When Gwen finally agreed, I should have been relieved. But mostly I was troubled – for Lexie, for Gwen, and even for myself, because the way it looked, all three of us were dealing with guys who were best avoided.
And inmycase, I couldn’t avoid the guy even if I wanted to. I was an honest businesswoman, which meant that tomorrow, I would be returning the hundred dollarsordelivering the dozen mochas.
And I would be doing it in person.
Chapter 16
Harper
When I pulled the coffee truck into the parking lot of the now-defunct burger joint, I was shocked by the number of vehicles.
I saw maybe a dozen pickup trucks, two dump-trucks, and a big yellow tractor-looking thingy with a tall mechanical scoop.
And I saw Bryce. He was standing amidst a small crowd of construction workers, all wearing hard hats.
He wore a hard-hat, too, which did nothing to diminish his appeal. Along with the hat, he wore a dark jacket, black jeans, sturdy-looking work boots, and a sexy smile when he saw me pull into the lot.
Maybe it wasn'tmeantto be sexy, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I found the guy incredibly attractive whether he was smiling or not.
Recalling my vow to resist his charms, I kept my own smile strictly professional as I lifted my hand for a polite wave.See? I could control myself.
The time was just past nine o'clock in the morning, and I'd spent the past two hours parked outside the courthouse as usual. Business had been just okay – not fantastic, but not dead as a doornail either.
I mean, it was no Monday night skating rink, that's for sure.
When Bryce pointed toward the parking area near the back fence, I pulled forward and parked the coffee truck with the concession window facing outward as if this were just a normal stop.
I was just climbing out of the driver's seat when Bryce sauntered over to say with a smile, "So you came."
"Of course, I came," I said, shutting the vehicle door behind me. "I mean, you paid me to, right?"
"No. I paid for the mochas." His gaze swept the length of me. "You're just a bonus."
Oh, boy.He hadn't been leering, but there'd definitely been a spark ofsomethingthere. This posed a dangerous question. What could he see inmygaze?
With a nervous laugh, I asked, "Oh, so if I'd sent an employee instead, that would've fine?"
His eyebrows lifted. "Do youhavean employee?"
"No."
He smiled. "Well there ya go."
As usual, his smile mademewant to smile. And maybe I did for just a moment until I recalled that I was here on official coffee business. "So, a dozen mochas, huh?"
"That's the idea."
I glanced toward the construction workers. "Are they for them?"
"For whoever," Bryce said. "Makes no difference to me."
Now, Ireallywanted to smile. "So the whole pointwasjust to get me out here?" I was obscenely flattered and just a little disturbed at the idea that he was once again paying to spend time with me.
He laughed. "What, you don'twantto be?" He lowered his voice. "You’re not curious what we're doing?"
I was, in fact.The burger joint had been a thorn in my side for longer than I cared to consider. "Well, I am alittlecurious," I admitted.
"Just a little," he laughed. "Admit it. If I hadn't invited you out here, you would've come on your own."
