Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (24)

The man looked up at me as he pulled it toward him with two fingers. Everything about him was just a little too slick. He’d been nothing but quietly polite as I took his order and served him a chicken bacon ranch sandwich. But his outdoor gear was a little too perfect. His haircut, too. And it put me on edge.

Dark-brown eyes studied me as he flipped open the bill holder. “And how much of a tip would it take to get you to accompany me to dinner tonight?”

And there it was.

I was almost relieved by the douchebag move after being on edge over nothing for the past hour. It proved that just maybe I could trust myself and my intuition.

I didn’t mind a patron hitting on me every now and then. Asking me out. Shooting their shot. Even if the answer would always be no. It had happened back in Oakland when I worked at the coffee shop and yoga studio, and I’d mastered the polite decline if I wasn’t interested.

I wondered what this guy would say if I replied honestly. “No one’s touched me in almost a year and a half. The only person who tried sent me into a breakdown so extreme that I had to be sedated. But if that’s cool with you, let’s get a drink.”

But he went straight to the buying-me approach, and I wasn’t down with that.

“I can get you some boysenberry pie for dessert or a cup of coffee, but I’m afraid I’m not on the menu, and no human being is for sale.” I delivered the line with a beaming smile.

The man scowled at me.

I just smiled wider. “You let me know about that pie.”

Turning, I headed back toward the bar.

Aidan moved in alongside me, fighting not to laugh. “That was a thing of beauty. ‘You let me know about that pie.’” The laughter found him then. “What a douche canoe.”

Piper, our youngest waitress at just twenty-one, flicked her dark-brown locks over her shoulder before reaching for her tray of drinks. “I definitely want to be you when I grow up.”

“I don’t know about that,” I said with a laugh. “I probably just smartassed my way out of a tip.”

Wylder’s dark brows pulled together as he moved to our end of the bar. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

Aidan waved him off. “Don’t worry. Nova has it covered. She just put a douche canoe in his place after he all but asked her how much a roll in the hay would cost.”

Wylder’s dark-hazel eyes flashed. It wasn’t the same way Kol’s did, though. This was different. His went stormy black—the only sign of his temper. He watched as the Slick Rick rose from the table and tossed a few bills on the surface. “I’ll ban him—”

I held up a hand. “I’m fine. It honestly felt kind of good. Something about him was off, so it felt vindicating that I was right.”

Wylder took that in, and then a small smile curved his mouth. “Always good to know you can trust yourself.”

Of course he instantly understood. Because Wylder could read people better than anyone I knew.

The sound of uproarious laughter filled the air, making me turn to see Cora walking away from a table with a few people I recognized as locals. Her mouth was set in a tight line, but I didn’t miss the slight tremble of her tray.

My gaze narrowed on the patrons at her table. Was it douche canoe season? It didn’t look like they were drinking anything but sodas, yet I could see the way a few of them looked at Cora. As if they were laughing at her, rather than with her.

One woman, who looked to be in her early thirties, flicked her brown hair over her shoulder as she lifted her voice. I could just make out the words.

“You’re telling me she didn’t know about her psycho fiancé? Please. Some women are so desperate they’ll do anything to keep a man.”

Cora’s cheeks turned bright red, but she kept right on walking toward the bar. “Can I get a lemonade, please?”

Her voice was soft, her gaze downcast.

“Why don’t you let me take that table?” I offered. “I’ve only got one now.”

Cora shook her head, not looking at me. “I’m fine.”

Other than her offer of insoles help, she’d basically avoided me since I started. She’d give me a polite hello and then do everything she could to keep her distance. I understood, but it still smarted. More than that, it had guilt digging in deep. If my being here was too hard for Cora, then I needed to look for another job.

Wylder filled the lemonade, but his gaze didn’t stray from Cora. A muscle fluttered along his jaw as his fingers tightened around the soda gun. “Why don’t you take your break? My office is open.” His voice was so incredibly gentle, and there was something almost tender in the way he focused on Cora. Like he would do anything to take away her pain.

Piper sidled up to the bar between Cora and me. “I’ve got this, Wy.”

She grabbed the lemonade and strode toward the table of assholes. Her smile was bright as she approached. “I’ve got one lemonade for the jerk-face who felt the need to make fun of a woman who’s been through hell. I’d take the drink because it’s clear this may be the only good thing in your life, if you feel the need to kick someone when they’re down.”

The brunette at the table gaped at Piper. “You can’t talk to me like that.”

Piper only beamed wider. “Oh, I can. Because my boss looked like he was two seconds away from eighty-sixing your asses. Really, I saved you.”