My mouth drops. Am I really meeting Eleanor Kingston right now? “Hello,” I stutter. I put my hands on the table. “I’ll let you two talk.”
Cole leans over and puts his hand on mine. “No, stay.”
I stand up and pull my hand from his. “I really need to get back to work. Can I get you all anything?”
Eleanor looks between Cole and me curiously. “I would love a cup of coffee.”
Cole doesn’t take his eyes off me. “Luna, seriously, there’s something we need to discuss.”
I force a smile to my face. “And I told you that I can’t take a break.”
As soon as I say the words, my boss, Frank, comes up behind me. “I don’t pay you to sit and chat, Lu-” He stops instantly when he sees the people sitting at the booth. “Oh!”
I look at Frank and then back at Cole. He’s angry, as if the way Frank talks to me bothers him or something. Cole stands up, towering over Frank. “I have something I would like to discuss with Luna. Can you please bring us a cup of coffee, three burgers and fries, and some shakes?”
It takes a second for Frank to recover. “Uh, sure, absolutely. I’ll get right on that.”
Frank practically trips over his feet to get away. As soon as he’s gone, I turn on Cole. “Cole, you’re going to get me fired.”
“Good,” Cole says.
“Cole,” Eleanor admonishes. “What is going on here?”
Cole demands, “Sit down. We need to talk.”
I sit and rest my hands in my lap. “Okay, I’m here, but believe it or not, I can’t lose this job, and Frank is not going to like this.”
He leans forward. “You let me know if Frank gives you any trouble.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh my God, is this your thing? Are you going to beat up every man that gives me trouble?”
He sits up taller. “I will.”
Cole and I stare at each other until Eleanor breaks the silence. “Okay, it looks like you two have some things to discuss. Cole, what am I doing here?”
Cole glances at his mom. “Well, two reasons, actually. I wanted to let you know that Dad had a meeting with Bennett and me today. He’s going to try to get you to come home.”
His mom rears back. “He’s what?”
Cole nods. “Yeah, Dad says we are weak without you, and you know how he is. He’s not going to stand for that.”
Eleanor sits up taller as if she’s accepting a challenge. She gives one nod of her head, but I can see the emotions moving across her face. I start to stand up. “Maybe I should give you two some?—”
Cole covers my hand again, but this time, he turns it so he’s holding it in his. “No. Stay. The second reason I wanted my mom here is because I wanted her to meet you.”
I blink at him. “You wanted her to meet me? Why?”
Cole looks into my eyes. “Don’t freak out.”
I don’t move. I almost forget to breathe and then catch myself letting out a whoosh of air. “Just say it.”
He tugs my hand toward him. “I want you to marry me.”
“Marry you!” I gasp.
I shake my head like it’s a joke. I look at his mother, expecting her to be as shocked as I am, but she’s smiling from ear to ear. I have to stop this. This is nuts. “We just met today. He doesn’t know me.”
Cole holds my hand tighter. “I know you’re tough by the way you were standing up to your landlord today. I know you're loyal and work hard to take care of the things that are important to you.” He gestures to the restaurant. “I know you’re worried about your friend there because she had knee surgery a few months ago and you help her with her tables, but you let her keep all her tips. I know you’re kind and funny and?—”
