“Yes.” Honey polished her knuckles vainly. “I’m totally a spy. I seek out secrets for the government.” She rolled her eyes, making light of the truth. Sometimes the truth was harder to believe than fiction.
Beth and Candice cracked up again. Lacy glared.
“Really, what do you do on the computer? I’ve wondered, since you were able to fix my computer for me so easily last month,” Candice said.
“So, you’re like CIA?” Beth joked.
“She’s CSIS. Canadian Security Intelligence Agency. She works for the federal government.” Lacy stated, not bothering to lower her voice.
Someone at the next table snickered.
Honey glared at Lacy and kicked her in the shin. When Lacy looked at her, Honey mouthed for her to shut up. One slip. She’d told one person and now the entire town would know. Nobody would believe it. Who would think an airhead waitress was a spy? Nobody, that’s who.
Frank returned with their drinks. “Wings will be up in five. Enjoy your evening ladies.” He winked at Honey. “Don’t give away any of my secrets to the military, okay?”
Honey forced a laugh. “I’m pretty sure Mrs. Adelson has already given away all your secrets. Didn’t you accidentally give her your chili recipe? And didn’t she enter your chili in the yearly chili cookoff?”
“Don’t even get me started,” Frank warned. “She asked me what was in it to be sure she could eat it. She took my ingredient list and made it better. She won the competition. Now she won’t tell me what she added. Doesn’t seem right if you ask me.” He grumbled, but his face gave away the fact that he wasn’t actually bothered.
“Totally not fair,” Honey commiserated, glad to have the heat off of her.
“Don’t look now, ladies. But the menfolk have arrived. You better move to a bigger table.” He ambled away chuckling.
Honey looked up, Ira and all five of his brothers strode toward them. Their bold strides reminding her of the heroes of an old western movie. She sighed at the sight. So much pretty masculinity all in one place. A girl might swoon. Seriously, she only had eyes for Ira, no matter how much he looked like his brothers. And his beard. Dang, that beard was yummy. She loved the way it tickled her face when they kissed.
“So much for girls’ night out,” Lacy sighed. “So many men, and not a single one for me.” She mock pouted. “One day, I’m going to be sitting here alone, drinking away my sorrows, and my hero will stride in and sweep me off my feet. Just like in a Roxy Boroughs romance. He’ll be so handsome, angels will weep.”
“I might gag at all that sap,” Honey teased. “I did promise to read one of your silly romances. You should bring one to work tomorrow. I’ll read it on the weekend. I have the weekend off from both jobs.” She’d never totally ignore her computer job. But she didn’t have to work, since she’d turned in what she learned. She’d keep half an eye on her computer, just in case. She’d be back on regular hours next week.
“You have the weekend off?” Ira asked, pushing his way into the booth beside her. “Why don’t we go away for the weekend? We can rent a cabin on a lake somewhere and go skinny dipping in the middle of the night.”
His brothers laughed. “Smooth, bro, smooth,” Jason teased. “Chicks do not want to hear that you have designs on their body.” He elbowed Ira in the side.
“I would love to go away for the weekend. You can pick me up Thursday after work. Skinny dipping is a must.” She winked at Ira and laughed when his brothers stared at her slack jawed.
“Holy Mata Hari,” Lacy mumbled.
“Wasn’t she a spy?” Ken asked. “Are you implying Honey is a spy?” He chuckled. “Yes, waitresses must be exposed to all manner of top-secret information.”
“And, on that note…Do you want to dance, Ira?” A soft country ballad drifted from the jukebox. She had to get up or blurt out the truth, consequences be dammed. She was getting tired of being belittled for waitressing. Waitressing was a respectable career, one she enjoyed and was damned good at.
They slid out of the bench and hit the dance floor.
“We’ve never danced? How did I miss dancing with you?” Ira asked. “We should have been doing this eons ago. You fit perfectly in my arms.”
He twirled her around the floor in a slow waltz. She had barely sipped her first drink and now he had her head spinning. She sighed happily. “You’re a good dancer.”
“On the contrary, I’m a fabulous dancer. Delightful in fact.” His rumbling laugh vibrated through her.
“Indeed? I’d say adequate.”
“I believe I’m offended.” He spun her in a series of slow spins and ended the dance with a low dip and deep kiss.
The entire room applauded.
“I stand corrected, you are delightful.” Breathless from the passion in their kiss, she let him lead her to the larger table her friends and his brothers had moved to. They sat side by side, she leaned into him, savoring the feeling of being in his arms.
“Why are you all here?” She asked.
“I told them I couldn’t have beer tonight as I was on chauffeur duty, which led to me being designated driver for the entire bunch. Luckily, I’ve got Ken’s family van and can take them home in batches without wearing out my jeep.”
“You know this was girls’ night, right?
He shrugged and grinned. “What can I say. I missed you, and when they insisted on a night out, I caved without much resistance. You draw me like a moth to a flame.”
Lacy sighed loudly. “Pay attention, you dunderheads. That’s how a man is supposed to woo his lady.”
Frank appeared just then. “I brought triple wings. I know these grub hounds will devour them before you lovely ladies even pick up your napkins. I’ll bring another batch in ten minutes, if you want them.”
“Bring them, please,” Ken mumbled around a bite of wing. “I didn’t have any supper.”
