Page 21 of His Little Devil
She’s behind a bar working, but still keeping an eye on her kid. I leave her be and continue on to the bar.
“Hi, sit anywhere there’s room, handsome,” the waitress shouts, and I nod, shuffling over to an empty stool in the corner.
This place is busy for a weekday morning. There is a standing menu holder, and I grab one of the large laminated rectangles.
The aroma of fried eggs and bacon has my stomach gurgling, and feeling a little queasy. Maybe I need to move away from the kitchen. Deciding to do just that, I put the menu back and stand. “Oh, are you leaving?” the woman from the tablet says with a bright smile.
“I was going to move closer to the bar,” I grunt, then point at a lone chair. She nods, turning and walking that way.
“I don’t blame you at all. Sometimes that kitchen can get so hot, and the smells of the grease can be unsettling. How about I make you a Bloody Mary, and give you a few minutes to look over the menu?” she says, and I find myself smiling for the first time since Silver danced with me at the ball.
“I’m Myah, and I’ll be right back,” she says, then shoots me a wink and walks off to help someone else.
“You must be new,” the man beside me grunts, giving me a stern look. I try to keep my expression pleasant and nod. I offer my hand for him to shake too. I don’t need the locals kicking meout of their town. I feel like I can actually breathe here, and I’m not ready to leave.
“I’m Don,” I say when he shakes my hand.
“Frank,” he grumbles, then points toward the menu. “Get the breakfast scramble, and stay away from Myah. She’s been through the ringer with a man just like you,” he warns, and I actually laugh.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Sir. I just had my heart pulverized and I have no plans to entertain anyone for a long time.” He stares at me for a minute, looking to see any lies in my words, then nods and gives me a grin.
“Good.”
“Hey, I’m sorry that took so long. Here is your drink,” Myah says, returning to the bar with my Bloody Mary, and a tablet. She’s smiling into the screen, and I can hear a small voice say, “Who is that, Mama? He’s handsome.”
I choke on my drink, and Frank hands me a napkin as Myah scolds her daughter, whose name is Mylie.
“I am so sorry about that. She’s seven and thinks she’s a teenager.” She apologizes to me, but I wave my hand in the air.
“Don’t worry about it. I saw her out on the beach on my way here.”
Myah blushes, and pushes some of her blonde hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I’m a single mom, and there isn’t any school this week due to Christmas break, so she’s going to hang out here. But enough about me, what can I get you to eat?”
She taps her tablet when I tell her I’ll get the breakfast scramble, then she rushes off, still avoiding my eyes.
“Are you sure you’re not on the market?” Frank mumbles, and I groan, running my hand against my face. I’m scruffy and need to shave.
“Yeah, I can promise you I am not dating again for a long time,” I say, and he looks off into space for a moment, then smiles, nodding.
“Let’s keep it that way.”
Closing my eyes, I let the sounds of the ocean consume me, and try not to think about the woman with metallic eyes, who owns my body, heart, and soul.
CHAPTER SIX
SILVER
“What is the point of magic, if you can’t just conjure all the shit for the wedding?” I grumble to Luke and he laughs, then kisses my forehead and leaves me with Merida. We have been planning for two days now, and I’m over this shit.
“Mistress, we are almost done. We just need to know what flowers you want, then some cake testing, and that’s it. Your servant, Layna, and I can handle the rest. I know this is overwhelming, but Luke also told me that you liked to bake, so Iwas thinking once we know what flavor cakes you want, we could make them.”
Oh, that’s got my attention. I give her a smile and she winces. I don’t think she’s used to people, let alone royalty, treating her with respect. I saw the way Thimon yelled at her yesterday, and I almost sliced his throat.
I may not be the same as before, but even I know that Merida is completely harmless. She didn’t deserve to be treated like that.
I complained to Luke, but all he did was call me adorable and kiss me until I forgot what I was complaining about.
“So, what flavor are you thinking?” she asks me again and I sigh.