“What girls?” He sounds so scandalized, which turns to a pink tinge on his cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mmhm. Just know that her mom will beat the snot out of you if you even think about it. I’ll stand on the sidelines and cheer her on. I definitely won’t protect you, baby. So make good choices. Be responsible until you’re old enough to understand the consequences of your actions.”
“You wouldn’t protect me?” With a fake wobble to his voice, my son pulls me to a stop just outside the diner and looks into my eyes. “You swore a lifetime of protection, but now that I’m a little older, you toss me to the wolves?”
“You’ve been warned. Stay away from girls, and everyone will be happy. Get too close, and her mommy will Hulk Smash you against the concrete.”
“You’re so mean.” Laughing, he turns with my arm still tucked in his and leads us through the newly repaired diner door. Frowning because I had someone booked to come out today to fix it, I walk through and search for the culprit. “Stefan? Who fixed the door?”
My cook and work-dad of nearly a decade and a half pokes his head out of the kitchen and tries to squish his smile. “Franky had someone in this morning. They just finished not twenty minutes ago.”
“I had someone booked to come out today.”
His silver spatula glistens when the sunlight from outside shines through the windows. “Dunno, honey. I just follow the rules. Franky said a dude is coming out, a dude came out. Franky said don’t tell Katrina, I don’t tell Katrina.” He flashes a wide grin when my eyes narrow. “Franky says get it done before Katrina walks in and causes a scene, I get it done.”
“I don’t cause scenes!” And yet the handful of diners follow our back and forth with swiveling necks and wide eyes. “Where’s the invoice? I’m paying for it out of my next check.”
“Dunno, hon. I have no clue what invoice you might be talking about.”
“The invoice for the new door!” Moving through the diner and splitting off from Mac as he makes his way toward his regular booth, I pass Tammy and ignore her kind greeting. “Stefan, that door cost money to fix. It needed a new pane of glass. Find me the damn invoice so I can pay it.”
“Sorry, hon.” He peeks over his shoulder. “I got food on the grill, and I heard Franky is on vacation from now until eternity, so you can’t talk to him about it. But Tammy’s kinda busy out there, so if you wanted to start working, that would be cool and all.”
“You’re a bunch of jerks!” I love these guys like they’re real family, but my pride kills me as red flames on my cheeks and embarrasses me. “It was my responsibility to fix.”
Walking away from his grill with a softer smile, Stefan takes me in a side hug and squeezes. “It’s done, baby girl. And Zeke’s actions definitely aren’t your fault. So let it go, move on with your life, and take your ass to the shooting range to learn how to aim properly. Nobody is gonna be sad if the guy breaks into your home and you defend it.”
“Stefan!” Shooting my gaze around in search of my son, a small whimper escapes my lips when I find him leaning over the back of his booth while he chats with none other than Eric DeFrigginWhit.
“Put your stuff in the lockers, then get your apron. He’s been sitting here for an hour already, but he kept telling Tammy he wasn’t ready to order yet. I think he’s probably ready now.”
“Why is everyone up in my business lately?” I walk into the long hall and push the change room door open. Tossing my bag into my locker and snagging my apron on the way back out, I pass Stefan again and grit my teeth when he dances to the beat in his head. “Why is everyone hell bent on not minding their own business?”
“Because you turned thirty, baby girl, and you didn’t get laid once in the last fourteen years.”
Gasping, my gaze snaps to my oblivious son, then back to my coworker. “First, that’s not true. And second, I don’t need your help!”
“No?” Stefan expertly flips a burger patty and wiggles his hips. “So why do you blush every time you see him?”
“I don’t!”
“Why do you do that weird panting noise every time he sits in your section?”
“I do not pant!”
“Why do you fluff your hair and fix your bra so it all sits higher before you go out and take his order?” When I open my mouth to argue, Stefan’s brow lifts, and his eyes look toward my hand… that is currently in my bra. “Honey, I wasn’t born yesterday. I know a woman in lust.”
“I gotta fix them! You’re a man, so you wouldn’t know.”
“You’re right; I’m a man, which means I know what that man out there is thinking. I know he waits for you; I know he taunts you; I know he licks his lips when you walk by.”
“He does not!”
“Katrina… you’re wrong. Why don’t you say hey and be nice about it? You don’thaveto rip his head off every time he speaks, ya know? He’s a nice guy. Give him a chance.”
“How would you know he’s nice? I’ve never seen you speak to him.”
“He’s been in here the last hour, hon. Don’t you ever listen to me? He’s in here every damn day waiting for you, so fix your boobies, go say hello, and maybe ask him out on a date. He seems nice, and really, anything is a step up from Zeke, so we already know you’re on to a winner.”