemed himself over the years. He’s no longer the older brother who picks on me. He’s graduated himself to my protector and my confidant. “Sure.” I manage to pull my gaze from Eli and grab two menus from the counter behind me.
“I’ll be back,” I say, stepping to the opposite end of the bar and checking on a customer. The guy’s beer is still half full, but I needed a minute. I don’t understand what’s going on, but Eli is not acting like himself, and it’s kind of freaking me out.
“You doing okay down here?” I ask the older gentleman.
“Yeah, just waiting on my wife.” His eyes soften at the mention of his wife, and I can’t help but hope that I find a love like that one day. I want to make a man’s eyes soften just at the thought of me. I also want a job in my field of study. Is that asking too much?
Having wasted enough time, I make my way back to my brother and my childhood bully, pulling a tablet out of my apron. “You two ready to order?” I ask, looking only at Cameron.
He rattles off his order, and he’s a creature of habit. I could have placed his order for him without even asking. “And for you?” I finally turn my gaze toward Eli. I’m cool, calm, and professional.
“What’s your favorite?” he asks, catching me off guard.
My mouth opens and then closes before opening again. “It’s all good.”
“Yeah, but what would you order if you were sitting on this side of the counter?” He studies me closely.
“I’m not much of a steak eater. I’d probably go for the buffalo chicken wrap and a baked potato, loaded.”
He nods and hands me the menu. “I’ll take that. Add a salad with French dressing, please.”
Please? Eli Morrison doesn’t say please. At least not to me. I try to hide the way my hand shakes as I write down his order. Hell, I don’t need to since it’s my order, but I do it anyway, not trusting my mind to remember by the time I get back to the order system. I don’t say a word. I just turn on my heel and make my way to the computer at the end of the bar to type in their order.
I grab them each a glass of water and set them in front of them. “Refills?” I ask, nodding to their beers.
“I’m good.” Eli places his hand over the top of his glass.
“Me too. We’re trying to be responsible adults here, Mar,” Cameron jokes.
“What? And I’m not by doing my job?” I brace my hands on the edge of the bar. I know he’s only joking, but his comment hits me deep. I know I’m not the only college graduate not working in their field, but it wasn’t supposed to be like this. I know it’s my fault. Leaving Texas and the job I had lined up was my decision. I missed my family. I missed the Sonoma Mountains. I was ready to come home.
Cameron waves me off as his phone rings. “I have to take this,” he says, standing with his phone at his ear and walking away.
“Hey.” I startle when Eli’s hand lands on mine. “You okay?”
I look at him, then at his hand, and back up to him. There is a kindness in his eyes that I’ve never seen before, at least not when he’s looking at me. It’s not just the kindness, but the heat of his skin on mine and the way my hand tingles from his touch. Knowing that I need to stop whatever is causing this crazy reaction to him, I slide my hand out from under his and let them hang at my sides.