The Promise of Paradise - By Allie Boniface Page 0,15

guy with red cheeks and bloodshot eyes, and two friends who looked in about the same condition. All three wore plaid shirts with the sleeves rolled up and expensive-looking watches. They aren’t locals. They’d probably stopped in Paradise on business or signed up for a two-day seminar at the junior college.

“I’ll see you later.” Ash raised the tray above her head, winding her way through tables until she got to the three idiots.

He watched her go, backing toward the bathroom after a minute, though what he really wanted to do was stay and make sure those guys treated her okay. He didn’t like the way they were looking at Ash, with grins splitting their faces apart and winks behind her back. As he watched, biting back a comment, they made her get them fresh napkins, fresh drinks, and extra plates before one of them finally ran a hand down her bare arm and let her go.

* * *

“So who’s the guy?”

Ash looked up from the salads she was making. Lacey, the other waitress, stood with one hand on the coffee pot.

“What guy?”

The twenty-year old college student clicked her tongue. “C’mon. The one who just ran you over in the dining room. The one who was talking to you.” She filled two mugs and headed for the door. “He’s cute. Is he your boyfriend?”

“God, no. Just my housemate.” Ash crooked her neck, trying to work out a kink. Thank goodness she was only working until eight. Already she’d had enough of drunken customers hitting on her to last through the summer.

“Cool. So is he available?”

Ash watched the young girl’s eyes light up. She had to admit Eddie looked good in his polo shirt and shorts. Who wouldn’t fall for those dimples, the hard body, that sensual voice? She straightened. Not her, that was for sure. It didn’t matter how good Eddie West looked. She wasn’t about to get involved with someone who lived downstairs from her. She’d learned that lesson in her first year of college.

“Ash?” Lacey stood in the doorway, waiting. “Do you know if he has a girlfriend?”

“Um… I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

“What’s his name?”

“Eddie West.”

Lacey’s brows flew up. “That’s Eddie West? Geez, one of my roommates was talking about him the other day. Said she took her car in to get fixed and this gorgeous guy spent the afternoon hitting on her. Said she’d go out with him, too, if he ever called.”

Ash laughed. “Did he?”

“No. I guess he’s like that. You know, a player.”

Ash swallowed. “Yeah? Could be. I really don’t know him. I mean, we both just moved in…”

Lacey bumped the door open with one hip. “Well, I don’t care. Guy looks like that, he can play with me all he wants.” She laughed, a little chirp that hit Ash the wrong way.

Ash watched the door swing closed and returned to her salads. See? That’s one more reason you need to make sure you and Eddie stay just friends. He’s already got a reputation a mile long. And if he’s looking at you like…well, like he wants something more, remember that’s what he does with any woman he meets.

She took another couple of minutes, hoping Eddie had made it back to the bar, before she headed into the dining room.

“Hey, sweetheart!”

Ash stiffened. When were those guys going to leave? Did they have any idea who she was? Who her father was? She pressed her lips together and turned around.

“Can I get you something else?”

One of them, the heaviest, ran his tongue over his bottom lip. “Sure can.”

How about the check? she almost said as she made her way over to their table.

Before she could stop him, the guy wrapped one arm around her waist and yanked her into him. “How about you give me your phone number, good-lookin’?”

Ash’s hipbone pressed into the spongy flesh of his belly as she tried to pull away. “Um, listen…”

“C’mon. Sweet little thing like you probably tastes even better than she looks.” The other two guys at the table guffawed. “What time do you get off?”

Ash shoved a palm against his shoulder. “Let go of me.”

But he wouldn’t. “What’s wrong? You got a boyfriend or something?”

“No, but – ”

“Take your hands off her.”

The voice, low and angry, came from behind her. Startled, the guy unwrapped himself from her waist, and she almost fell into Eddie in her rush to get away. He put one hand on her shoulder, and her legs turned wobbly with relief.

“You okay?” he breathed into