Chapter Four
Shelby walked to work the next day. She hoped Warrick would come in again because she had to talk to him about the tip. He’d made a monumental mistake in giving her three hundred dollars, and she hadn’t known it until she got home.
Her first thought was that money could get her out of town, but then she shook her head. She wasn’t going to take the man’s money because he had made an error.
She had the morning off, which was good, and she was able to get a few hours’ sleep. It didn’t help with the exhaustion, but it helped it from getting worse. It would still be a long day because she had the lunch and dinner shifts.
When a large black vehicle pulled up in front of the café a block away, she stopped walking. Her mouth dropped open when Warrick and the other two got out.
One of them tapped Warrick and pointed her way. She looked behind her to see who was there. When there was no one, she knew they were pointing at her.
Her stomach twisted when Warrick headed her way. He stopped really close to her. Close enough that she could smell his musky, woodsy scent, and it made her mouth water. She looked up and then up some more until her head was tilted back. She hadn’t realized he was so tall. The top of her head barely came up to his shoulder.
“Um … hi.”
“Hi.”
“Did you need something?”
“Yes,” he said.
“If I can help, tell me, and I’ll try to do the best I can.”
“Oh, I’m going to need a lot of your help.”
“Okay. I’m glad you’re here. I need to talk to you.”
“Oh? About what?”
“You gave me the wrong bills yesterday. I think you were supposed to give me ones and instead, it was three hundred-dollar bills. It’s an honest mistake, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I didn’t give it back.”
He cupped her face. “You are the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Her eyes widened. She rarely got compliments. “Oh, wow. That’s nice.”
He chuckled. “Actually, those are the bills I wanted to give you.”
“But it’s too much,” she said.
“I don’t think so. We think you deserve it, so you’ll keep it.”
“But—”
“No buts, honey.”
She sighed. “I’ve got to get into work before I’m late.”
“Let’s go.”
She was surprised when he slipped an arm around her waist, but she liked it a lot. She kept glancing up at him as they walked because he was so incredibly handsome.
She just realized this might be the last time she ever saw him. The breath caught in her lungs, and she blinked back tears. It was silly to think she’d miss him when she didn’t know him at all, but her heart didn’t care. It was breaking into a million pieces.
Warrick stopped them before they headed inside. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“I’m going to miss you when you leave, and I’m afraid to ask when that will be.”
“Tomorrow.”