“Yep. Follow me. I already let Sarina know that I’m taking a break, so she’ll watch the front desk for a bit.” Makayla led them back to the empty dining room.
“Awesome.”
Makayla grabbed the plates and two glasses filled with ice, along with silverware and napkins, and set them on the table.
“So, I called your references. I have to say that I’m impressed. Roger wanted me to tell you that he is still pissed at you for leaving but would hire you back in a heartbeat if you want to come home,” she said, opening her wings and digging in.
“Yeah, I have no desire to go back to Chicago. I need a change of pace. Something and somewhere different.” He had finally taken the leap and gotten the hell out of the city. He would never forget the weight that lifted off of his chest when crossing the state line and continuing to head south.
“I get it. So, let’s talk semantics about the job, pay, and benefits while we eat.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
ChapterSeven
“Gina, can you grab the new hottie on the patio? I need to get these other orders before I have some pissed-off customers,” Annie asked, brushing past her in a hurry.
“Sure thing.” Gina grabbed a menu and headed out to the patio dining area. She wasn’t sure about any particular hottie or the one that Annie had motioned, but apparently, Annie thought he was all that and a banana split. She’d know soon enough because time would tell if her friend was right or not.
“Welcome to Wicked Brew. Here’s a menu. I’ll check back with you in just a minute.” She tried to keep her voice even and her face neutral.
“Thanks,” the hottie said, looking right at her.
Sweet Jesus! Annie had certainly been right about the man being a fucking hottie. Talk about the man of her damn dreams. Literally.
His thick dark hair was styled perfectly around his chiseled face. Bright blue eyes held her captive and kicked her hormones into high fucking gear. Heat seeped into every inch of her body. Or it could have been the fact that it was hotter than Satan’s balls and not even noon. His lips … fuck her … they were made for kissing.
Gina slowly backed away, not wanting to look like a total dweeb who stood there ogling a freaking stranger with a stream of drool dripping from her chin. Cause that would be awesome.
Holy Balls! What is wrong with me?she asked herself. Yeah, he was sexy as all get out. But, man, did she have to act like a total loon? Like she had never seen a man that she was attracted to before? Geesh. She needed to find a class on how to act normal around hot guys, or Hotties for Dummies, or some fucking thing.
When he set the menu down, she approached his table once more. This time, swearing to herself that she wouldn’t act like a nutcase.
“So, what can I get for you?” she asked with what felt like the goofiest grin she could have possibly ever had. She probably looked as if she had been possessed by a demon.
Way to go, genius!She chided herself. So much for playing it cool!
“Just a black coffee and an order of beignets, beautiful.”
“Perfect. I’ll be right back with your order.” Gina made her way back into the café to grab the items she needed for the order, all the while ignoring the fact that he had called her beautiful. He probably called every girl beautiful.
“So, is he hot or what?” Annie asked, knowing damn well she was right and he was off the fucking charts hot.
“Girl, he is something else.” Gina left it at that and poured his coffee. She didn’t want to get into it with Annie that she had never in her life seen a man so fucking hot or the fact that her hormones shot into overdrive just being within five feet of him. And those freaking sexy ass eyes of his. Holy balls!
Strictly from a looks perspective, he was the whole damn package and then some. Too bad you couldn’t always judge a book by its cover. Guys like that were usually asses. Conceited as fuck. And just general pains in the vagina. Especially the ones who called her beautiful without even getting to know her name first.
Just because a guy looked good didn’t mean he was worth a damn. Sad but true. She had learned that lesson the hard way … as always. Like there was any other way when it came to lessons. She had been burned by the overly hot guys before. It was a mistake she wouldn’t make again. Nope. No fucking way.
She grabbed the order of beignets and added his coffee to the tray, and made her way back outside.
“Here you are.” She placed his order on the table. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
What came out of his mouth left her stunned and floundering for words.
“Your number?” he asked with a sexy smile.
“I … I …” she stammered and turned to walk away. “I’ll be right back with your check.” She ran off like someone had lit a fire under her ass. What was it with this guy? Was he serious? First, he called her beautiful, then he wanted her number. Was Annie playing some sort of trick on her or something? She would kill her if she was.