"Marcus," she said smiling nervously.
"hello Low," I replied. The sweet honey suckle scent that clung to her filled the small booth.
"Are you, uh, waiting on someone?"
I shook my head and grinned, "Nope. Just me." The relief on her face gave me hope.
"Oh, okay. In that case, what can I get you to drink?"
"I'd like some sweet tea please."
Will ow reached for the pencil tucked behind her ear and quickly jotted it down. I'd never seen her write down drink orders before. Could my presence have her that rattled that she needed to write down sweet tea? God I hoped so.
"Okay, I'll be right back," she flashed me a smile that didn't meet her eyes and quickly spun around and headed directly for the kitchen. She didn't stop at any of her other tables to check on them. Will ow needed a moment. Because of me.
For the first time in weeks I was able to take a deep breath.
Just maybe, I could reach her again. Those damn thick walls she'd erected around her heart terrified me.
Willow
I can do this. I can do this. I CAN do this.
"You okay Low?" Seth asked stopping beside me with a tray of drinks.
"Um, yeah, I'm good. Just needed a breather," I forced yet another smile and reached for the sweet tea I'd fixed for Marcus.
Seth nodded and headed back out the door into the dinning room. I needed to do the same. I ran my hand over my hair and smoothed my apron down then rolled my eyes at my ridiculous behavior. This was Marcus. He'd shattered my heart. I did not care what he thought of me. My appearance was of no consequence.
I headed back out into the dinning room and stopped at my other tables to check on them. I needed to get another bottle of tartar sauce, a glass of water, and some lemons.
And I still had Marcus's drink in my hands. I had to get this over with.
He was leaning back in the booth watching me as I approached. I'd felt his gaze on me while I'd check on the other customers. It was a miracle I hadn't tripped and fell from my nervous reaction to his attention.
"Here ya go," I placed the tea on the table in front of him.
"You ready to order?"
"The blackened grouper sounds good," he replied. I wanted to curl up in his lap. How ridiculous was that? Just hearing him talk had me needing to touch him and feel his arms around me again. Ugh!
"Do you not recommend that?"
I snapped out of my internal obsessing and looked at him,
"Huh?"
Marcus grinned at me and my insides went all crazy.
"You're frowning. I was wondering if I'd ordered the wrong thing?"
My face instantly warmed and I shook my head staring down at my order pad in an attempt to hide my blushing.
"Oh, no. That's really good. The grouper is nice and fresh."
"Do you suggest I try those sweet potato fries?"
"Well, they're different, um, maybe you should stick with the regular fries."