Of course, I’d seen it.
“It’s one of Kayden’s favorites.”
“Right.” Caleb shared a look with Ezra.
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” It came out a scoff undercut with a warning.
Knowing exactly where they were going to take this.
Too bad my mind was already there, or maybe my subconscious had made the leap.
Racing out, drawn toward her the second she came out from the kitchen through the swinging door, carrying an order for another table.
I immediately looked her way.
She might have owned the place, but she never hesitated to jump in, to get her hands dirty, in the middle of every facet of her restaurant.
My attention got stuck there—on her face that lit up in one of her earthshattering smiles, those plump lips coated in a shiny, glossy pink as she laughed at something a customer said.
Pink hitting her cheeks.
No doubt, she was getting a compliment, the way both humbleness and pride radiated from her.
She was facing me, so this time, I had the vantage of the front of that red dress. Her tits were pressed up, cleavage barely exposed at the neckline that tipped down. Hair in one of those high ponytails she loved to torment me with.
My stomach twisted, and I had to force myself to look away.
Too bad my gaze tangled with Caleb’s when I did.
He smirked. “As you were saying…”
My head shook, voice low. “Dakota and I are just friends. Hell, she’s like a fucking sister to me.”
“That’s some kind of fucked up sisterly relationship you have then.” Pure insinuation rolled out of Ezra.
I sent him a glare. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Disbelief filled his expression. “Dude, I could literally hear your heart taking off at a sprint the second she came out the door.” His voice twisted with the prodding. “Tell me you weren’t just thinking about spinning her around, pressing her over the counter, and hiking that dress up around her waist so you could get to the sweetness underneath.”
My teeth ground, visions of it assaulting my mind. “I don’t appreciate you talking about Dakota like that.”
The words were stones.
Ezra’s mouth split in triumph. “Exactly my point.”
“Just because I’m protective of her doesn’t mean I want her.”
“So, you wouldn’t mind me going for her?” he pushed.
Unease spiraled through my senses. It was exactly what I should want. For her to be with someone good.
A nice guy.
Someone who was stable and honest and had a fucking future that he could offer.
A guy someone like me could only hope to be.
Too bad I could hardly stomach the thought of him with her.
“You want her?” I shrugged like the thought of it didn’t make me want to puke. “Go for it.”
Laughing, he clapped me on the shoulder, squeezing tight and shaking me. “You are so full of shit, Ryder. You’re literally about to levitate off your seat, head spinning around. Demon-possessed. I’m actually scared.”
Caleb let go of a chuckle. “You should be terrified, Ezra. Turn your back, and you’re bound to wind up missing tonight. Fucker’s going to have you buried in a shallow grave for even thinking about going after his girl.”
“And we’re blood,” Ezra drew out, the razzing completely at my expense. “You wound me, Ryder.”
I shook my head, fighting a grin that didn’t know whether to be frustrated or amused. “Just care about her, okay? And she’s Cody’s little sister, so let’s all have a little respect, yeah? It’s him you have to worry about. You look at his sister wrong, and it’s not going to turn out pretty.”
Caleb and Ezra were sharing a glance again, not buying for a second the shit I was tossing out.
Fuckers.
But I couldn’t give any more of my attention to that because I felt her coming.
A windstorm that whipped through the room, stealing the breath from my lungs when she returned, this time with our food.
“Three Monte Cristos for my favorite customers.” She set a plate in front of each of us, and I wasn’t entirely sure of the reason my stomach twisted in a needy knot.
If it was because I had the urge to reach out and touch her from under the table, glide my hand up the side of her leg to get under that skirt.
Or if it was because I was punched in the face with the mouthwatering scent.
Warm sugar and pure sweetness.
I wasn’t the only one, though, because both Ezra and Caleb moaned. “Good God, woman, what are you trying to do to me?” Ezra said as he drove a fork into the deep-fried deliciousness. It came up steaming, melted cheese and gooey jam.