"Very generous, my friend, but he hasn't taken his eyes off you since you walked back this direction, so I'm out. Besides, it's about time you jumped back into the game."
"He's the last thing I need in my life."
Hank showed up in the pass-through window. "Hey, Ray, do you think you could cut some tomatoes and onions for me? If today is anything like yesterday, I need to get way ahead on prep work."
"Coming, Hank."
Nora was still smiling slyly at me. "Well, you going to go for it?"
"No way." I glanced back as I walked through the doors to the kitchen. He was scrolling through his phone. Long black lashes shadowed his cheeks. A small sigh fell from my lips. "Last thing you need, Ray," I muttered to myself.
six
. . .
Ronan
The wind started as a few energetic gusts, but, by late afternoon, it had morphed into a full gale storm. Eventually, the brutal wind teamed up with a cold rain, so Doris had no choice except to shut down work for the rest of the day. It meant two hours less on my paycheck, my first check, and one that was already spent. I had so much catching up to do with my bills and bar tabs, it would take me months to get to a point where I'd actually have some money again.
I was in charge of making sure lids were secure on the big trash bins and that tarps were tied down on the dirt piles. I struggled with both because I was fighting something much stronger than a Wilde—Mother Nature. Doris was still in the office. She glanced through the back window and gave me a thumbs up to let me know things looked secure. I waved and headed across the street to the bus stop. I shielded my phone from the elements and leaned down to look at the bus schedule. The next one wouldn't roll through for fifteen minutes.
A small figure swimming in a yellow-hooded rain slicker was fighting with the diner door. The wind was pushing it in as the person was trying to shut it. Her long, bare legs looked familiarand amazing. It was Rachel, the pretty server who brought me a sandwich and flirted with me over coffee.
"Fucking wind!" she grumbled.
I reached past her and grabbed the edge of the door. She gasped, let go of the door and shot back a few steps. I shut the door securely and lifted my hood. "Only me. I saw you battling the door."
The deep hood of her rain jacket hid everything but her incredible lips. They were the kind of lips that could make a guy forget all his troubles. "Thanks. My phone app predicted wind and rain, but it failed to mention a category 4 hurricane." She looked out at the landscape. It was a blur of cold rain. "Guess they shut down work for the day."
"Yeah, things were getting pretty dicey out there. I can walk you to your car to make sure you don't get carried off in that cute yellow raincoat."
She leaned down and looked at her bare legs. "Wish I'd opted for the full-length rain slicker. I didn't want to look like a grizzled old fisherman. I guess that's where vanity gets you—wet and cold."
"You couldn't look grizzled even if you grew a shaggy gray beard and hung a corn cob pipe from your lips." I glanced around. Everyone had gone home or found shelter, and the street was deserted. "Where's your car?"
"My mom needed it, so I'm waiting for the bus." She twisted her lips in thought, and I found myself mesmerized by the casual gesture. "Darn, I should have thought of that. Now the alarm is set so I can't go back inside the diner. I think the next bus will be here soon, although the weather has probably set it back a few minutes. What about your car? Or are you waiting for the giant noise chariot as well?"
"Going full diesel-spewing chariot, thanks. I suppose the building gives us a little more protection than sitting out there atthat bus stop." We both stepped back toward the diner. "You can move closer to me for body heat. I promise I'll be a gentleman."
I still could only see her lips, and they tilted into a smile. "I suppose I'm not in any position to be prudish." She moved closer so that our arms touched.
"I'm usually much better at providing body heat," I said, lamely. "Or at least that's what I've been told."
"I'll bet you've been told that." She lifted her face, and the wind knocked back the hood of her coat. I hadn't been imagining it. She was fucking amazing with brown eyes that could look right into your soul. She laughed lightly. "What the hell is it about you? I seem to say the stupidest stuff when I'm talking to you. Like I've had one too many beers or something."
"I do seem to bring that out in women. And you haven't said one stupid thing since we met."
A sharp wind smacked us, and I instinctively put my arm around her, turning my body to shield her from the onslaught of cold rain. We huddled that way until the wind slowed. She was cradled between me and the building. She peered up at me. "Thanks. You'd make a fine gentleman."
"Good to know. And I'd offer you my wet sweatshirt, but I'm afraid I don't have a spare pair of pants. Your legs must be freezing."
"If they are, they're too numb to feel it." She leaned to look past my shoulder. "I see the bus."
"Great." I had to admit I was having a pretty good time waiting for the damn thing. We stepped out from our hiding spot to let the bus driver know there were people waiting.
Rachel climbed on in front of me.
"Watch your step. It's wet," the driver noted unnecessarily. "And I apologize, but the heater isn't working." We could see his breath as he spoke.