Flirting Under a Full Moon - By Ashlyn Chase Page 0,79
returned to her booth where her tarot cards sat in a neat pile.
On her way toward the table of thirsty customers, Brandee caught sight of the front door opening. When she saw who it was, she froze.
Darryl walked in, looking as perfectly put together as he always did. He could make business casual look formal.
He strolled over to Brandee. “There you are. Angie told me I’d find you here.”
“Angie?” Duh. Talk, mouth. Ask him what he wants in a tone of voice that means “as if I care.”
“Yeah, Angie. Your roommate? I tried dropping in on you at home first.”
Leave it to Darryl to try to make her feel stupid. Nick would never talk to her like that.
“I’m working, Darryl.”
“I’ll be quick. I know I left without much of a good-bye, but that’s because I thought ripping off the Band-Aid would be easier.”
Yeah, for you.
“But that was a mistake,” he continued, heedless of her need to wait on tables. “I want you to come to Switzerland with me.” He held his arms out to her as if she should jump into them and let him carry her away to a better life.
Oddly enough, a few weeks ago, she’d have done just that.
“Things have changed a bit since you’ve been gone, Darryl. Why don’t you have a seat and when I’m not so busy, I’ll fill you in.”
He frowned and let his arms drop.
Brandee made her way to the table and said, “What can I get for you?”
“It’s about time,” the female half of the couple answered.
Brandee was about to apologize when a tap on her shoulder interrupted her train of thought. She pivoted. Darryl stood right behind her, arms crossed.
“I don’t think you heard me,” he said.
This time the male customer spoke. “Lady, can you fight with your boyfriend on your own time? We’re dying of thirst here.”
She returned her attention to the table. “He’s not my boyfriend, and I’m sorry about the wait. What would you like?”
“What kind of imported beers do you have?”
“I’ll get you a list.”
Darryl followed her to the bar. “We need to talk.”
She grabbed the wine and beer menu and returned to the couple without answering or even looking at him.
“Damn it, Brandee. This isn’t the way I pictured it.”
No shit. You thought you’d be greeted like a returning hero, you vain asshole.
She handed the menu to the couple and said, “I’ll be right back.”
“I’d rather you wait,” the female customer said. “Who knows when you’ll make it back here.”
Brandee bit her tongue and stood there, hoping Darryl would find a place to sit and leave her alone until she could talk—before she stuffed a wet rag in his mouth.
At last she had the couple’s orders and took them to Kathie. Brandee lingered, rather than walk away, since there were only two bottles to be opened.
Again, Darryl approached her. This time his smile was back in place. “I missed you, baby. I know you must have missed me too and you’re probably mad, but I’m back now and I’m ready to work it out.”
Brandee rolled her eyes. “I didn’t have time to miss you. I have a new boyfriend. He asked me out about five minutes after you dumped me.”
The first opened beer landed on her tray, soon followed by the other.
Darryl laughed. “There’s no way that’s true.”
She tried to maneuver around him. He grabbed her arm and the beers toppled over, hitting the floor with a smash. Beer flew everywhere, hitting her legs as well as a customer’s pant leg.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” she said to the customer and grabbed a handful of napkins for him.
Darryl made a sound of disgust and walked away. “I’ll wait over there.” He pointed in some direction, but Brandee didn’t see which one and didn’t give much of a damn.
She cleaned up the mess and carried the couple’s two new beers to them carefully. She hadn’t dropped a drink in over a year. Now her record was sullied, thanks to dumbass Darryl. How could she ever have thought he was Mr. Possible?
Brandee was relieved when Nick showed up fifteen minutes later. He strolled over, gave her a meaningful smile, and asked, “How is everything, beautiful?”
She threw her arms around Nick’s neck and kissed him full on the mouth. He happily returned the enthusiastic greeting.
When she stepped away, she slapped Darryl up the backside of his head and said, “See? I told you he was real.”
Darryl rose to his full five-foot-ten height and looked up at Nick…waaaay up. Apparently he