“You certainly do.”
I could bicker with her all day.
Mainly because she’s the one smiling now.
As though being in my presence makes her happy.
And that makes me happy.
“If the terms are settled, then I shall get to work,” I tell her primly. “If the terms are not settled, then we need to settle them so that again, I may get to work.”
“You’re going to cheat, aren’t you?”
“My middle name may bedisappointment, but my attitude is foreverwin at all costs.”
“Okay, Peter.”
I crack a grin at that. “Fine, fine, I only win at all costs when it comes to people who gave medisappointmentas a middle name. Last chance to set any rules, Ms. Best, before Ibestyou.”
“At this point, I’m too curious to see how you plan to cheat to care what other rules I should add.”
“Brilliant.”
I whip my shirt over my head and contemplate if I could get away with stripping out of my shorts as well.
My undergarments would remain on, naturally.
But only because the studio’s publicity team has instilled mortal fear in my soul.
“What are you doing?” Bea gasps.
“Cooling off and attracting more customers.”
“You can’t serve burgers naked.”
“Why not? I’m merely taking orders. You’re the only person touching food. But if you insist, then I’ll wear an apron when we have customers.”
Her gaze keeps darting to my naked torso. “If my food truck gets shut down by the health department?—”
“Then I shall launch a campaign to have you reinstated. Thus far, all of my efforts to help you have been passive at best. Today begins a new strategy. Active endorsement and participation.” I sense a presence, and I turn to find a woman gaping at me from the service window. “Hello, madame. How many burgers would you like today?”
“Are you Peter Jones?” she asks, her gaze also dipping to my torso.
“Only on television. The burgers here are quite tasty. My favorite in the States, in fact. How many for you today?”
“Does it come with an autograph?”
“Certainly, madame.”
“One, please.”
“Only one? There’s no one else in your life who would appreciate the world’s best burger? And I can vouch for the chips—sorry, sorry,fries—as well.”
She bites her lip and stares at my chest, completely oblivious to the way I’m also using my accent against her.
I slide a look at Bea, who’s glaring at the customer, which makes me smile broader.
“Two orders?” I ask the woman. “Or three? Coworkers? Friends who need a good burger?”
