Cillian (The Kelly Brothers #2) - Megan Wade Page 0,12
eyes. And I can say that unequivocally because I’ve been searching for her all week, but she hasn’t been at the restaurant once.
“Hey.” She smiles, meeting my eyes for a moment before she looks away, focusing on the lid of her takeaway coffee as she shifts on her feet. “I should…” She throws a thumb in the direction of the restaurant, and I frown. I don’t want her to rush away from me.
“Where’ve you been?” I don’t mean for it to come out demanding, but it does. The week has dragged on slowly, and I’m not cooking at my best, all because I have something—someone—else on my mind. Ever since I’ve met her, she’s all I can think about. I meant it when I said that I wanted us to be friends. I may not be able to have her, but at the very least, I want to know her.
She rolls her lips as she lifts her gaze to mine. “Dad is teaching me the books since I’m obviously uninterested in learning front of house—his words, not mine. Seems he didn’t take my skipping out on Sunday’s dinner service too kindly. Says it sends a poor message to the employees when he can’t even account for his own daughter.”
My brows knit together. “I hope I didn’t get you in trouble,” I say, feeling shitty for keeping her to myself for as long as I did. I didn’t even consider that she was rostered on for dinner service when I invited her to spend the evening with my family. But I should have known. I guess I was just being selfish, taking the moment while I had it.
“No. Honestly, it’s fine. I’m a terrible waitress, anyway. Admin is probably where my strengths lie, and I’ve always been more of a loner, so a windowless office suits me fine.” She flashes me a smile that doesn’t touch her eyes and my heart goes out to her.
“Sounds like purgatory to me.”
She shrugs. “It was worth it. I had more fun with you, anyway.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I rub a hand over the back of my neck. “Mam has been keeping empty bottles for you,” I say, smiling sheepishly. “Seems you have yourself an international beer bottle collection whether you want one or not.”
She giggles. “That’s very kind of her. I like your Mam,” she says, trying to mimic the accent. It comes out all weird and she blushes. “I mean, I like your mom.”
“Moira. You can call her Moira. Next time you come…”
“There’ll be a next time?”
I nod and smile. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”
A big grin takes over her features, and this time, it touches her eyes. “Yeah. We’re friends,” she says, perking up a little.
“And as your friend, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to come for a drive with me today? It’s work-related, but I think it’d be good for you to see that back of house isn’t all admin and windowless rooms.”
Her eyes light up. “OK. Where are we going?”
“To meet with a possible supplier. We get to test out some produce to see if it’s something we can use.”
“Count me in,” she says, her entire demeanor shifting. “After a week in that back room, a day in the sun sounds like heaven.”
“OK.” I grin. “Pick you up at nine?”
She hesitates. “How about I meet you at yours? I’ve got a couple of things to sort out first. Can you text me your address?”
“Sure,” I say, handing her my cell so she can put her number in. When she hands it back, I can’t help but ensure our fingers brush. The heat that races up my arm on contact reminds me that spending any time alone with this girl is a disaster waiting to happen. But I can’t fucking help myself. I crave her. Any way I can have her.
It feels like an age waiting on her to buzz my apartment. I’m embarrassed to admit that I practically sprint for the intercom before realizing how desperate I’ll look. I pause and take a deep breath before I press the button. “I’ll be right down.”
“Oh! OK,” she says, and just the sound of her voice makes my dick twitch.
“Just friends,” I remind myself.
Grabbing my keys, I head downstairs and find her standing on the sidewalk, squinting up at the building. “I’m trying to work out which balcony is yours,” she says.
I move to stand next to her, pointing to the left side on the