She finished the cosmo in one gulp.
“Anita?”
She fixed her gaze on him, although it took a little while for him to stay still. Coffee would be nice. And Dylan would help her forget about Tanner, wouldn’t he?
Just say yes.
Chapter9
Tanner’s jaw clenched as he washed the dishes, acutely aware that Anita and Dylan were flirting with each other at the bar. Harper had told him to take five, and he had meant to. He’d even headed to the back kitchen door to get some fresh air, only to stop when he saw Dylan pour Anita a drink. His mood had slid downhill from there.
He was also kicking himself about their conversation in the pantry. He’d been so close to kissing her, and he would have—until she said his name, bringing him back to reality and reminding him about the true nature of their relationship. They were coworkers. The end.
Then he’d said she was dumb, and even though he’d been referring to her choice of work clothing, the damage had been done. He knew how sensitive she was about her learning disabilities. How she’d been teased through school, and how that affected her self-confidence. Worse, his insensitivityhad come out because he was trying to cover up the fact he’d been teetering on crossing the line with her.
More than anything he wanted to go over there and find out what was going on between the two of them. No, what he really wanted was to whisk her away from that bartender.
Something he didn’t have the right to do.
He grabbed a sponge from the sink and scrubbed the tray until his forearm hurt.
Harper walked into the kitchen. “I thought I told you to take a break.” She reached over and turned off the water. “Don’t worry about the dishes. The company will pick them up tomorrow. They don’t have to be clean.”
“I don’t need a break.” He turned the water back on. When she shut it off again, he looked at her. “Don’t you have guests to attend to?”
“There’s only two left, and they’re relaxing in the four-season room.” She frowned. “I don’t know why you’re being so snippy. Everyone raved about the food tonight. You really have talent.”
She didn’t have to tell him that everyone enjoyed the food. Five of the guests had asked for his card, and one had said she was going to call him next week and book him for her twins’ high school graduation. He should be ecstatic about the new business contacts, but all he could think about was Anita with Mr.Perfect.
Powerless to stop himself, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Anita pounding back a full drink. Was that the same one, or was she already on her next?
Harper handed him a dish towel. “Just go over there andtalk to her already.” She leaned closer to him. “You know you want to.”
He didn’t look at her as he dried one of the trays. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re jealous of her and Dylan.”
“Anita can talk to any guy she wants to.”
“Does that go for dating too?”
The tray slipped out of his hands and clattered to the floor.
Harper leaned down and picked it up. “You two are going to drive me nuts.” She handed him the tray and left.
Tanner turned on the tap and finished washing and drying the trays. After stacking them, he walked over to the table, intending to put away what little food was left. Then he saw Anita swaying against the bar and Dylan putting his hand on her shoulder to steady her.
Without hesitating, he hurried to Anita to see if she was okay. When he got to her, Dylan was still touching her shoulder, even though she’d stopped swaying.
“No more cosmos for you,” Dylan said. He looked at Tanner and jerked his hand back.
“Don’t be a party pooper,” she half slurred, flipping her gaze up at him. “Wow, two Dylans.”
Obviously, she was drunk. Not plastered, but silly drunk, and that wasn’t much better. “Anita—”
“I hate these shoes.” She spun around and kicked one off—hitting Tanner square in the chest.
“Oops!” She put her hand over her mouth and laughed.
