“Did you tell him how you feel?”
I clenched my jaw and grabbed more silverware.
“Buck, buck, buck, buuuuuck.”
“I’m not chicken.”
She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. “I triple dog dare you to tell Lucas how you feel.”
I slammed the newly wrapped silverware onto the pile. “Lucas doesn’t feel the same way about me, so let’s drop it, okay?”
“How do you know?”
“He’s still getting over his ex-fiancé.”
“Oh. That’s a tough one.”
“Ten minutes until open,” Mack yelled through the cook window just as the phone rang.
The Lumber Mill.
“I’ll get their orders, you set the tables,” Thelma said.
“Let’s do it.”
* * *
After another successful lunch rush, I took the tray of dirty dishes out back and loaded the dish rack.
Thelma kicked open the swinging door with a tray full of cups. “Guess who just came in for lunch with Charlie?”
“Who?”
“A certain brooding billionaire who enjoys ten-minute showers.”
A plate slipped from my hand and crashed into the sink. “He’s here now?”
“Yup.” She scooted me out of the way. “I’ll take over in here. You can take your customers and wipe down the tables.”
I washed my hands before heading toward the dining area. Ben was already out there, talking with Lucas. He and Charlie were both congratulating him. I grabbed a rag and spray bottle, heading closer so I could listen in.
“Thanks for having that talk with me, man.” Ben slapped Lucas on the back. “I wouldn’t have had the guts to ask her if you didn’t.”
Lucas helped him propose to Thelma?
Charlie looked over at me and waved. “Hey there, Taylor.”
I fumbled with the bottle before spraying the table. “Hi, Charlie, Lucas.”
Lucas nodded like he was acknowledging the presence of a mere acquaintance before heading over to Charlie’s usual corner table. The same table where he had sat when I first met him.
I already knew what Charlie wanted to drink, and I figured I’d give Lucas the same thing he had ordered before: soda water with lemon in a wine glass. No ice.
Lucas half smiled when I set the glass in front of him.
“Do you know what you’re having?” I asked.
“Isn’t it customary to hand out menus first?” Lucas took out his lemon and sipped his soda water.
