“Understandable. This world can be very cruel.” He paused. “You said your birthday was the other day?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you do anything to celebrate?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I was too busy working.”
“That’s unacceptable. You turn eighteen only once.”
“It’s not a big deal. Honest.”
He frowned. “It is a big deal. Listen, why don’t we celebrate? I don’t know about you, but I could go for some cake.”
I grinned. “Well, the place I work at has awesome chocolate cake.”
“Then, it’s settled.” He pushed the stop button on his treadmill. “Go take a shower, and then meet me by the front door. We’ll go have cake.”
If his smile hadn’t been so genuine, I would’ve said no. I knew next to nothing about this man, but he seemed so sincere. Besides, it would be nice to pretend that I had a friend, even for one night.
“All right.” I stopped my treadmill as well.
“I’ll see you in a few.” He walked toward the locker rooms.
Once he disappeared inside the men’s room, I turned and hurried up to Bob’s office. I didn’t bother with showering since I hadn’t even broken a sweat on the treadmills. I dug through my clothes until I found a pair of jeans that didn’t have holes. I took off my gym clothes and then pulled on my jeans and a plain blue T-shirt. I ran a brush through my hair and then headed back downstairs in record time. I didn’t want him to see me coming out of Bob’s office. Robert would ask questions that I didn’t want to answer.
I waited by the front doors for a few minutes before Robert finally emerged from the men’s locker room. My mouth dropped open in shock as I stared at him. He’d looked wonderful in his gym shorts and a plain T-shirt, but he was out of this world in the business suit he was now wearing. I couldn’t imagine wearing a suit after going to the gym, but it must have been the norm for him. I looked down at my faded jeans and T-shirt, and I suddenly felt plain and poor. I had no doubt that his suit cost more than I could make in a month at the diner.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“Yeah. The diner is nearby, so we can just walk.”
He nodded as he held the door open for me.
The walk to the diner was quiet. Neither of us said much as we made our way down the almost empty street. It was after ten at night, and most places—with the exception of the diner and the gym—were closed already. When we reached the diner, I was hit with nerves so suddenly that I clutched my stomach. Robert was nice, but I was afraid that he’d look down on me for where I worked. The diner itself was nice, but we both knew that waitresses didn’t usually make that much. It was common knowledge that most waitresses were flat broke.
“Are you okay?” His brow furrowed with concern.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I opened the door and walked inside.
Sarah and Stacey were working tonight. I waved at both of them as I led Robert to a table. Sarah approached, her eyes wide as she took in Robert. I looked away from Sarah and Stacey to keep from grinning. I knew what they must have been thinking.
“Hey, Claire. I didn’t expect to see you here,” Sarah said when she finally reached our table.
I smiled. “I was hoping we could get a couple pieces of the chocolate cake before you closed.”
“Definitely.” She looked between Robert and me. “Do you want anything else?”
“Can I have a glass of water as well?” Robert asked.
“Certainly. You want a Coke, Claire?” Sarah asked.
“Yes, please.”
“Great. I’ll be back in just a second.” She turned and left, leaving me alone with Robert.
I studied the red-and-white checker tablecloth as I tried to think of something to say. I doubted if Robert was used to eating in a place like this. He probably always went to five-star restaurants.
“I like this place. It’s cute,” he said, breaking the silence.
I looked up to see him watching me. “Yeah, it’s a nice place to work. Everyone is really great to me here, especially my boss, Bob.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“Um…for a while. I just went full-time a couple of weeks ago after I graduated.”
“I couldn’t imagine working with the public face-to-face. I have a hard enough time dealing with the people I’m forced to see in court.”
I laughed. “What? You’re not a people person? That surprises me. You didn’t have any trouble talking to me.”
He grinned. “Well, you didn’t seem too bad when I saw you standing there looking lost. Plus, you’re a lot prettier than most of the judges and lawyers I have to deal with.”
I blushed. “Well, thanks, I think.”
He continued to watch me, causing my blush to creep down to my neck. I almost kissed Sarah when she arrived with our drinks and pieces of cake, drawing his attention away from me to her.
“Here you go. If you guys need anything, let me know,” Sarah said.
When Robert looked away, she questioningly raised an eyebrow at me. I shook my head, hoping that she’d take the hint and not say anything. She grinned at me before walking away.
“Sorry that you don’t have a candle on yours,” Robert said.
“It’s okay. Thank you for doing this for me.”
“No thanks needed. Now, eat your cake.”
I picked up my fork and attacked the cake in front of me. I almost moaned as the chocolate hit my tongue. No matter how long I lived, no one’s cake could compare to Bob’s. It was a secret recipe of his mother’s, and I’d offered my right arm more than once in exchange for the recipe.
“Holy crap. This is so good,” I said.
I looked up to see Robert watching me with a grin on his face.
“I can tell just by the look on your face,” he said.
“Try it.” I motioned to the piece in front of him. I watched as he took a bite. I almost laughed at the expression on his face. “Told you.”
“You weren’t kidding. Wow.”
We sat together and chatted about unimportant things until it was time for the diner to close. I tried to pay for my cake, but he refused to let me.
“It’s your birthday present from me.”
“Thank you,” I said, touched by his kindness.
Once our bill was paid, I said good night to the girls and walked with Robert back to the gym. We stopped outside.
“Do you need a ride home?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, I live nearby. Thank you for tonight though. It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone as nice as you.”
“It was a pleasure spending the evening with you, Claire. Hopefully, we’ll meet again.”
I was shocked when he took my hand and pressed his lips to it.
“Um…yeah. Sure.”
I waited until he left to walk back into the gym. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. Today had been a welcome surprise. After years of dealing with mostly cruel foster parents, it was good to see that some kind souls were still around.
I took a quick shower before settling down on Bob’s couch. I fell asleep with a smile on my face for the first time in a long time.
The following week was uneventful.
I’d spent my only day off lounging on Bob’s couch, watching television and eating noodles out of a cup. The rest of the week, I’d spent mostly at work. I had managed to make it to the DMV to get my car legalized. It had taken me three trips to bring everything I needed, and by the time I’d finally left the office, I had been ready to pull my hair out. I wished unspeakable pain on the three DMV workers I’d dealt with for putting me through so much crap just to get my car street legal.
I’d also opened up a bank account. The pride I’d felt when they handed me my paperwork was indescribable. My account barely had over a hundred dollars, but it was a start. I’d been saving up every penny I could, so I would be able to make another deposit when I got paid.
No one at the gym
had seemed to notice that I was staying in Bob’s office, except for Sam. She would check in on me from time to time just to make sure that I was doing okay. Occasionally, I’d walk to the front desk when she was working. I enjoyed chatting with her, and I would look forward to it on the days she worked. Bob had stopped in a couple of times to do paperwork, but he hadn’t stayed too long. I’d almost laughed when he told me that he didn’t want to intrude. After all, it was his office.
Work had been hectic, but I’d considered it a blessing. The busier we were, the more tips I would make. Sarah had asked me endless questions about Robert, but I’d brushed them aside. She’d assumed that I was on a date. The thought itself had made me laugh.
Robert and I were on two different social levels. Also, his age was a good indication that he had just been nice to me. Men like him wouldn’t look at me that way. After learning that I worked as a waitress, he’d probably felt sorry for me. That was why he’d paid for my birthday cake. He’d pitied me. The thought had bothered me, but I’d pushed it away. If he had known I was living in a gym, he probably never would have spoken to me to begin with.
By the end of the week, I’d convinced myself that Robert had only paid attention to me because he felt sorry for me. So, when he walked into the diner that evening, I nearly fell over in shock. He searched the room until he found me. I stood frozen as he bypassed Junie and headed straight for me.
“Claire, we meet again,” he said as he stopped in front of me.
“Robert, what a surprise.” I pulled myself from my stupor. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I met this waitress the other day, and she spoke highly of this place. I thought I’d stop by and have dinner.”
Shocked by his answer, I tried to think of something to say. “Oh…well, I’m glad you stopped in.” I gestured to where my tables were. “Why don’t you have a seat over there? I’ll bring you a menu.”
“Perfect.” He turned and walked over to one of my tables.
I hurried to the front and picked up a menu from the pile.
Junie grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “Is that the guy Sarah was giving you a hard time about?”
“Yeah. His name is Robert. I met him at Bob’s gym.”
She studied him carefully, a frown forming on her face. “Be careful, Claire. He’s a lot older than you.”
I laughed. “He’s not proposing marriage, Junie. Don’t worry about me.”
Her frown only deepened. “I don’t care. Men like that are after one thing, and you’re a pretty young girl. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
It was my turn to frown. “Seriously, Junie, chill out. Nothing’s going on.”
She nodded as she said, “For your sake, I hope not.” With that, she turned and headed toward her tables.
I forced the frown off my face as I walked over to Robert’s table. “Here you go.” I laid the menu in front of him and pulled out my pen and pad of paper I used to take orders. “Would you like something to drink?”
“I’ll have a water.”
“Great. I’ll be right back.” I hurried away to grab his water.
When I returned, he was still staring at his menu.
“Are you ready to order? Or do you need more time?”
“I can’t decide what I want. What do you suggest?”
“Well, the chicken and dumplings are really good.”
“Then, that’s what I’ll have.” He closed his menu and handed it back to me.
“Perfect. I’ll bring it out to you in just a few.”
After I placed his order, I checked on my other tables. We had an hour until closing, and I only had three other tables to wait on. I took my time with each, making sure they had everything they needed. I knew I was avoiding Robert, but I couldn’t help it. I never expected to see him again. Plus, Junie’s concern was nagging at me, causing me to feel unsure of myself.
When our cook, John, rang the bell to let me know that Robert’s order was ready, I forced myself to grow a backbone. I grabbed his food and carried it over to his table, determined not to let my uncertainty become a problem. He was a customer just like everyone else who walked through the front door.
“Everything look good? Do you need more water?” I asked, trying not to fidget as I stood next to him.
“It looks perfect, and I don’t need anything at the moment.” He smiled. “Unless you’d like to sit down with me while I eat.”
I glanced around at my other tables. “I really can’t. I’m on the clock.”
He looked over his shoulder at the tables. “I think everyone is okay right now. Why don’t you take a break?”
I bit my lip as I debated on what to do. My other tables were okay for the moment, and I doubted that Bob would care if I took a tiny break.
“All right, but just for a minute.” I pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.
“So, how have you been?” He began to eat.
“Um…good. You?”
“Busy. I have two tough cases that I’m working on at once. I planned to stop by to visit you earlier in the week, but I’ve been swamped.”
“Oh,” I said, unsure of how to reply.
Something about this man made me feel like an idiotic fourteen-year-old. Maybe it was our age difference, or maybe it was the way he carried himself. He commanded the attention of everyone in the room. I, on the other hand, tried to hide from people in general.
“Relax, Claire. I’m not going to bite you.” He smiled at me from across the table.
“Sorry. I guess I’m just surprised that you stopped by.”
“What can I say? You left quite an impression on me the other night. I’ve been thinking about you a lot this past week.”
I raised an eyebrow in surprise, but I said nothing.
“So, tell me what you’ve been up to since I last saw you.”
“Not much really. I’ve been working a lot, trying to save up as much money as I can. I even went to the bank and opened an account.” I regretted the words as soon as they’d left my mouth. I didn’t want him to feel sorry for me because I didn’t have money. Telling him that I’d opened my first bank account was stupid, too. I suddenly felt like a child.
“That’s wonderful. I’m sure you’re still getting used to being on your own. Saving money and putting it into an account is smart. When I turned eighteen, my father opened a bank account and put in five thousand dollars to get me started. That was the only money he gave me. He expected me to survive on my own while I was in college. I hated it at the time, but I understand why he did it. If people are given the easy way in life, that’s what they’ll always expect. Those who fight for everything they have respect it more.”
I agreed with him. I’d survived with almost no help at all for most of my life. It’d changed me and made me realize how important it was to save every dime.
I tried to picture the man before me as an eighteen-year-old college student, but I couldn’t. “What were you like when you were in college?”
He laughed. “I was a cocky little shit. I thought the world owed me everything, especially after the way my father had abandoned me financially. I also liked to party, which got me in trouble a time or two. It took me a few years to pull my head out of my ass and focus on what was important at the time—school. Once I did, I never looked back. I graduated and then moved on to law school.”
“I can’t picture you like that – in college and partying.” I studied him.
He seemed so put together, not like someone who had been a rebellious teenager.
“I’ve changed a lot over the years. Time does that to a person.”
“I guess so. I’ve never really been the partying type. I was too busy looking after the younger kids in my foster homes.”
“Growing up in foster care is different from a normal family situation. You’re an old soul, Claire. I think that’s why I’m so drawn to you.”
“You mean it’s not because of my wonderful personality?” I joked.
<
br /> “Well, it’s that, too.” He hesitated for a moment. “Claire, I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me one evening. I’d love to take you to my favorite restaurant in town.”
I had no idea what to say. While I liked Robert and definitely found him attractive, we were two different people. I wasn’t in his social class, not even close. Plus, he was so much older than me. A few years wouldn’t have been an issue, but he was twenty-four years older. Hell, he was old enough to be my father.
My eyes widened in surprise. “Um…I don’t know. I barely know you.”
“I think dinner would be the perfect way to get to know each other. If you’re uncomfortable with the thought of it being a date, it doesn’t have to be.”
“I don’t really date. I don’t have time,” I said, still stalling.
His lips twitched. “Neither do I, but I’ll make an exception for you, Claire. Something about you pulls me in. You’re the first woman I’ve even noticed since my wife passed away.”
I instantly felt guilty. The poor man had lost the love of his life. I couldn’t imagine the pain he’d gone through after her death.
“I really don’t have anything to wear.”
I thought about the contents of my suitcase back at the gym. I had no idea where Robert would want to take me, but I doubted waitress uniforms and jeans with holes in the knees would be the standard dress code.
“I’ll take care of that as well.”
“You don’t have to buy me clothes, Robert. I’m no one’s charity case.”
He frowned. “I don’t think of you as charity, Claire. It’s quite the opposite actually. I have a feeling that having you around will help me immensely.”
“How do you figure that?”
“I could use a friend,” he said simply.
I bit my lip as I debated on what to do. “All right, I’ll have dinner with you.”
The smile he gave me was worth taking the chance. I couldn’t help but grin when I saw his expression turning from worried to relieved in just a few seconds.
“Excellent. Do you work tomorrow evening?”
Deception Page 3