Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,38
experienced this side of the business yet, though it’s one of the slower nights.
Jasper comes around the corner with two plates and heads over to Mallory’s table. She smiles when she sees him and greets him cordially, even introducing her daughter to him. It raises my hackles that he’s over there and I’m not, so the first free second I have, I move in their direction.
“Hey, everything all right?” I ask, grabbing a bottle of ketchup from the cooler on my way by.
“Great,” Mallory says, glancing at the burger I recommended.
“Yucky crust,” Lizzie grumbles, taking in her gourmet grilled cheese. The thing is made with four kinds of cheese on lightly toasted Texas toast, so it’s a little thicker than normal.
Without being instructed, I grab a knife out of the silverware roll and start slicing off the crust. When I have it cleared away, I pick up a fry and hold it out to her. She happily takes it and shoves it in her mouth. “Ketchup?” I ask, pointing down to her plate. When Lizzie nods, I squirt a big blob of red sauce onto her plate and slide it over to her.
When my eyes meet Mallory’s, she’s just watching me, a look of surprise on her pretty face. It’s as if my interaction with her daughter is astonishing.
“Mind if I join you?” my friend asks, pulling out one of the remaining pub chairs.
“Not at all,” Mallory replies, offering him a smile before she eats a fry.
“I thought I’d watch you enjoy the last burger of my shift,” Jasper says.
“You were supposed to be off two hours ago,” I remind my workaholic friend.
He just shrugs. “I stayed to help the night cook make patties. I saw this order come in, so I thought I’d whip it up real quick and head out.”
“Then why are you still here?” I ask, only teasing a little.
Jasper just grins a knowing smile. “Company is much better here than at home, friend.”
I roll my eyes, unfortunately having to return to the bar, but I keep my eyes on them. Jasper talks to both and makes silly faces at Lizzie while she’s eating. Their laughter floats through the air like a song, familiar and soothing, and I find myself smiling as I pour a draft beer. Even after the server takes it away to the dining room, I’m still grinning.
“When are ya gonna tell her?”
Glancing up, I find Jameson sitting at the end of the bar, his gaze cast toward Mallory’s table.
“Tell her what?” I ask, busying myself with wiping down the bar top.
“That you like her and want to fuck her.”
His words give me pause, and I’m standing directly in front of where he sits moments later. “What the fuck, Jame? I don’t want to fuck her,” I argue. “I mean, yeah, I do, but that’s not it,” I stammer, trying to find the right words. When I look up, he’s just smiling, and realization sets in. He set me up. “Fuck you,” I mumble.
Jameson shrugs. “You gonna let your stupid ‘I don’t date women from work’ bullshit stop you? All it would take is one guy like numbnuts over there,” he starts, pointing over his shoulder at Jasper, “to swoop in and steal your girl. He wouldn’t mean to, because that’s not how we roll, but if you don’t stake your claim now, someone else will. That’s all I’m saying.”
I sigh and glance over to where Jasper and Mallory visit, jealousy burning in my gut. “I told her last night I was interested.”
“Interested in what?”
Again, I exhale loudly. “Hell if I know, man. The truth is I can’t stop thinking about her. And her daughter? Fuck, I’m already gone where that little girl’s concerned.”
Jameson takes a sip of his water. “A kid adds a whole new level of complication.”
“No kidding,” I tell him, pouring a quick drink and grabbing two bottles of brew for some guys at the bar. When I return, I continue. “But have you seen her? She smiles up at me with those big green eyes and her pigtails, and I want to slay dragons, man. I legit would do anything and everything I could to keep her safe. Is that crazy? I’ve known her for like…two days.”
Jameson shrugs. “Hell if I know, but I agree. Cute kid. Just make sure you’re not with the mom because of her daughter, okay? The last thing you want is a dead-end relationship because you like the kid.”