“I can’t work Tuesdays, or nights, and I need every second weekend off.”
“Okay, let me think.” He started wiping down the counters and removing the cakes that filled the display cabinet. His hands worked as he continued to speak to her. “Tuesdays I can manage and I was always going to get another waitress to work nights because it was too much for Tina. That’s my sister.” He inclined his head and caught her eye. “Which weekend do you need off?”
“Last weekend. Every fortnight from then I can’t come in. As in, don’t call me begging if someone else is away, or if you discover you need an urgent kidney transplant. I am unavailable.” Her voice was firm and there was a steely glint in her eye. A don’t-mess-with-me-this-is-not-negotiable glint.
“Right. Hours are eight until four. You’d work an eleven day fortnight if you have Tuesdays and every second weekend, so you’d get overtime too. How does that sound?”
She watched him wiping down the counters. “I’ll think about it and let you know by tomorrow.”
“Any chance you could call me tonight? I don’t have a waitress for tomorrow and I’d like to know whether I’ll have Kenneth sighing all day behind me.”
She smirked at him. “Does Kenneth run things around here? I thought you were in charge?”
“I like to think that I am. Eight hours of him making his displeasure obvious is hard to take, though I have to say,” Chris pulled a shelf from the refrigerated display cabinet and looked at her again, “today was the first day in ages he didn’t mutter to himself back there. You didn’t mess up a single order. Tina messes them up often and Kenneth is always pissed at her. Maybe you were meant to wander in here.”
“Maybe.” She looked around and sighed. “You open again at six?”
“Yes, and I need to reset the tables, rotate all the deserts and clean down the coffee machine. So, I’m sorry, but really I have to get moving.” He heard her sigh again and was surprised when she started collecting cutlery from the tables. “What are you doing?”
“I have an hour before I need to be somewhere. I’ll help you until then.”
He let her work and turned his attention to his list of jobs. He kept his eyes firmly in front of him, not letting them slither over to her, even when he sensed her bending over to pick up the dust she’d swept with the broom.
Must not glance at that skirt!
It was no use, though. The more he tried to ignore her, the more he was hyper aware of every step she took. Every turn. Every flick of her long blonde hair—hair that looked like someone had dipped the bottom four inches into a bright blue inkwell, and then tipped what was left onto her fringe.
For a moment he was tempted to suggest she come back later, and they get a drink after work, to sort out the details of his offer.
Bullshit Chris! You want to take her out for real. Too bad you have a staff-can’t-date rule, eh?
And now he’d gone and offered her a job.
Shit!
Chapter Two
Hours later, when Chris finally dropped onto his couch in the apartment above the business, he allowed his thoughts to turn to Becca. She’d caught his attention outside the window the moment she’d started waving her arms. The regular glimpse of the back of her thighs had captivated him, even as he’d served the morning coffee crowd. When she’d burst through the door his heart rate had kicked up a notch, and it hadn’t let up all day.
Her call just now should have had him thrilled to sort out his staffing woes so quickly. Instead, a part of him experienced a sharp pang of regret. If she wasn’t starting tomorrow as his newest employee, she might have been agreeing to a date.
He snorted as he shovelled left over pumpkin lasagne into his mouth. He hadn’t been on a date in over six months. Working seven days a week left no time to get serious with anyone. Not that he didn’t love every minute of his life. The business was everything he’d hoped for and, two years in, he was meeting all his projected targets. His regulars loved him and there’d been several great write-ups in the local paper. He had great friends that he managed to see on weekends after the cafe had closed and, every so often, he even went out after work.
Not tonight, though. Tonight he had bookwork to complete and then a plan to fall into bed as soon as possible. If he was going to behave himself around Becca tomorrow, he’d need to be well rested and on his game.
***
Becca was waiting at the rear door when Chris unlocked it at seven thirty.
“I didn’t expect you here until eight.”
She shrugged and pushed past him. “Where I come from an eight o’clock start time means at your workstation ready to go at eight, not skidding in the door a moment before. Expect me early every day.”
He pushed the door closed and kept his eyes firmly on her back as he followed her down the hallway. “Even Kenneth doesn’t get here until eight. You and I are going to get along great Becca. We have the same work ethic.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” He should be unlocking the front door right about now. He hesitated, though, stretching out the few private minutes they had together. “You’re really a slacker?”
She frowned at him as she washed her hands and tied her apron. “No, of course not. What I meant is that I think we are completely opposite in every way.”
“How can you know that? We just met yesterday and all we did was work.”
“You can tell a lot from working with someone.”
He leaned against the counter and folded his arms, noting her long black pants. From the corner of his eye he saw a man in a suit try the door. “You need to enlighten me on that comment.”
“I think it’s probably opening time, but I’ll tell you one thing and you’ll have to wait for the rest.”
“Deal. Hit me.”
He watched as she tested a pen from the cup on a piece of paper and then slipped it into her apron pocket. “Look at us.” She waved her hand between them. “Your clothes are perfectly pressed, not a wrinkle in sight. I wear wash and wear clothes and don’t own an iron.”
“You think we’re total opposites because we dress different?”
“Okay, another test. I eat meat, you?”
“Vegetarian.”
“There you go.” She grinned and victory lit up her face. She picked up a pile of cutlery and set about laying out the tables. “Now open the door before that suit loses his cool that he can’t get to work with his double shot latte, three sugars and a shot of caramel.”
He laughed as he moved toward the door. “How could you possibly know that Mike takes a shot of caramel?”
***
The morning flew by. Becca was as efficient as the day before and Chris relaxed as they found their rhythm working together. Several times he noticed Kenneth raise his eyebrows or smirk in his direction and he steadfastly ignored the innuendo he saw in his eyes. At one point his cook took it upon himself to interrogate Becca, but she quickly shut him down.
“I don’t want to hold hands and sing all day, okay Kenneth? No more questions.”
“Oh, sorry. I was just making small talk.”
“Small talk? You just asked me where I was born.”
“Some people like to talk about that stuff.” Kenneth shrugged and kept his eyes on the onions he was slicing. “What would you rather talk about?”
“I’d rather we didn’t.” She grinned as he looked up at her with a forlorn expression. “Don’t worry, we can talk. Just not while the cafe is full of customers.”
“Okay, so you’ll give me the lowdown one day when we’re quiet?”
“Probably not, but we can do real small talk—like discuss the weather and if we share a hatred of broccoli.” She smiled as she picked up the meals he handed her and Chris watched in fascination as Kenneth grinned back. As soon as she stepped away and her back was turned, the older man turned straight to Chris and made kissing motions behind the door.
Becca’s arrival had solved one problem and created a brand new one. Kennet
h appeared to be enjoying teasing Chris and if past history was anything to go by, he wouldn’t let up any time soon.
***
“I went out for an hour or so last night.”
“Oh, you should have called me, man. I haven’t caught up with you for ages.” Samuel Walsh, owner of Walsh removals was enjoying the lunch that Chris had just placed in front of him.
“You know how it is. Sometimes you just feel like going out for a quiet drink. I didn’t stay out long.” As he talked to Samuel he saw Becca swing around and give him a strange look. She hid it well, continuing to clean and reset the tables in the corner.
“Mmm… this is great.” Samuel spoke with his mouth full as he chewed the enchilada Kenneth had prepared for him. “I should leave my lunch at home more often. I could totally get used to this every day.”
“Imagine how I feel. Every night I get to choose something great for dinner.”
“I don’t know how I’d feel about eating leftovers every single day. Sometimes I’d want something made just for me.”
“It’s not so bad, trust me. Kenneth and Jeff keep me well-fed and I’m almost disappointed when we are particularly busy and I end up cooking myself something.”
“True.” Samuel chewed and swallowed. “Want to catch up tonight and play pool around the corner?”
“I have to work late tonight. Book work is calling.”
“Damn. Call me when you’re free okay? We need to catch up. You work too hard.”
They shook hands and Chris collected some dirty dishes from an adjacent table as he talked. “I work too hard? You’re the one who drags heavy furniture around for a living. You must fall into bed exhausted every night.”
“I do, but it’s totally worth it. Great money and you have no idea how much stuff people give me. Just yesterday I got a brand new outdoor setting. Brand new! This couple had split up and the woman just wanted everything gone.” He put his fork down on the side of his plate. “I’ve told you this before, but I get a lot of offers of more than sharing of furniture.” He raised his eyebrows and grinned at his friend. “If I’d been in that calendar I might fear for my safety.”
Chris laughed out loud and shook his head. “Sounds like the perfect job for you. Trust me, the calendar has been a big hit.”
“If there’s another one, make sure you volunteer me, man.”
“I’ll put in a good word for you with Mimi. I hear she has loose plans for another one next year, but maybe it will be with women this time. Or one with vouchers to be used in the local community.”
“Nah, everyone knows women buy most stuff. If there’s another calendar it needs to feature dudes.”
Chris laughed again as he slipped behind the counter to make another coffee order. A glance around the cafe filled him with a sense of satisfaction and his eyes came to rest on Becca chatting with an older couple who had just finished their lunch.
My life really is great. It could only be improved by one thing.
***
After locking the front door, Chris left Becca to set the tables for dinner and moved toward the back to complete the weekly stock check. He jumped when she followed him into the pantry. “Crap, you scared me! You’re like a ninja. Tina was always banging around so much she could never sneak up on anyone.”
“Oh don’t worry. Your virtue is safe with me. Why did you lie to your friend?”
“What do you mean?” He took the stock sheet off the wall and began to count. Becca stood behind him, watching him as he wrote his numbers on the paper.
“Earlier today. You told him you were out last night.”
“And?”
“And you weren’t.”
“Maybe I was.”
“You weren’t. I called and spoke to you, remember? I heard you lock up the back door with the big chain and then plod up the stairs.”
“I don’t plod.”
“You did last night. Those were the steps of a tired cafe owner.”
“Do you always notice little details like that?” He kept counting, hoping to avoid answering her questions.
“Usually.” She pushed aside a bag of rice so he could count the flour behind it. “Why do you open seven days a week? Why no breaks? It’s totally none of my business, I’m just curious.”
“Curiosity killed the cat.” He finished his count and slipped past her, his heart rate accelerating as he brushed against her hip.
That was an intake of breath from her too, I swear!
“I hate cats.”
“Don’t let Kenneth hear you say that. He’ll start grilling you again if he thinks you’re ready to give out personal information.”
Chapter Three
The next two weeks passed without incident and without Chris, or Kenneth, getting much new personal information out of Becca. She was like a steel trap when it came to her personal life in almost all instances. Occasionally, she’d let something slip and those were the days that Chris liked best.
Her blush the day she told them she used to work in a strip club was the highlight of his week. He still didn’t know how Kenneth had managed to get it out of her. The cook had taken to asking her out and she’d been a great sport about it. He’d had a quiet word to her the first time it had happened, worried that she’d consider it harassment, but she laughed and said she didn’t mind at all. The conversations went along a similar vein each time and Chris noticed Kenneth occasionally stayed back after work now, where he never had before.
“Hey Becca, want to have dinner with me tonight?”
“Are you the last man on Earth, yet, Kenneth?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“Then you’re shit out of luck.”
Laughter from the kitchen.
“Hey Becca, there’s a new chick flick on tonight. Can I take you to see it?”
“Did hell freeze over last night, Ken?”
“Nope.”
“There’s your answer, right there.”
Eye rolling at Chris.
“Hey Becca, I see you’re wearing that cute skirt today. We should celebrate by going for a drink.”
“If you don’t shut up, I’ll never wear this skirt again.”
“That would be too bad. Chris really likes that yellow skirt.”
Eyes squeezed shut, hoping his face wasn’t turning red.
“Hey Becca. What are you doing working in a dive like this? You’re so much better than coffee and lasagne, and ‘would you like pepper on your fish.’”
“I’ve worked in a strip club, Kenneth. Everything is a step up from that.” She clapped her hand over her mouth the moment she spoke, but it was too late. Chris popped his head up from behind the counter, wide-eyed and Kenneth’s head shot around the corner of the kitchen door, a grin the size of the Grand Canyon, stretching his mouth. “Oh shit. I did not say that.” She glared at both of them. “Chris, isn’t there a rule about staff not dating?”
“Sure is. No dating, no matter who it is.”
Not even when it’s me, dammit.
“Great. Can we make a rule about staff not talking? No more asking me out, you.” She stared at Kenneth, a grin threatening to grace her lips. “I’m out of bounds, apparently.” Her eyes skated over Chris and lingered there for a moment, before she turned back to the tables she was clearing.
From the kitchen Chris heard Kenneth muttering to himself and he prayed Becca couldn’t hear what he said. “Some of us yearn for you more than others, little lady.”
***
“Chris, I’ve examined the calendar closely, and November is my favourite month, by far.” The owner of the local stationery store purred at him as she placed her morning coffee order. “You should really take a night off and we could grab a bite to eat.”
“That’s a great offer, and I’m flattered, but you know I work seven days a week, Jessie. I’ll have to pass on that one. Maybe one of the other boys—”
“Oh, it’s a lost cause! Jasper is off the market and I’ve had all kinds of problems g
etting a date with Shawn. If you guys weren’t going to put out, why did you pose naked?”
“Wasn’t the calendar to raise money for the hall that burnt down?” Becca slipped around the counter and looked at Jessie, confusion evident on her face.
“In theory,” Jessie snipped. “I think we were all hoping for a bit more of an interactive experience.” She sniffed as Chris handed her a steaming coffee cup.
“Well, Mr November, here,” Becca elbowed him and he grinned at her, “can’t be spared from making coffee. Can I interest you in another calendar?” She pulled one from the counter and held it out to Jessie.
“Ha! I already own two. I’m hoping that next year’s models might be a bit more… accommodating.” She took the change Chris handed her and swept toward the door.
Becca laughed out loud as she replaced the calendar on the pile. “How do you stand it? It’s every day!”
“I know. I thought it would sink without a trace, you know. I mean, I thought we’d sell them and raise the money we needed, but I didn’t know I’d have to hear about it over and over.”
“How did you possibly get talked into it? You just don’t seem like the type to agree to take your clothes off.”
“I’m not. Believe me. My mate Jasper was helping to organise it. It was supposed to be just firemen but then it changed to include the business community. I want kids one day, so I thought the community hall was a good cause.”
“You must be something pretty special to elicit that reaction.”
He turned to her as she stepped toward the kitchen. “You haven’t seen the photos?”
“Absolutely not.”
“But you said you wanted to check it out as soon as we had more.”
“I did, but then I realised how weird it would be to have seen your boss naked.”
“Fair enough.”
Kenneth stuck his head out from the kitchen. “I can vouch for that. No one wants to have to tell their boss that they had to use a magnifying glass, do they?”
Tempt Me! Page 2
