Page 71 of His to Love
“Looks delicious,” I told him when his attention was finally on me. “Can I have a margarita too, please?”
I nodded toward the table of women who were sitting at a high-top, laughing loudly, and looking like they were having a great time. A small ache pierced my chest as Charlie, based on the nametag, turned and filled my drink order. I never had a group of friends like these women. They seemed so close as they boisterously teased one another, laughing loudly and unabashedly.
Turning away, I smiled as Charlie placed the drink in front of me.
“Anything else I can get for you?” Charlie asked.
“A menu, please,” I said, and then changed my mind. “Actually, I already know what I want.”
“Well that’s rare,” he said, grinning.
“What is?”
“A woman who knows what she wants.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes at his flirtatious teasing. “I’ll take a buffalo burger, please. If you can manage that.”
Charlie leaned forward on the bar and placed his elbows on the bar top. “Knows what she wants and has a great appetite. My kind of lady.”
“Does flirting with all your customers help your tips?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.
“Yes,” he answered drily.
“Then I’ll keep it in mind. As long as the burger is good.”
He stepped back and patted the bar. “That burger’s the best there is in the state.”
“I have no doubt. I bet Declan is a great cook.”
The waiter turned from his register where he had been punching in my order and arched a brow. “You know Declan?”
“I met him once. We have a mutual friend, I suppose you could say.”
“And would that friend be a man?” Charlie asked, teasing me.
I couldn’t avoid the blush that hit my cheeks. My silence said everything. Charlie threw his head back and laughed.
Then I jumped in my seat as he bellowed across the entire restaurant, “Yo! Declan! Get your butt out here and come say hi to your friend!”
“Oh my God,” I muttered, my shoulders shaking with restrained laughter. “You are insane.”
“I’m incorrigible,” he said, giving me a serious look. “My mom told me that every day.”
Insane, incorrigible, I was beginning to think there wasn’t a difference.
“Blue?”
I jumped in my seat as Declan approached from the kitchen. He had come as soon as Charlie shouted. It had been so loud I’m surprised the lightbulbs didn’t burst.
“Hi, Declan.” I lifted my hand out for him to shake but he didn’t stop moving as he reached me. He leaned forward, clasping my shoulders with his hands, and placed his lips against my temple.
“Good to see you, meeting Ty here?”
I shook my head. “No. He has to work late. I just wanted to grab a burger before I head to my parents’ house.”
“Sounds good. I’ll get right on that for you.”
“No rush.”
