Baltimore?”
Natalie shook her head. “No, I live in Palm Springs. I’m a friend of the Collins family and just helping out with the lunch rush today. I’m actually a photographer.”
The woman seemed delighted by this new information. “A photographer! Oh, what a wonderful job. Are you one of those National Geographic photographers who travel all over the world taking pictures of nature and naked tribal women?”
Natalie laughed at the woman’s question, though she could see it was a serious one.
“I wish. I just run a regular old studio. Wedding photos and stuff like that.”
“Nat, you’ve got an order up.” Ewan passed her with a large tray of food. “Riley wanted me to let you know.”
“I’ll be right back with your dessert menu,” she said to the customer.
The older woman waved at her and smiled. “Take your time.”
57
Mari Carr
She passed Ewan, admiring his muscular arms as he wielded the tray loaded with food with ease. She wondered how he could do this job day in and day out. As she grabbed the dessert menu, she watched him place the food in front of the customers—
all of whom he seemed to know by name. He made a couple jokes as he gave them their food. It was clear he was a natural with people, but more than that, he really enjoyed talking to them, getting to know them. He’d stopped at every table since the restaurant opened—regardless of how of busy they were—and spoken a few words to each customer. Whether they were regulars or tourists, he found a way to make them all feel welcome.
Then she considered the way he’d treated her since day one. Friendly, open, kind.
In Ewan’s world, there were no strangers, just friends waiting to be made.
“Nat?” Ewan walked up next to her and she realized he’d caught her lollygagging.
“You okay? Need a break?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. You’re really good at this.”
“At what?”
“Running this restaurant. Being nice to people.”
He laughed. “Being nice isn’t exactly a hard thing, babydoll.”
“Maybe not for you. I’ve been this close,” she held up her thumb and forefinger, “to crushing some of these idiots with my bare hands.”
“Well, we’ve got about an hour before it tapers off for the afternoon. What do you say we meet in my office at two? You can decompress to me all you want.”
“I’m warning you now. You’re gonna get an earful.”
He gave her a peck on the cheek. “I’m really proud of you, Nat. You may not want to know this, but you’re actually sort of a natural at waitressing.”
“Bite. Your. Tongue.” With that, she walked away before he could see the secret grin his compliment had provoked.
58
Friday I’m in Love
* * * * *
An hour later, Ewan gestured to her with a quick jerk of his head and she followed him into this office. It was down a small hallway from the main dining room and across from the kitchen. She could hear the muffled clanging of dishes through the walls even after Ewan shut the door. She turned to face him and fought down the sudden dampness lining her panties as she watched him lock the door.
“Hit me with your best shot,” he said as he crossed the room toward her. He didn’t stop until he had her backed up against his desk.
“That loud-mouth woman with the little brat needs classes in parenting.”
“Agreed.” Then he startled her with a long, deep kiss.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, falling easily into his warm embrace. How did he manage to capture her interest with affection? She wasn’t a kisser, a hugger, a cuddler. She’d never craved these things before Ewan. Now she wanted them more than a cold beer on a hot summer day.
He broke off the kiss, lightly rubbing his nose against hers. “Anything else?”
“That obnoxious asshole who bitched about the lack of bread should have been thanking me. More bread was the last thing he needed.”
“Agreed.” Ewan repeated the line and the kiss and she decided she liked the
Natalie shook her head. “No, I live in Palm Springs. I’m a friend of the Collins family and just helping out with the lunch rush today. I’m actually a photographer.”
The woman seemed delighted by this new information. “A photographer! Oh, what a wonderful job. Are you one of those National Geographic photographers who travel all over the world taking pictures of nature and naked tribal women?”
Natalie laughed at the woman’s question, though she could see it was a serious one.
“I wish. I just run a regular old studio. Wedding photos and stuff like that.”
“Nat, you’ve got an order up.” Ewan passed her with a large tray of food. “Riley wanted me to let you know.”
“I’ll be right back with your dessert menu,” she said to the customer.
The older woman waved at her and smiled. “Take your time.”
57
Mari Carr
She passed Ewan, admiring his muscular arms as he wielded the tray loaded with food with ease. She wondered how he could do this job day in and day out. As she grabbed the dessert menu, she watched him place the food in front of the customers—
all of whom he seemed to know by name. He made a couple jokes as he gave them their food. It was clear he was a natural with people, but more than that, he really enjoyed talking to them, getting to know them. He’d stopped at every table since the restaurant opened—regardless of how of busy they were—and spoken a few words to each customer. Whether they were regulars or tourists, he found a way to make them all feel welcome.
Then she considered the way he’d treated her since day one. Friendly, open, kind.
In Ewan’s world, there were no strangers, just friends waiting to be made.
“Nat?” Ewan walked up next to her and she realized he’d caught her lollygagging.
“You okay? Need a break?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. You’re really good at this.”
“At what?”
“Running this restaurant. Being nice to people.”
He laughed. “Being nice isn’t exactly a hard thing, babydoll.”
“Maybe not for you. I’ve been this close,” she held up her thumb and forefinger, “to crushing some of these idiots with my bare hands.”
“Well, we’ve got about an hour before it tapers off for the afternoon. What do you say we meet in my office at two? You can decompress to me all you want.”
“I’m warning you now. You’re gonna get an earful.”
He gave her a peck on the cheek. “I’m really proud of you, Nat. You may not want to know this, but you’re actually sort of a natural at waitressing.”
“Bite. Your. Tongue.” With that, she walked away before he could see the secret grin his compliment had provoked.
58
Friday I’m in Love
* * * * *
An hour later, Ewan gestured to her with a quick jerk of his head and she followed him into this office. It was down a small hallway from the main dining room and across from the kitchen. She could hear the muffled clanging of dishes through the walls even after Ewan shut the door. She turned to face him and fought down the sudden dampness lining her panties as she watched him lock the door.
“Hit me with your best shot,” he said as he crossed the room toward her. He didn’t stop until he had her backed up against his desk.
“That loud-mouth woman with the little brat needs classes in parenting.”
“Agreed.” Then he startled her with a long, deep kiss.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, falling easily into his warm embrace. How did he manage to capture her interest with affection? She wasn’t a kisser, a hugger, a cuddler. She’d never craved these things before Ewan. Now she wanted them more than a cold beer on a hot summer day.
He broke off the kiss, lightly rubbing his nose against hers. “Anything else?”
“That obnoxious asshole who bitched about the lack of bread should have been thanking me. More bread was the last thing he needed.”
“Agreed.” Ewan repeated the line and the kiss and she decided she liked the
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