One more part to the free, unedited read. Again, just a reminder this website is for those 18 and older.
“Would you watch my tables for a few minutes? I need to step aside for some air,” Briann asked another waitress who was just coming on duty and hadn’t yet been assigned an area. The girl nodded.
Untying her apron, Briann headed for the rear door of the restaurant, opting for some privacy. As she opened the door, she was relieved to find the spot vacant. No smokers were out getting in a few quick puffs.
What the hell was wrong with her tonight? Every time she approached the back table with the four “gods” chowing down on practically everything on the menu, she became clumsy. Hell, she’d almost poured a pitcher of beer in the lap of Mr. Gorgeous sitting closest to her. Every time he’d look at her with those smoky grey eyes she felt lost, unable to see or hear anything else around her.
His face had a splash of mustache, and though his dark hair was the average length worn my most men, it only added to everything else absolutely fine about him.
Briann rubbed her forehead. This was turning out to be a long night. The waitress who’d taken over for her while she’d went on break poked her head out the door.
“Hey, Briann. I took care of the check for those guys in the back. Man, they sure are a scary bunch. Anyway, they left you one hefty tip. You must’ve done something right.”
After the door closed, deep voices resonated from the side of the building. Moments later the men the waitress had mentioned, the ones who’d thrown her off balance the entire night with their strange vibes, were walking toward a black SUV parked far from other vehicles in a corner of the lot.
As the three walked away, the fourth, the one who’d captivated her the entire night, trailed behind.
Briann’s heart jumped in her chest. They were leaving, but she found she didn’t want them to, or at least Mr. Gorgeous. Would she ever see him again? The thought catapulted her into action, and she found herself doing something she’d never done and never thought she’d do in a million years. She chased after him.
Sprinting, she caught up with him and placed her hand on his arm to get his attention. “Sir?”
A sound which resembled a hiss or a loud intake of breath had her jerking her hand from his skin as the man slowly turned.
Briann found herself taking a step back, suddenly getting the feeling her touch had offended him in some way. Actually, she’d heard the same collective sound from the three others who stood next to the SUV.
A fierce look greeted her as he turned, and she could have sworn his eyes glowed. In fact, she thought he’d snarled. But, when recognition set in, his demeanor immediately changed. It had gone from pissed off to surprise. At least she thought it was surprise. Whatever expression he wore, which was totally unreadable, he seemed relaxed.
“I forgot to give you this coupon. It’s good for a free appetizer the next time you all come in. We like repeat customers, you know. If I didn’t give this out, I wouldn’t be doing my job.”
The man didn’t blink. His grey eyes only stared at her, though she could’ve sworn the side of his mouth jerked as if he’d started to smile but caught himself.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the others advance, evidently deciding against getting into their vehicle. At first she thought they were curious as to the conversation she was having with their friend, although it seemed to be one-sided at the moment with her doing the nervous blabbering. But, the scowls on their faces told a different story. They were definitely not pleased with her presence.
Fear took hold, and her heart began to pound in her chest. Taking a step in retreat, she murmured an apology she, though she didn’t know what she was apologizing for except possibly interrupting their departure. Briann practically threw the coupon at Mr. Gorgeous and beat feet to the restaurant’s rear door, and slammed it behind her.
Connell couldn’t believe the woman had sought him out with the guise of offering a coupon. He had to admire her spunk, and boy did she seem to have plenty of it.
Just as he’d enjoying the sound of her voice, though it had possessed a slight tremble of fear, she’d grown wide-eyed and high-tailed it into the restaurant as if the devil himself was on her trail. One glance over his shoulder told him why. His brothers.
Connell turned and glared at them. “What? Couldn’t wait in the SUV a few minutes?”
Trian passed him, bent and picked up the coupon the girl had flung at him before bolting. He watched his Cell-mate lift it to his nose and inhale, then gave him a pointed look before he stood before him and spoke.
“She’s is the girl I smelled on you last night. The girl from the corn maze. I thought you said you scrubbed her memory?”
Connell grit his teeth. He was not in the mood to be questioned, nor was he happy with being doubted by his brothers. “I did scrub her memories, just as I’d reported. Nothing more, nothing less. Now, you gonna back off my grill or are we going to continue this conversation further?”
After a few heartbeats of a staring match, Trian nodded, then took several steps backward, vacating his personal space.
Without another word from any of this three brothers, they piled into the SUV. Connell settled into the passenger seat, and as Trian drove the vehicle out of the parking lot and onto the road, he found himself deep in thought. With the coupon clutched in his palm, he turned his face to the window as if catching the scenery passing by, and nonchalantly raised his hand close to his face. Her scent lingered on the paper. Inhaling quietly, slowly, he took it in, savoring it.
Recognition in her eyes every time she’d looked at him in the restaurant bothered him to the core. He had scrubbed her memory. Connell didn’t doubt that for a minute. But, how could those memories have resurfaced? He’d glanced at her blonde friend several times while eating his meals and found nothing but unease in her expression. She definitely didn’t remember him.
The need to get wasted made its appearance once more. The pitchers of beer they’d drank during their meal had done nothing to dampen the chaos in his head.
“Head to The Kettle and Coffin,” he barked. He wanted to get his hands on a warm, soft body and a hard, cold drink.