Hard To Leave (The Hard Series Book 3)

by S. Jones

  After making sure Kevin was all set, I took a couple more orders and headed over to the soda fountain to refill a couple Cokes that I noticed were running low at one of my other tables.

  I heard a yelp behind me and turned to see a young toddler had spilled her chocolate milk all over the table. The poor thing looked like she was on the verge of tears. I quickly walked over and helped the mom clean up.

  “I’m so sorry,” the mom said, seeming embarrassed.

  “It’s fine.” I shrugged and noticed the little girl’s bottom lip was trembling. There was a stain starting to settle on her dress, and her stuffed dog looked like he was going to need a bath later. “You know what,” I said in a soothing voice. “I have some wipes in my purse. Let me go grab them from the back so we can get that pretty dress all cleaned up, okay?”

  Her big blue eyes brightened up at that.

  “Thank you.” The young mom sighed with relief. I quickly walked through the double doors to get my purse. I always kept a few Shout wipes on hand in my bag in case of emergencies.

  On my way back out, I grabbed an extra set of crayons and a coloring book that I thought the little girl would like.

  The mom looked grateful when she saw what I had in my hand. “You’re a lifesaver.”

  “I’m glad I could help out.” I winked and walked back into the kitchen for a two-minute break and a cup of water.

  Resting my hands on the silver metal table by the sink, I snuck a quick glance at my reflection in the mirror and blanched when I noticed how tired and run down I looked. Once I noticed that Jack’s order was ready, I was sweating with nerves and feeling a little eager to get out there. My reaction to the man made no sense.

  “Enjoy your lunch,” I said, placing his soup and sandwich down in front of him. “I’ll check back with you in a few minutes to see how everything tastes. Can I get you another coffee?”

  He looked up at me with a serious expression, as if he were trying to figure me out. “Just water, please.”

  I met his eyes head-on and did my best to seem cool and collected. His mood seemed somber suddenly, and it threw me off. “Sure thing.”

  I brushed past him, unsuccessfully ignoring the whiff of his cologne that crossed my nose. It must have been a slow day at the Seaside because half the staff was staring at me. They really needed to get a life.

  I pushed open the double doors to the kitchen and nudged my way through as Ree and Kristen shared a laugh at my expense.

  “What?” I snapped, reaching over and grabbing a glass off the shelf.

  “He’s not so bad once you really stop and take notice, huh?” Kristen teased while I set the glass under the ice dispenser.

  “Kristen!” I huffed. “Would you knock it off.” She gave me a grin while straitening the collar of her shirt. I pointed to the row of plates that were lining the counter. “Don’t you have customers to serve?”

  “Whatever you say, boss,” she replied sarcastically. I wasn’t Kristen’s boss. Far from it. She was normally a good waitress and got the job done, even though her back had given her problems lately. She never complained about being on her feet all day, but I could see that she was in pain. She took the job for benefits and picked up extra shifts for cash. I overheard her talking to the cook the other day about needing $1000 for a back injection. That might explain the increase in chain smoking lately, although, at $13 a pack, she wouldn’t have to give up too many cigarettes to put toward the injection, but who was I to judge.

  Jack looked comfortable as he sat in the back booth, one long arm hanging along the cushion. He was facing the window, silently watching the light rain streak the glass. He rubbed his free hand along his bottom lip, drawing attention to it as I set down his drink.

  “How is everything so far? Bread toasted enough for you?” I asked, tilting my head to his plate.

  His smile stretched wide. I guess his playful side was back. “It would be better if you were sitting across from me.”

  Instead of looking away like I wanted to, my eyes stayed locked on his. It was hard to concentrate on anything else but those blazing blue eyes that stared back at me. I didn’t want to feed into his interest, so I dropped my gaze to the floor and studied the pattern of the triangle shaped tile underneath my feet. As much as I wanted to give in, I just couldn’t.

  “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  Thrown off by his question, I let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not sure what that has to do with the French onion soup?”

  “Actually, I would be able to enjoy it better if you were to tell me you were single.”

  Sweet Jesus. He was relentless.

  “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “Yes, there is. How about you answer my question?”

  I blinked. I would be lying if I said his flirting didn’t excite something inside of me. It was actually quite flattering.

  “No, I don’t have a boyfriend. You should also know I’m not looking for one either.”

  He smirked. “I kind of got that when you turned down sleazy Mr. Rogers over there.”

  I knew he heard that exchange. “He’s harmless.”

  “He may be, but I’m not. Besides, I think you really like me.”

  I blew a piece of hair out of my face, trying to seem unaffected. “What gives you that idea?”

  His lips tugged to the side. “I’m good at reading people. Plus, the way you blush every time I look at you and the way your breathing picks up is a dead giveaway.”

  I needed to pull myself together. Although he was charming and drop-dead gorgeous underneath all that stubble, I was not looking for a relationship of any kind. Not even a one-night stand. My life was put on hold, and my focus was raising my seven-year-old son. I’ve turned down many opportunities, and Jack would be no different. There was nothing special about him. He was just a guy.

  Kristen walked up behind me and whispered in my ear. “Table six is waiting for their check.”

  I was thankful for the reprieve.

  “I’d love to stay here and chat with you, but duty calls,” I said and walked away to take care of my other customers. I’d never been more appreciative of a distraction in my life. He had me keyed up and acting foolish, and there was no reason to be because this conversation was a dead end. It wouldn’t lead to anywhere.

  After a few more minutes of hustling around the diner and chatting with a few regulars, I glanced over and noticed Jack’s plate was almost empty. I couldn’t keep avoiding him.

  He was finishing up a call when I approached his booth. “Can I get you anything else?”

  He placed his hand over the receiver. “No, I’m good.” He winked. “Just the check, please.”

  “Of course.” I found myself nodding through disappointment. It was probably for the best that he was leaving. Shooting down the offers from a few of the hot locals was easy; turning him down would be almost impossible.

  I handed him his receipt, drawing a smiley face on his check like I did with all my customers.

  He wiped his mouth off on the napkin, threw it on his plate, and reached for his wallet. He placed a $50 bill on the table. “I’ll get your change and be right back,” I said and started to turn away.

  “No need, I’m all set. The rest is yours.”

  My footsteps paused. “I can’t take this. This is too much.”

  His lunch was only fifteen dollars.

  He rose from the booth and took a couple strides, landing right in front of me. I could smell the light hint of his cologne. It wasn’t strong; it was just enough to want to make me inch closer and sniff it off him.

  “Keep the change, sweetheart.”

  Sweetheart? I ignored the way that endearment made me feel.

  I held up the fifty-dollar bill. “I can’t accept this,” I said, standing taller, trying to match his tall frame. He was well over six feet, with wide shoulders that looked like he spent countless hours at the gym. I was a mere five fo
ot four inches and twenty pounds overweight. I had a mom body, and he looked like he just stepped out of Muscle magazine.

  His mouth curved into a smile. “Don’t worry about it. Besides, you made me smile for the first time in weeks. I would say you’ve earned it.” And with that, he turned around and walked out of the café.

  Chapter 2

  Jack

  I wasn’t even going to pretend that I didn’t see the gorgeous brunette across the bar. In fact, it seemed as though every set of male eyes noticed her.

  I’d been fantasizing about her for the past couple of weeks since I walked out of that diner. I kept thinking about how she handled that sleazy douchebag at the booth in front of me when he propositioned her with a laugh-worthy invitation. She definitely caught my attention, that was for sure. I wanted nothing more than to walk up to that bar and take a seat next to her. Even though I knew she wouldn’t make it easy for me.

  She was a tough nut to crack, but I’d seen her soft side with how she handled that little girl with the spilled milk. She was a nurturer with a big heart, and it was obvious that she guarded that heart. Which made her all the more interesting to me.

  I never had trouble scoring with women. When it came to hooking up, it was almost too easy. Something told me that Chloe, the cute little waitress that I couldn’t shake from my mind, wasn’t just a hookup. She was a challenge—one I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

  The woman sitting across the table from me was hot, but nothing I haven’t tapped before. She was the easy I was used to, but for some reason, I was craving something the exact opposite.

  When my cousin Caden arranged this hookup tonight, it seemed like a good idea at the time. He was looking for an easy score, and I was doing him a favor by tagging along with her friend. But now that my eyes have spotted Chloe, I couldn’t seem to tear them away.

  It wasn’t just her body that had me drawn to her. It was the way she would blush at my flirting, the way she seemed to react to my advances. I made her nervous in a cute kind of way. And, by the way she looked tonight, she had me nervous in a very bad way.

  She was sitting at the bar with a tall, slim girl with shoulder-length blonde hair. The girl was attractive, but the sight of her didn’t have my insides twisting in knots.

  I was watching Chloe move those full, perfectly shaped, glossed lips so animatedly, they had dirty thoughts running through my mind. I couldn’t seem to peel my eyes away from her.

  Her light, pink top revealed an impeccable amount of cleavage that held my eyes hostage. My gaze finally moved down to a pair of ripped jeans that showed the frame of a real woman. Not one of those skinny, wannabe models who walked around looking like they were on day one thousand of a lemon water cleanse.

  “What are you looking at?” my cousin asked from across the table. He had his arm draped along the back of his date Olivia’s shoulders, while I practically ignored my date, Mila.

  “Relax, just checking out the sports highlights,” I said, tipping my beer in the opposite direction of where Chloe and her friend were currently taking up space.

  Caden swung his gaze over to the TV. He was an accomplished hockey player with the AHL, a developmental league and a bit of a ladies’ man. He was also a competitive jock who was focused on advancing his career. His parents had spent a fortune on his fancy prep school ice time, and I knew from just watching him play a few times that it wouldn’t be long before he moved his way up to the NHL.

  I sipped on my beer and debated what to do about Chloe. You see, I was in a very difficult position. I really wanted to go over and talk to her, but seeing that I was on a double date made that a big problem.

  Olivia and Mila were two local girls that Caden had met over this past summer at a bonfire on the beach. Olivia was Caden’s go-to hookup when he was in town. I was the designated wingman for Mila, who always made herself available whenever I was passing through.

  “Dude.” Caden nudged my leg. “Did you hear a word that I said?” he asked, pulling my eyes away from Chloe.

  “Sorry, bro. What was that?”

  “I said I have a game at the Garden in a few weeks and then I got a couple days off. You going to make yourself available to meet me in the city?”

  “I’ll look through my calendar. Text me the dates; I’m sure I can make something work.”

  I noticed a couple of men paying extra attention to Chloe and her friend. I needed to make my move quick.

  I stood up from my seat and jerked my head toward the bar. “I’m going to grab another beer. Anyone need anything?”

  Caden glanced at my full beer, then looked at me with suspicion. He swirled his body around in his stool to look across the restaurant. “I’m good.”

  I nodded my head and looked at my date. I didn’t want to be a total jerk. “I’ll be right back.”

  Once I made my way up to the bar, I inched my body closer to my target. She hadn’t noticed me yet, which was probably a good thing. She was going to agree to go out with me one way or another.

  “Well, if it isn’t my favorite waitress,” I whispered into the back of her ear, catching her off guard. She stiffened before turning around. She looked beautiful. Actually, beautiful didn’t do her justice. She was breathtaking. There were no adequate words to describe my reaction to her.

  The way her eyes lit up when she saw me gave me a small shred off hope. I could work with that. “Well, if it isn’t my best tipper.”

  “You look stunning,” I told her, drinking her vision in from head to toe. I was making it obvious what I wanted. I was also testing the waters. I wasn’t sure where I stood with this girl, and being unsure was unfamiliar territory for me.

  A blush the same color as her pink top moved across her face. “Thanks.” She smiled. “This is my friend, Carly.” She gestured to the blonde sitting next to her.

  “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jack.”

  Her friend held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”

  Nodding my head, I turned my gaze back to Chloe. “So is this where I can find you on your nights off?”

  The Tiki bar was a local hangout down by the pier. It was the place to be on a Friday night, and judging by the crowd, it looked like most of the town was already here.

  I snuck a glance out to the back patio, where my date was currently swaying to the lyrics of the Jimmy Buffett song playing through the speakers. Caden sat along the high-top table doing his best to entertain both girls in my absence. I owed him.

  Chloe laughed, throwing her long, wavy hair over her slender shoulder. “Going out is a rare occasion for me, believe it or not. I’m usually a homebody.”

  I dropped that player grin that I was told the women loved. “What’s the special occasion?” For some reason, I was glad when she told me that she didn’t normally go out to bars. I liked the idea of her at home away from wandering eyes.

  “It’s Chloe’s birthday,” her friend said, and I detected a slightly drunken slur.

  My eyes landed on her half-empty margarita as I pulled my wallet out. “Well then, this next round of drinks are on me.” I was totally taking advantage of the situation.

  Chloe seemed relaxed tonight, which was such a contradiction to how she seemed the other day.

  “I might just let you do that. Buy my drink, I mean.” I blinked at her, wondering how many margaritas she’d had? “I usually don’t let strange men buy me drinks, but you’re no stranger. You’re the cute guy from the diner who has—um, I mean…leaves big tips.”

  Well damn. Was she flirting with me?

  My hand flew up, and I ordered her and her friend another round. “So what number are we celebrating?”

  She tsked me, and it was absolutely adorable. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s not polite to ask a woman her age?” Oh yeah, she was definitely flirting and maybe a little tipsy. I liked tipsy Chloe.

  My arms folded across my chest, causing my muscles to pop out. “Don’t you think that’s something your future husband should
know? I mean, we will have to list it on our marriage license.”

  Her friend snorted behind her while Chloe placed her hand on her hip, trying to fight the smile that was playing on her lips. “Well, if you plan on marrying me, you should at least let me know your last name so I can make sure it doesn’t rhyme with mine. Because if it does, that’s a deal breaker. I wouldn’t want to go through life being called Chloe Bowie.”

  I liked this Chloe. She was fun. “It doesn’t rhyme, but I can change it to whatever you want it to be.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Okay,” I said, laughing. “My last name is Jenson. So, that eliminates that mystery. Is there anything else you want to know?”

  She looked up to the ceiling, playing with my last name. “Chloe Jenson; I don’t know.” She said it out loud a couple different ways, appearing to try it out for size. “I’ll have to think about that.”

  “I could always change it to yours. Which is?”

  She laughed, bringing her hand to her lips, causing my gaze to land there. They were the same color as her top. I would have sold my left nut to be that hand. I wanted nothing more than to bring those lips to mine.

  She nodded her head. “Nice try. Thought you could get me to spill the beans, huh?”

  “It’s Chambers,” her friend added excitedly from behind her, encouraging the game to continue. I suddenly liked her friend. It was always good to know you had someone in your corner.

  Chloe turned around, giving her friend the death stare. Carly held her hands up in surrender. “Oh, come on, he’s so cute, and he’s buying our drinks. Let’s be nice and have some fun. You remember what that is, right?” she said before she threw the rest of her drink back. Like I said, I really liked her friend.

  I offered her a slow grin. “Maybe you should give me your number, seeing that’s something a future husband should know too.”