“Yeah, very much so,” I tell him.
“I’m not bothering her,” Bradley says, forcing his way into the kitchen behind us.
“Whoa, sir, I’m going to need you to step out into the dining area. I’ll be happy to help you in just a moment.”
“No, no, I need to talk to her for a quick minute, please.”
Noah stands in front of me, shielding me from Bradley. I realize I could come right out with the fact that he’s talking to my brother, but I think it’s incredibly sweet of Noah to stand up for me the way he is. Bradley does the idiot thing and reaches around Noah to get closer to me. “Back off man, or I’ll call the police,” Noah says.
“I just want to have a word with my sister.”
“Your sister?” Noah questions.
“Yes, Ashley Spencer is my sister.”
“You’re Bradley Spencer?” Noah continues.
“Yeah, nice to meet you. By the way, I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to be falling for my sister now, right?”
Noah twists his head around to look at me, probably taking in the look on my face, which is frustration. “You want to talk to him?”
“No,” I tell Noah, “but if it’s the only way to get him to leave calmly, I will.”
“Ash, cut the shit. I’m not going to hurt you or make a scene.”
“I don’t know what you’re capable of after dropping me into this situation as you did.”
“That was kind of shitty, man,” Noah adds in.
“I had no choice,” Bradley continues.
“By the way, I can be attracted to and fall for whoever I want. I’m entitled to my feelings, but thanks for the warning,” Noah says, stepping to the side so Bradley can speak freely to me.
I’m focused on what Noah said though because I knew he found me attractive, but hearing that he’s falling for me, feels different. It feels good.
“Listen to me. I just need to you hang around a little while longer,” Bradley says. “We moved the wedding up, and we’re getting married on July 4th, here. Mom and Dad are flying in, and so are Katarina’s parents. If you can just do me a favor and stay here until then, I will forever be in your debt.”
I feel nothing. I wouldn’t feel bad telling him to go jump in a lake. I wouldn’t feel bad telling him flat-out no. Noah turns around, putting his back to Bradley. “Stay a little longer. I’m not ready to let you go,” he says, running his thumb down the side of my cheek.
Bradley clears his throat. “You don’t care about the prize money, huh?” he asks.
“Yes, he does,” I answer for Noah. “Mind your own business and go back to your fake fiancée. Gee, doesn’t that sound like its own reality TV show.”
“Funny,” Bradley says.
I can only hope I just planted a bug in his head.
Chapter 19
My last wordsto Bradley must have sunk in because he left the restaurant without another word.
As for me, I’ve been floating on a cloud after watching the way Noah stuck up for me. A man hasn’t done that before, and it made my heart do a little happy dance.
The winks, the not-so-accidental bumps, the whispered jokes in my ear as I’m ringing in a customer’s order, they’ve all made this day far more enjoyable, which is nice after the way my morning started.
With a perma-grin plastered across my face, I glance out to the outdoor dining deck, which has emptied over the past thirty minutes. The lunch rush is over, and things will be quiet from now until the end of my shift at four.
Noah is pacing the deck with his finger pressed against one ear, and the phone held up against his other ear. His face is red, and it makes me wonder who he’s talking to.
