“Lucky for you, since now your kidnapping spree can continue unchecked,” he shot back. “You’re freaking out over nothing, man. What’s the worst that could happen if shedidrecognize you? You autograph something and we leave, easy as.”
“Easy as? No. You have no idea,” I said grimly. “Being the center of attention sounds great until it actually happens.”
“Uh-huh. Well, leave it to me, Jay Don. I’ll take this one for the team.” He grinned and clapped me on the shoulder again as we approached the table. “I’m happy to flirt with Shelly and keep her attention off you. She’s cute.”
I scowled. She was?
Well, at least that answered the question of whether Rafe was seeing anyone else.
“You know, you didn’t use to be so mistrustful. Try to give people the benefit of the doubt,” Rafe said importantly. “Be a little kinder. Not everyone is going to send you unsolicited sexts. People would be much more likely to do what you want if you didn’t act entitled to it.”
My jaw dropped before I set my teeth with a click. Entitled?Ridiculous.I did plenty of nice things for people.Plenty. I donated money to a dozen charities! And Rafe was six and a half feet of hypocrisy, becausehewasn’t trying to givemethe benefit of the doubt, was he?
When we reached the table, Rafe gave Shelly a brilliant smile while I slid into the booth seat. I pretended to be very occupied with my phone to give me an excuse to duck my head… but Shelly didn’t so much as glance in my direction.
Rafe did, though. His laughing eyes caught mine as he slid into the opposite seat, mocking me for my shit attitude, and then he freakin’fluttered his eyelashesat Shelly, clearly enjoying himself hugely. I was glad one of us was.
“Thanks so much, Shelly,” he said.
“Sure thing, handsome.” She flashed Rafe her dimples, whichwereobjectively cute. If you were into that sort of thing. And apparently Rafe was. “Coffee?”
“Oh yeah.”
“And do you know what you’d like to eat? Or would you like to see the menu?” Shelly leaned her hand on the table and cheated her body toward Rafe, which made the question seem incredibly dirty. “I could make some… recommendations?”
I wrinkled my nose. Could she be any more obvious? If this place had those comment cards, I was totes giving Shelly low marks for professionalism, despite her dimples.
“I appreciate the offer,” Rafe said fervently, “but I know exactly what I want. Waffles with blueberry syrup—”
“And crispy bacon,” I singsonged along with him before rolling my eyes. “You reallyhaven’tchanged.”
Rafe’s gaze flicked to me in surprise.
“Still eating inferior breakfast food,” I sighed sadly.
He rolled his eyes.
“I’m so,sosorry, honey, but our waffle maker’s broken!” Shelly appeared horrified by her inability to provide Rafe—and his big broad shoulders—with their breakfast of choice. “We got pancakes, though. And pancakes are even better than waffles.”
Rafe’s gaze swung to me again, and I didn’t even try to un-smug-ify my smile. Shelly had unwittingly parachuted herself into a breakfast food battle that had been raging for nigh unto fifteen years, and she’d joinedmyside.
The side of truth and justice.
“Pancakes aren’t better…” Rafe looked up at her soulfully. “But ifyourecommend them, Shelly, I’m sure they’re wonderful.”
“Blueberry topping, too, honey?” Shelly asked, blushing furiously. “Or maybe apple? Or mix it up with banana or praline? Or—”
“Blueberry sounds great. Thank you.”
“Sure thing. I’ll put that right in for you thissecond.” She scurried away from the table.
“Excuse me?” I called. “Could I order also?”
Rafe snickered.
“Oh. Oops.” Shelly blinked. “Ha! Forgot you were there for a second. What can I getcha?”
“An omelette, please. Spinach and cheese.”
