Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,31

of work now hanging in my office,” I state, releasing her hand long enough to downshift. She doesn’t seem convinced. “Please. Let me buy her some chicken nuggets.”

“Nuggies!” Lizzie hollers from the back seat.

When it’s our turn to order, I pull forward and Mallory sighs. She leans over me, her intoxicating scent wrapping around me like a warm blanket, and waits to place her order. “Can I get a four-piece nugget meal with fries, sweet and sour sauce, apple slices, and white milk, please?”

“What do you want?” I ask, as she sits back in her seat.

“I’m not hungry.”

I just stare at her. “You didn’t eat anything for lunch today.”

Her eyebrows pull together in question. “How would you know that?”

Shrugging, I reply, “I’m observant.” Of her. The truth is, I noticed when she took her quick break today, she only drank a glass of water. She didn’t order anything from the kitchen, even though they get a free burger and fries as part of their employment. It makes me wonder if she’s taken advantage of it at all during her time with us.

Mallory swallows hard and I can hear her stomach growl. “I’ll eat at home,” she assures me.

“Is that all today?” the woman in the speaker asks.

“Add a McDouble and large fry too, please?” I reply, pulling my wallet from my pants as she gives me my total and tells me to pull around.

After paying, with food in hand, we head out and toward Mallory’s place. She gives me directions, which coincidentally, is the same way I take home. However, I’m a little shocked when she tells me to pull into the old apartment building on the edge of town. The one that’s practically falling in and delipidated. “This is where you live?” I ask, pulling into a parking spot and looking up at the building.

“Yes,” she says with an edge to her voice. Mallory looks up and takes in the building before us. “I know it’s not in the best shape, but it’s a roof over our heads.”

With my heart hammering in my throat, I pull the keys from the ignition and jump out. “I’ll grab Lou. You get the food.” Lizzie comes to me easily and wraps around my waist like a spider monkey. She instantly starts chatting about nuggets and dolls, which brings a smile to my face.

We walk up the stairs, all the way up to the third floor. Mallory stops in front of apartment 303 and slips a key into the lock. She holds the door open for me and promptly locks it after we enter her space. It’s old and sparsely decorated, but it’s not too bad. You can see she keeps it clean and picked up.

Mal sets the food on the small table and opens the Happy Meal. I set Lizzie down on the booster seat on one of the mismatched chairs. The little girl reaches for a fry and sticks it in her mouth, while her mom opens the little cup of dipping sauce.

“If you give me your keys, I’ll bring your car back as soon as it’s running,” I tell her, sticking out my hand.

Mallory pulls them back out of her purse and hands them over. She also grabs a stack of small bills from her wallet, most likely her recent tips. “Thank you for your help.”

I wave off the money and just grab the keys. “We’ll settle up later,” I tell her. Though, I have no intentions of asking to be reimbursed. I pull on Lizzie’s pigtail playfully, earning a giggle, and head for the door. Before I slip out, my eyes meet hers. “I’ll be back.”

“Wait,” she says, grabbing the small bag with the burger and fries. “Don’t forget your food.”

A grin sweeps across my lips as I unlock the door and pull it open. “That’s yours, Mal. Eat up, and I’ll see you soon.”

Then I walk through the door, making sure it’s secured tightly behind me before I leave.

Chapter Ten

Mallory

I stare down at the bag of food, my stomach reminding me I haven’t eaten much today.

“Nuggies!” Lizzie says with a mouth full of food, sauce dribbling down her chin.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, remember?” I remind her, taking the empty seat across from her.

My daughter nods in understanding and dips the nugget back in the sauce. I reach for the small bag, the scent of French fries almost making me deliriously hungry. I ate a few crackers for breakfast and then a granola bar for lunch, but