“What are you doing here, Jake?” Gia bit her tongue to keepfrom saying anything more offensive. She didn’t want to hear it from her parents if she was rude to their favorite “son.”
Jake’s smile widened in greeting and he spread his arms out. “I’m here to eat, of course.”
As if the answer had been obvious. Sure, they were at a restaurant, but there were many other restaurants in town.
He could have gone to the Mexican place a few doors down or the Italian restaurant across the street. Or to the dive bar at the end of the strip where the locals liked to hang out after work. Anywhere else but here.
“Alone?” She quirked an eyebrow and popped a hip in challenge.
“Yep.” Jake emphasized the last letter obnoxiously. Her fists clenched with the urge to slap him.
Gia had never been a violent person until Jake came around. She needed to figure out a healthy outlet to resolve her resentment.
“What are you doing here?” Jake shot back when she didn’t say anything.
“Um… I work here?”
“Right.” In a show of nervousness, Jake brought a muscled arm up and rubbed the back of his head. The way his veiny arms bulged at the movement made her clench her thighs together involuntarily.
Has Jake always had such brawny arms?
“Marley’s staying at her friend’s tonight, and I figured I could help close the restaurant for Minh so she could get the kids early.”
The tension left her body as quickly as it had risen.
“That’s incredibly… thoughtful of you.” She cleared her throat and resumed her task of wiping down the table to give her hands something to do and her mind something else to focus on.
“Oh, Jake, thank you for coming! We’re just about finished, but the girls will be so happy to get home a little earlier tonight!” Minh rushed out from the kitchen and greeted Jake with a hug and kiss on his cheek. “Thanks,Jake!”
Minh disappeared, and the chime of the door signaled her departure.
“Sooo…” Jake rocked back on his heels, hands in his pockets. “What do you need help with, boss?”
“Boss?”
“Woman in charge?”
“No. That’s worse.” She couldn’t help as a chuckle escaped her. “I’ll close up the register if you want to finish clearing off the tables.”
“You got it, boss.” A mock salute had her rolling her eyes as she skirted past him, leaving enough space between them so as not to accidentally touch him. He made no effort to get out of her way. For the second time since Jake arrived, her hair stood on end, but for a completely different reason.
It was so confusing how her body and mind had such different and warring emotions and reactions. One moment she despised him, and the next her body craved him.
Focusing on her task, she started closing out the register. Once done, she locked up the cash in the safe. She shut the blinds, turned theOpensign toClosed, and was going to lock the door when she saw a car exiting the parking lot.
Wait a minute.That was her ride. Confused, she stared at her parents as they waved to her and drove off.
Did they just… leave me here?
She sensed his approach before his chest brushed against her back, making her shiver with his body heat.
“Did your ride just… leave you here?”
Whirling around, ponytail smacking Jake across the face, she studied his incredulous expression, which matched his tone. She had been sure he had been in on whatever her parents planned by leaving the two of them alone, but he seemed as baffled as she was.
“I guess so.” She shrugged, pretending her family abandoning her wasn’t irritating.
“Come on, I’ll walk you home.” With a tilt of his chin, he gestured at the door.
