Page 4 of The Payback Adventure
“Give us a minute, please,” Cade said.
“I’d love some bottled water,” Cynthia said. “Do you have Pellegrino?”
Elisabeth bit her lower lip as if to keep herself from making a sassy reply. “I’m sorry, we don’t.”
“That’s okay,” Cynthia said with a reassuring tone. “Just bring whatever you have and lemon wedges, too.”
As Elisabeth walked away, Henry felt an urge to follow her, even if it meant stepping into what was no doubt a greasy, smelly kitchen. He leaned back against the booth.
A challenge was one thing. This was…different.
The strength of his attraction took him by surprise. Lately, it seemed to take something extravagant or someone larger than life to work up his interest. Not that anything appealed to him for long.
Cynthia stared at him. “She doesn’t seem like your usual type.”
“Nothing wrong with a natural, girl-next-door type,” Cade replied before Henry had the chance.
The words earned him a good-hearted elbow from Cynthia. “I’m the only natural girl for you.”
“Of course you are,” Cade said. “But a man can look.”
And I’m enjoying the view, Henry thought.
Elisabeth picked up mason jars used as vases from theempty tables on her way to the kitchen. She looked like a bride in her crisp white shirt with her hands full of flowers. Henry got a flash of her wearing a wedding gown made from the finest white silk, with a flowing veil held in place by an intricately woven floral wreath and a coordinating bouquet in her hands. He wasn’t simply imagining her as any bride. He envisioned Elisabeth ashisbride.
The tenderness of the image surprised him. The reality of the thought terrified him. He didn’t do brides.
Henry shook the thought from his mind. He had no interest in a relationship or anything that inspired thoughts of a bride, especially his. Time to put all this behind him before it got bad.
But bad didn’t begin to explain how a server from a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town on the edge of Oregon’s Yamhill wine country had left Henry speechless and shaking in his Church’s. The only thing left to do was leave. “Let’s find another restaurant.”
Two small lines formed above Cynthia’s nose. “What’s wrong with this one?”
“The service,” he said without any hesitation.
“I’m the one who asked her to give us a minute,” Cade said.
“It can’t be Elisabeth,” Cynthia added. “You said she was lovely.”
“No, I mean, yes, she is lovely. But I didn’t say it. Well, I just did, but not before.” Henry shifted in his seat. “Can we just go?”
“Well, well, well. This is an interesting turn of events.” A smug smile formed on Cynthia’s lips. “Of all the women inthe world, a server from some Podunk town has finally spooked the world’s most confirmed bachelor.”
“I’m not spooked.” But even as Henry said the words, he knew he was more than spooked and wanted it to stop. Now.
“You’re pale,” Cade added.
Henry raised his chin. “I’m hungry.”
“Then we should stay and eat so we can leave your server a nice big tip.” Cynthia smirked.
“She’s not my server. And I’m not interested in her.”
“I’ve never seen a woman have an effect on you like this.” Mischief gleamed in Cynthia’s eyes. “You really like her.”
“I like the look of her. I don’t know her. And I won’t be getting to know her.” Henry glanced toward the kitchen and hoped her shift was over. “Elisabeth’s a small-town server. I’m a… I’m me. What would we talk about?”
Cade laughed. “You want to talk to her?”
