by Lily Kate
“Me too,” I tell him. I do mean it, too. Not just for the business, either. He seems like a nice human being. “Thanks again for the rescue. I never thanked you properly.”
“Thank God we got there in time, otherwise these guys would’ve killed me.” Cole once again nods toward his firemen friends, then winks at me. “If they learned I hadn’t saved the owner of the best diner in St. Paul, it wouldn’t be pretty.”
“Well, these waffles don’t serve themselves, so can I get you a plate? It’s on me today.”
“No, I insist. You’ve been giving these guys fifty percent off their meals for lunch, I’m paying.”
“I’ll refuse,” I say with a smile. “It’s a token of my thanks. Don’t bother arguing—I’m stubborn. I did survive half an hour trapped in an elevator, after all.”
He laughs. “Can’t argue with that. It’s really great to run into you again, Lexi.”
“Yes, definitely.”
I take the order for the rest of the group, jotting it down on my little notepad. I don’t need to write these things down—orders stick in my memory like glue, but it’s a good way to keep my hands busy and my eyes occupied.
I take a step toward the kitchen, but I’m stopped in my tracks by a hand around my wrist. I freeze, then turn slowly around. “Yes?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you!” Cole withdraws his hand at once, looking embarrassed. “I just meant to ask if I could get extra syrup.”
“Of course!”
Before I can resume my march to the kitchen, heavy thuds of footsteps sound from across the room. Small tremors shake the table next to me, and I lean a hand out to rest against the chair.
I feel him before I see him.
A hand slides around my waist, and the next thing I know Bradley has me dipped halfway to the floor. He’s got me in a tight embrace, clutched to his chest, and his lips are hovering an inch from mine.
“I’m going to kiss you,” he whispers. “Unless you tell me not to.”
I blink. My lips open and close as I search for the right response, but it never comes to me. All I know is that the correct response is definitely not no. Judging by the butterflies in my stomach.
“Is that a yes?” he murmurs.
I give the slightest of nods, and the motion hasn’t even completed before his lips join mine in a soft, almost tender kiss. My eyes close, a hand comes up, and I sink into it.
He reaches round, pulling my head closer, deepening the kiss for a flash. His other hand fists at my shirt, and the sheer need in his touch has me melting for him.
It’s over almost as quickly as it’s begun. Bradley rights me, dusts me off and pats me on the hips before removing his hands from my waist. I wobble once as I take a step, and this makes him grin like an idiot.
I’m still not quite sure what’s happened as I stride back toward the counter.
Sasha’s watching me with raised eyebrows as if she’s not sure whether I’m going to swoon into a faint or turn around and slap the smirk off Bradley’s face.
To be honest, I’m not even sure what I’m going to do next.
“Get over here.” I grab Bradley by the sleeve and pull him out back next to Theo’s old favorite hiding spot in the alley. “What was that all about?”
“What was what all about?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Bradley Hamilton.”
“Brad.”
“Not right now, it isn’t,” I say, my words hissing on the way out. I’m not exactly pissed at him, but I’m not exactly thrilled with him, either. I’m in a very confusing spot, emotionally. “Explain yourself.”
“What’s there to explain? I wanted a kiss.”
“Right then? Right in the same moment a group of guys walked in wearing uniforms?”
“You mean, Superman?”
“So, you do recognize him.” I cross my arms, understanding sinking in. “You thought you’d beat on that manly chest of yours and stake ownership over me?”
“I wasn’t staking ownership,” he says, backtracking. A look that resembles nervousness flushes onto his face. “I was—”
“Please explain, then, because I’m not understanding. It seems a lot like—”
“You can’t interrupt me and also tell me to explain!” He runs a hand through his hair, his chest heaving with quick breaths. “I am trying to explain.”
“Sorry.” I raise my hands and take a step back. “I’ll be quiet.”
We stare at each other across a foot of empty space. It feels strained between us, which is nuts considering just seconds ago I’d been drinking him in, thinking there was nothing in the world I needed more than for his hands to be all over me.
“I’m sorry. Maybe I did a little bit of beating on my chest,” he says. “But Sasha was talking to me about—”
“Sasha put you up to this?!” I interrupt again without realizing it. At his firm gaze, I slap a hand over my mouth. “Sorry, continue.”
“Sasha didn’t put me up to anything. We were just having a pleasant conversation where she politely warned me she’d poison my cookies if I did anything to hurt you.”
“God, I love that girl.”
He grimaces. “Your friends are insane.”
“Just the way I like them. Plus, don’t forget, you once considered yourself my friend. My best one, actually, which makes you extra nuts.”
“That’s the problem.”
“The nuts part?”
“No, the friend part.” He steps toward me, his hands coming to rest on my shoulders.
He has big hands, I realize now, and they make me feel all warm inside when they land on my body. He moves his thumbs, and I shiver. “What’s wrong with the friend part?”
“I don’t want to slip into that zone anymore.” His eyes land on me, hooded, darkening as he watches my every movement. “Sasha mentioned something that got me thinking. Have you been wondering what I thought of you these last few years?”
“Yeah, I was a bit curious.”
He frowns. “I hadn’t realized how selfish I’d been. I was too busy wallowing to think about how I made you feel.”
“You had a reason to wallow.”
“Maybe a little, but I didn’t have a reason to hurt you. I never did, never do, and I hate that I ever made you wonder.”
“Brad, it’s—”
He interrupts me this time with a look. A pleading look. “I saw those guys walk in, and I saw the way they look at you. You’re beautiful and fun and outgoing, and nobody in their right mind wouldn’t want to be with you in some way. Friend, boyfriend, drinking buddy, you name it.”
“I just said hi to them.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong! But I just... I couldn’t have you wondering how I felt anymore.” He lets his arms drop from my shoulders and they find a place in his pockets. “Maybe I overstepped my boundaries, and I’m sorry. Maybe I acted too caveman and brash, and I’m sorry. At the same time, I’m not sorry. Because I don’t want you to wonder how I feel. I like you, Lexi. A lot. Not in a friendly sort of way, either.”
My hands come up to hug myself. I can’t seem to reach for him, yet the space on my body he’d touched moments before seems far too empty. My own arms aren’t helping anything, so I look up in frustration. “Can you please hug me?”
Brad doesn’t need asking twice. He covers me in an embrace that begins on the outside, then winds its way through me. Somehow, in the matter of a month, days even, he’s inching his way right back into my heart.
Except this time, instead of keeping him tucked into the safe friend zone, it’s different. We’re different. I love being friends with Bradley; I am good at it. It’s this next phase that is stone-cold terrifying.
When I lost Brad’s friendship the first time, it was hard enough. If I lose him again—with so much more at stake—this time, it’ll destroy me.
“Don’t push me away again,” I mumble against his chest. “Whatever it is, just don’t do that. I can’t stand when you shut me out.�
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“I promise.”
Gentle fingers pull through the strands of my hair, lulling me into a peaceful spot against his chest. I never want to leave here. I could stay in his arms forever, and I have no doubt it would be perfection.
“For the record, this is my place of work. I’m the boss, you know, and I can’t have you turning into a gorilla every time male customers walk into my diner.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Well, then...” I raise up to my tiptoes and let my arms circle around his neck. “Let me demonstrate how I feel about you.”
Chapter 17
BRADLEY
Two weeks have passed, and I’m back at the diner once again.
Actually, it’s the fourteenth time I’ve been here in thirteen days. Apparently, I’m on a mission to eat my way through the entire menu.
“Blueberry,” Sasha says.
“Chocolate,” Kitty argues.
“Blueberry,” Sasha begins again before I interrupt.
“How about an order of each?” I tell Lexi across the counter. “Please?”
She leans across, kisses me on the cheek. “You’ll have to put in extra time at the gym if you’re going to watch your figure.”
I roll my eyes and lean back. I’ve been putting in so much time at the diner lately I’ll be in no shape to run my current gym, let alone start a new one. However, until Lexi hires another server, she’ll be stuck here for some long nights. Which means if I want to see her, I’m here, too.
Not that I mind—I have good food, good company, and a good view. Watching Lexi work is better than any TV show, and the colorful commentary between Kitty and Sasha only adds to the ambiance.
Not to mention, I’m not exactly thrilled to be spending time at my own gym these last few weeks. As for the split, it’s slow moving. I haven’t heard from Bill or his team, and I’m only centimeters closer to solid proof of Leo sneaking funds from the company.
Thankfully, Lexi hasn’t mentioned any more concerns about her diner selling. Except for struggling to find a new server, all is well at Minnie’s.
“Are you sure I can’t help out more?” I ask as Lexi punches in the order. “I can run food to tables. Just point me in the right direction.”
“Nice try. We always offer,” Sasha says. “You’ll have better luck convincing her to go to the gym.”
“I hate the gym,” Lexi adds with a smile. “No offense. I get my exercise lifting the fork to my mouth.”
“Then you have some fine genes,” I savor the view of her backside as she bends over to grab more mugs for coffee.
“Perv,” Kitty says, her eyes on me. “Eyes on the face, Bradley.”
Lexi stands up too quickly, casts me a flirtatious glance. “What’d I tell you about checking me out at work?”
“I can’t help it.” I raise my hands in surrender. “Sorry.”
The four of us—Lexi, Sasha, Kitty, and myself—have developed a sort of after-work routine that’s become entirely too natural over the last couple weeks. I open at the gym, stay there until four in the afternoon. That’s when Sasha closes up her bakery next door and Kitty wanders over from wherever she’s been spending her time.
We’ll often stay at the diner until nearly midnight. There’s way more laughter than I expected, and the chatter is easy and fun. Plus, there’s Lexi. The best part of my day.
She’s been busy, but it’s not a hardship to spend time with her at the diner instead of at home. If anything, it’s got me an in with her friends, and it’s given me some insights as to what makes her tick.
For example, the bridge club that meets here drives her up the wall because they go through a bottle of syrup per day, but she’ll never charge them extra for it.
The women’s water aerobics squad is like a garden of grandmothers with whom she’s cultivated close relationships over the last three years, and the second the doorbell rings at nine thirty in the morning, a smile appears on her face before she even looks up. Though she won’t admit it to anyone, Barb is her favorite.
Then, there’s the late-night dinner crowd, specifically the family of Italians from next door that brings their own bottle of wine and several chessboards into the restaurant. I’m not even sure that’s entirely legal, but Lexi shoves them in the back and pretends not to notice. I’ve even caught her offering chess advice during lulls in the restaurant business.
All of this is new to me. It’s enthralling, watching her work. When we were growing up, she never had a clear direction planned for her life, unlike me. I’d grown up knowing I’d be a hockey player since my feet touched ice, which felt like moments after I learned to walk.
I’m just glad she’s found what makes her happy. Now it’s my goal to make sure I become a part of that plan, too. Slowly but surely—emphasis on the slowly—I’m making progress.
“Here you are,” Lexi says, dropping the food in front of me. “Don’t you dare eat all of it, or you’ll die of a heart attack by thirty.”
“No promises,” I say, glancing at the plate of waffles soaked in syrup.
As she laughs, carefree, I wonder if tonight will be the night I get another kiss. A real kiss. I’ve taken to escorting her home every night, which typically ends with a chaste smooch outside of her apartment door as we both struggle not to take things further.
Well, I struggle, mostly. She seems to have no problem saying goodnight and shutting the door to her own apartment. Still, a guy needs to keep the hope alive.
“I think you guys should do a swap,” Sasha says, eyeing the food. “It’s not fair Lexi is making Brad fat.”
“I’m getting fat?” I look down in concern.
“No,” Sasha sighs. “I wish. Your metabolism is something most women would kill for. Maybe that’s why the two of you are made for each other.”
“Also, he spends half his day at the gym,” Kitty says. “I’m sure that doesn’t hurt.”
“I own the place. I have to work out there. Otherwise, what sort of example am I setting?”
“Back to this idea of the swap,” Sasha says. “Since Bradley is eating his way through your menu, Lex, you should do him the courtesy of visiting his gym.”
Lexi scrunches her nose. “I don’t like gyms.”
“I don’t like...” I pause, grab a menu off the counter. “Oatmeal, but I’m going to try it.”
“Why would you try oatmeal if you don’t like it?”
“Because it’s important to you,” I say, punctuating this with a finger poke to the menu. “And I care about you.”
“That doesn’t equate to me working out.”
“Come see the gym,” I say. “Maybe you’ll like it?”
“You really do need some time away from this place,” Kitty says. “The smell of syrup is going to drive you nuts.”
“I like the smell of sugar,” Lexi says.
“I like eating donuts,” Sasha adds. “But if I eat too much of them my butt will turn into Jupiter.”
Kitty rolls her eyes. “Your butt is Pluto at best.”
Sasha smacks her. “We’re not all as endowed as you.”
Kitty looks down and shrugs her shoulders. Her curves are just the right size, and she knows it. “Luck of the draw.”
“What do you say?” I face Lexi. “I challenge you.”
“Challenge me to what?” Her eyes narrow.
Obviously, her competitiveness has not lessened over the last few years. “I’ll try everything on your menu, if you work out at the gym with me.”
“How often?”
“Three days a week.”
Her fists crumple around the menu as she shoots daggers at both of her friends. “Who’s going to cover the restaurant when I’m gone?”
“First thing in the morning,” I tell her. “Rick opens Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and it’s never busy.”
She can’t argue with my logic. “Fine.”
“Fine?” I raise my eyebrows. “Really?”
“Do I have a choice? I am not b
acking down from a challenge.”
“Well, then, I will see you on Friday.”
“I will not be happy about it,” Lexi says. “And I will not be looking good at six a.m. on a Friday morning. I will probably look like a thug, actually, and I will have the temper of a dragon. There’s your warning.”
“If you think that’s going to scare me off,” I tell her, leaning across the counter. “Think again.”
“Eat your damn waffles.”
I tuck into my waffles, a smile on my face as Sasha and Kitty pretend they’re not listening to the conversation and whisper amongst themselves.
It’s not that I think Lexi needs to work out. She runs around all day at the diner and probably burns more calories than me. She’s tiny. My arm is the size of her leg.
But I won’t pass up the opportunity to spend more time with her, especially some one-on-one time. It’s nice sitting with Sasha and Kitty and all, but it’s not the romantic vibe I’ve been striving to achieve.
And if she wears spandex and a sports bra to the gym?
I won’t complain.
Chapter 18
BRADLEY
“Hey, Bill,” I say into the phone as I wait for Lexi outside of the diner. She’s finishing her closing duties, and I ducked out a few minutes earlier to make a quick call. “How’s it going?”
“Good, good, fine,” he says. “Sorry about the delay, I’ve had a few things come up.”
“No problem. I was just curious since I hadn’t heard from you for a few weeks. We’re all good after last time, right?”
“The diner place? Yeah, it’s all good. I’m still looking for something else for you.”
“Okay, great.” I don’t do a great job sounding convincing, however, because I checked around on some real estate websites last night, and I spotted at least two or three properties that would be perfect. In my budget, great location, available immediately.
“Sorry, man, I’ve been busy with a big deal,” Bill says again. “I’ll call you as soon as something crops up.”
“Great. Thanks again.” I hesitate. “Say, if you’re not interested, or if you’re too busy, we can always part ways. No hard feelings.”