It’s been nearly three months since he left, and I’m about to lose my mind. I just want to go home, fall asleep, and not wake up until he walks through the door.
Brynn spends nearly every weekend at my apartment while Mrs. Landry invites me to dinner at least twice a week. My mom and John have even asked me to help plan their wedding. On the upside, picking up extra shifts at work has added a little cushion to my bank account. However, on the downside I’ve now captured the attention of Carlos Suppato. He’s always buying my meals and offering to let me leave early. I can’t prove it, but I’m pretty sure he’s added to my credit card tip total more than once.
Just as I’m sweeping up the last of the crumbs in my section after a long shift, Kylie, the new waitress, tells me I have a table.
“Can you take it? I was about to leave,” I ask her.
She shrugs and gives me an apologetic look. “He requested you. But maybe if you ask, he won’t mind.”
I take a deep breath and slip back into character, smiling like the guy is my first table of the day. I halfway expected it to be Mr. Carlisle, an older man who likes to come in regularly and entertain me with his memories of a life well lived, all while savoring his bowl of gnocchi and a glass of tea. I listen to his stories like I’m hearing them all again for the first time, every time. But as I approach the gentleman from behind, I realize he is way too young and well-built to be Mr. Carlisle.
“Hi. I really hate to do this…” I begin as I walk up to the table, but I quickly lose my train of thought. The familiar scent stops me in my tracks. The man stands and turns to face me and immediately I feel my stomach drop.
“Oh my God. Reid!”
My arms are around his neck before his name leaves my lips. He lifts me off the ground and I bury my face in the curve of his neck, reveling in the pure existence of him.
This is real.
He is here.
“You aren’t supposed to be here until Saturday,” I squeal, unable to fight back my ridiculous grin.
He smirks and hikes a thumb over his shoulder, toward the door. “Should I go, then?”
I narrow my eyes at him and squeeze him tight. “Don’t even think about it.”
“So, you don’t need me to take this table?” Kylie asks with a smile as she and the rest of the restaurant witnesses our intimate reunion.
I can’t stop grinning. “No, I think I can handle this one.”
I clock out and gather my tips from Carlos then head outside to give Reid a more proper welcome. With my fingers locked together at the base of his neck, I pull him in for a long and eager kiss. He has me pinned against the side of the building, and I no longer care about etiquette or decency. I just need him. I reach between our bodies, bringing attention to what I’ve been craving for months. He immediately begins to get hard under my touch.
“I take it you’ve missed me?” he asks with a cocky grin.
“Oh, no. This is how I treat all my customers. Tips are much better this way.”
“Careful. I’m trained to kill, you know,” he warns as he presses his body into mine.
“Trust me, I know all about the training. I’m just glad it’s finally over.” I feel his muscles tense on top of me and my heart stops.
He takes a step back and stares at me with pain in his eyes yet remains silent.
“Reid?” My pulse pounds in my ears. “It is over, right?”
His chest heaves as he sighs heavily and runs his hands through his hair. “I didn’t want to talk about this now.”
“Talk about what? What is going on?” My voice is louder than I wanted and laced with anxiety. At the same time my heart is breaking, because I know what he’s about to say.
Before Reid can answer, a figure appears from around the corner. It’s dark out, and he’s wearing a hoodie and a baseball cap, making him nearly impossible to identify.
But I know.
I know exactly who he is.
I heard Jaxon call him Cal one night—the man with the gorgeous face and eyes that cut right to the bone. I think some of the other waitresses said he’s Carlos’s son, but I don’t know that for sure. I was never brave enough to ask many questions about him.
“Go home, Makenna. You shouldn’t be out here at night,” his deep voice says without sparing me as much as a glance. He nods once at Reid then continues past us.