I laugh watching her go, shaking my head. Gotta love this team. All full of characters.
“Hey! I didn’t know you were in today.” Claire’s voice cheerfully sings as she glides over to me.
“I’m not. Just checking in. Elijah’s meeting me in a few for dinner.” I smile, looking over the reservations on the hostess computer.
“Yay, I’m excited to see him.” Claire smiles, bouncing on her toes.
I grin, still feeling the aftermath of our morning in bed together. “Yeah, me too.” Damn, I miss him already and I haven’t been away from him for even an hour yet. He has such a way about him. It’s addicting.
“Woah, you okay?” She narrows her eyes, zoning into my eyebrow. Reaching up, she presses the sore spot where I have my cut. Thankfully, Elijah cleaned it out in the shower and protected it with a couple little white bandage strips but it still stings. Maybe I should’vegone to the hospital to get it glued…but then I’d have toexplainwhat happened.
And that…that I just can’t do.
“Ah, yeah. Just had a little accident.” I smile kindly, patting her hand.
My eye snags over her shoulder on Gabe at the bar. He’s shining a glass as per usual, but this time, instead of a happy-go-lucky smile on his face that he typically wears, his face is drawn-in, stern and vacant. The worst part is that his cold stare is pinned directly on that biker guest that was here the other night. The big, tattooed dude with the blonde, pinned back hair.
“Woah. Is Gabe okay?” I ask, tilting my chin in his direction.
Claire flicks her head over her shoulder, following my gaze. “Uh, I think so? That guy has been coming in every day since Gabe started working here. I think they know each other.” She explains, giving me a tense face.
My eyebrow arches. Is this guy bad news? We’ve had enough problems in the past with unwanted guests.
“Let me check it out,” I say, moving to the bar.
As I start to make my way over, I see the guy dusting off his hands before standing and slinging his leather jacket over his shoulder. He strides past me casually, not even sparing Gabe a glance, as he heads for the exit.
No word. No goodbye to Gabe. Nothing.
"Whoa… what’s that dude’s problem?” I huff, watching him walk out the door.
Gabe shakes his head, hurriedly removing the plate from the bar. “Nothing. He’s fine. Just doesn’t talk much.”
I look down to spot what he had for lunch. Only, I don’t see a bill. “Did he just dine and dash?”
“I’ve got it.” Gabe bites out.
I raise my eyebrows. What the hell? Gabe never talks to me like that.
“Shit, sorry,” Gabe’s shoulders relax. Scratching his eyebrow he looks at me apologetically. “He’s uh…we grew up together. Foster family shit. It’s complicated.” He shrugs.
Holy shit. Foster family?
I guess Gabe’s been through a lot.
“If anyone understands complicated, it’s Elijah and I.” I nod firmly. “You can talk to me if you need to.”
Gabe smiles softly, nodding his head.
Suddenly, his eyes dart behind me. “Oh, speak of the devil.”
I turn my head to the door. My heart jumps just seeing him casually stride in. “That’s no devil.” I smile.
He seems to move in slow motion, gliding in with his hands in his pockets, nodding and greeting everyone as they walk by.
His eyes catch on mine and I can’t help but beam.
He’s here for me.
