Court watched her a little too long as she worked her way down the line, to the point where Knox had to nudge him to turn the burgers before they burned.
“Whoa, man, who was that?”Knox asked with a mocking tone.
Court shrugged as if the brief exchange meant nothing.“Jewel Jansen.She’s a technician on one of the coating machines at West Coast.She taught me a lot about the coating process.”
Knox served a dog.“I thought Ward taught you everything you needed to know.”Between Ward Restin of West Coast R&D and David Farris, head of Manufacturing, they’d all gotten a course in thin-film coating.
Shrugging, Court said, “It’s a whole different perspective when you talk to a coating tech.”
Knox raised an eyebrow just enough for Court to see, even if no one else did.“Yeah, a pretty tech can teach you a lot.”
Instead of laughing at the joke, Court scowled.“It’s nothing like that.”
Taken aback, because Knox always ribbed Court like this, he added, “Hey, it was just a joke.”
Court’s stiff spine finally relaxed.“I just don’t want any ugly rumors getting around.”
Knox held up his hands in surrender, his tongs aloft in the air.“No rumormongering here, I swear.”
“Besides,” Court added, “she’s at least ten years younger than me.And she’s got a partner.She’s already taken.”
“I get it,” was all Knox said, and hedidget it.
His friend Court Stevens was smitten with a woman he couldn’t have.
17
Still mentally analyzing Court’s reaction, Knox turned, ready for the next order, and she was right in front of him.Summer.Though he’d been searching for her, the suddenness of appearance stalled his breath in his chest.
God, she was beautiful.Just looking at her made his heart ache.At forty-five years old, he couldn’t remember ever having felt like this before.Not even with his ex-wife, who now seemed like a distant memory.
He startled, coming out of his daze, when Summer said in a sexy voice that made his blood thrum, “May I have a hot dog?”
Knox almost laughed, because it seemed as though something momentous should have come out of her mouth, likeI want you, orI need you, orI can’t live without you.
Court, looking at him disgustedly, reached over and grabbed a hot dog with his tongs, slipping it onto her bun.
Summer smiled.The two beautiful young women beside her were her twins in looks, one with long, lush locks dark like her mother, the other with a short bob that suited her just as well.
“Hamburger, please,” the long-haired one said with a smile as gorgeous as her mother’s.Court plopped the burger onto her plate.The one with the bob said, “Dog, please.”
Knox wordlessly passed over the hot dog.And they were moving on.Before he’d said a thing, not even hello.Nothing.What the hell?
He’d had visions of introducing himself, telling them he’d heard all about them, but when it came right down to it, he’d let Summer and her daughters slip by.
Court elbowed him in the ribs.“Pick up the drool, man.”
Knox had the wherewithal to say, “I do not drool over young girls.”
“They’re not girls.They’re women.And I wasn’t talking about them.”
Taking Court’s grin on the chin, Knox decided he deserved the ribbing after dishing it out over Jewel Jansen, the coating tech.
Court leaned close to murmur, “Why don’t you just ask her out?No one around here will care.”He jutted his chin at Holt and Ruby, then at Brett and Ivy.
Knox admitted, “Believe me, I’ve tried.”
Raising an eyebrow, Court laughed.“Don’t tell me the lady-killer charm isn’t working.”With a nudge in Knox’s ribs, he added, “Don’t worry.Once you’re done doling out hot dogs, you’ve got the entire afternoon to win her over.”
