9. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
R ose
Amid the clatter of dishes and muffled conversations at Salty's, I absently wipe down the bar, feeling the weight of Braxton's rejection. It was a stupid plan of a young girl with a crush, trying to win him over, trying to make him crack. To make him like me.
Finally, I got so desperate I showed up at his door, forcing him to talk to me.
Now, after his rejection, I don’t know how I can face him again. Why did he have to go ruin my view and my life?
"Hello, Earth to Rose." Lila waves her hand in front of me with concern. “Why the frown?”
“Yeah, that’s not like you, little Rose.” Jack, Lila’s brother and co-owner of the bar, adds as he sets some clean glasses under the counter.
"Sorry, just..." I trail off, the sting of tears threatening to betray me. “Our ‘Operation Neighborly Love’ plan didn’t work, Lila. I tried. I really, really did. I made all the recipes just like my grandma used to and everyone always likes my cooking.”
Lila and Jack exchange wary glances, as if they know something I don’t.
"Ugh, he's such an asshole, Rose!" Lila says, a protective fierceness flaring in her gaze. "You're all sunshine and sweetness, and he doesn't deserve you."
I sigh, my shoulders slumping. "It wasn't just the cooking, Lila. I went to see him, and we kissed. It was amazing. Like really amazing. Then, he just stopped and said... he said I'm too young." My voice cracks.
"I just thought... I mean, my grandmother always said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.” My voice is barely audible above the clatter of dishes in the background. "I poured my heart into those recipes, Lila. The ones grandma used to make for grandpa. But, then I guess she also used to say, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him stir the soup.’”
Again, Jack and Lila exchange puzzled looks.
“Honey, I think you got that saying mixed up,” Lila says, confusion in her eyes.
I shrug. “No, that’s what she said. Always made sense to me.”
Her brother mouths, “Okaaaay … you are right. Makes total sense.” He continues to stack glasses.
“He didn't even give me a chance," I whisper, more to myself than to Lila or Jack. "He always just returned the dishes in the middle of the night, like he couldn't wait to be rid of them. Then, I showed up and rang his doorbell, so he had to talk to me. We ate dinner, drank wine, he kissed me, and then blew me off as if he couldn’t wait to be rid of me ."
Jack’s expression is angry. "Listen to me, Rose. You're young, beautiful, and have a heart of gold. If this Barrows guy can't see that, it's his loss. Don't you dare let him make you feel like you're not worthy of love and respect."
"I just thought if I could show him how much I wanted to connect, how much effort I was willing to put in. Maybe he could acknowledge me? We could be friends, or more than friends, or something, and maybe he'd realize that age is just a number."
Lila reaches across the counter, squeezing my hand in a gesture of solidarity. "I know it hurts, honey. But you can't force someone to see your worth. If he can't appreciate the amazing woman you are, then it's time to move on. The right person will come along when you least expect it."
I nod, blinking back the tears that threaten to spill. I know they’re right. I know that pining after someone who had made his disinterest clear is a recipe for heartbreak.
"It's just... when he rejected me, he said it was because of my age. That I was too young and innocent for him. But I'm not a child anymore. I know what I want. I barely know him, but I know I want him."
"That's a bunch of shit. He's making excuses because he's too much of a coward to admit the truth. You're a grown woman, Rose, and you deserve to be with someone who appreciates you for who you are, not someone who hides behind lame excuses." Jack’s clearly pissed now.
I start to feel a flicker of anger. "You know, you're right. I do deserve better than that. If Braxton can't see how amazing I am, then maybe he's not the man I thought he was."
"I know, sweetie. But sometimes, men can be stubborn." She arches a brow at her brother. “They get these ideas in their heads about what they think they want, and they're too afraid to take a chance on something different. But that's their loss, not yours."
Suddenly, she perks up as if she’s had an idea, “But you know … you could show him it’s his loss. Let him see what he’s missing out on.” Her eyes twinkle with mischief.
I know where she’s headed with this, and so does Jack. He groans, “Bad idea, ladies. That could backfire in a hurry.”
“Hmmmm….” I twirl my hair as I ponder the idea. I know Braxton had his reasons for pushing me away, but I’m not ready to give up on him yet. I’ll keep trying until he finally realizes our age isn't a problem. In the meantime, Braxton Barrows is going to have to see what he’s missing out on.
"Thanks, y’all." I tell them, hugging each of them."You always know just what to say to make me feel better."
Jack shakes his head, and Lila grins. "That's what friends are for, honey. Now, let's get back to work before the boss catches us slacking off." She winks, because she’s the boss. Her gaze shifts to something or someone behind me. Puzzled, I turn to see what’s caught her attention.
And there he is. Braxton is standing in the doorway of Salty's, his tall, muscular frame filling the entrance of the beachside bar. He seems larger than life. The man is so handsome in his loosely buttoned white linen shirt and khaki shorts, displaying his beautiful man thighs that he takes my breath away. But the icing on the tasty cake that is Braxton Barrows is those darn glasses of his.
He’s wearing those tortoiseshell frames that make him look like every girl’s hot professor fantasy. The glasses, the tan, the scruff. The combination makes me want to climb him like a spider monkey, begging the professor to give me a good grade, while raining kisses up and down his neck.
I flush as the memory of his masculine scent, his scorching kisses, and the way he made me come in his arms. The memory has me soaking wet.
Ugh . Guess I’m going to have to keep spare panties in my purse because I won’t ever be able to look at this man again and not remember what he did to my body.
His eyes scan the room before landing on me, and he strides over with purpose.
"Braxton?" I stammer, my heart pounding in my chest. "What are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd grab a bite to eat," he replies in his normal grumpy, low growl.
I try to hide my surprise at his sudden appearance. He never goes out, especially not to Salty's. Why is he here now?
“Take a seat anywhere you like. Rose will take your order,” Lila says as she winks at me, slapping my ass with the towel. I glare at her.
“What?” she says innocently, shrugging her shoulders. “He needs service, and you’re the waitress. Works out perfectly, right?”
“Besides,” she whispers, “that man is so damn fine. If I wasn’t a happily married woman, I’d be all over that!” She fans herself.
“Better not let Ash hear you say that,” her brother says. “He would blow a fucking gasket and run the guy out of town.”
“Whatever,” she waves him off. “Ash knows he’s all I can handle. Believe me, he’s secure in his masculinity.”
I pull back my shoulders, grab my tray, and head in Braxton’s direction. I may as well get this over with. Now is as good a time as ever to let him know he hasn’t won this battle.
As I approach his small booth, I notice his heated gaze roaming over me. Other than the bags under my eyes from sleepless nights, I look like I do every day. My long blonde hair is pulled up in a high ponytail and with little makeup, so my freckles are on full display. I’m a curvy short girl, but I’m proud of my curves and know I can pull off our Salty’s waitress “uniform” of cutoffs and a tiny green t-shirt with the logo printed on the front. Today, mine says “Margarita’s Made Me Do It” on the back.
Realizing he’s been caught staring, his eyes snap back up to my face.
That’s right buddy, this was yours for the taking. You’re gonna have to work for it now.
“What can I get you?” I ask in my normal cheery voice I use with all my customers.
He doesn’t bother to pick up a menu, just says, “A beer, and your fish special, please.”
I grab the menu from the table with a wink. “Good choice. The fish is grilled RedFish today. Draft beer okay with you?” Attempting to treat him like any other customer is difficult, but I’m determined.
“That’s fine, Rose. Thank you.”
“Got ya! Be back shortly!” Turning, I bounce back to turn in his order.
Returning with his beer, I warn him in a saccharine sweet voice, “I hope you aren’t in a hurry tonight. We operate on beach time at Salty’s. The kitchen is as quick as a lightning bolt, but sometimes it feels like they’re fishing in the dark. They take so long.”
He seems a little confused as I go back to waiting on other customers from behind the bar. Sipping his beer, his brow furrowed, like he didn’t understand the saying my grandma always used.
At the bar, I have one customer. Leo is innocently sipping his beer and looking at his phone. Leo’s probably about fifty, father of two adult children and happily married. He’s good looking and has an athletic build from doing construction work. Little does Leo know he’s going to be an unknowing participant in my new attempt at showing Braxton Barrows what he’s lost.
Bouncing up to the bar, I greet him in my best Southern drawl. “Hey, Leo! How are ya doin’? Can I get you anything else, sweetie?” I’m deliberately being overly loud, hoping Braxton can hear me.
“Uh … no. I’m good right now, I think.” Leo says, caught off guard by my over-the-top perkiness today.
“Well, if there is anything you need, Leo. You let me know.” I wink at him. “I don’t want my favorite customer to feel neglected, ya hear?” I pat his hand.
Leo gulps down his beer, trying his best to not look at my chest. He’s shifting uncomfortably. And now, I’m feeling bad. It’s unfair to use this sweet man for my evil purposes, but I know I’m safe with Leo. He’s more than off the market. From the corner of my eye, I can see Braxton sitting stiffly in his seat, fists clenched, and a grim set to his mouth. If looks could kill, I’m pretty sure Leo would be toast.
Lila walks by, giving me a knowing look and shaking her head.
Fiddlesticks . I guess I’m going to have to find someone else to make Braxton jealous.
Just then, a group of young, college fraternity boys enter the bar. They’re easy to identify because they’re wearing Greek letters on their party t-shirts and look like they’re just here for fun and alcohol.
Two of the boys split from the group and head to the bar for drinks while the others take a table next to Braxton.
The two at the bar are adorably cute, tanned and wearing their hair longer in the back with slim mustaches. Must be the trend for college guys. Too bad college guys don’t interest me. Apparently, I only go for older jerks who wear glasses and have daddy vibes.
“Hey guys! What can I get ya?” I ask in my sweetest voice as I lean over the counter, offering them a tantalizing glimpse of my cleavage from my v-neck shirt. One of them, with blond hair and a swimmer’s physique, looks at me appreciatively.
“Sure can, good lookin’. How about a pitcher of beer and your Click Chat?” He asks with confidence. I’m mildly impressed he’s so forward because I’m not sure guys my age are very good at social interaction with the opposite sex. Too much time playing video games or on their phones, I guess. I also laugh because I definitely don’t have a Click Chat account. Social media isn’t my thing.
“No Click Chat, sorry. But I can do the pitcher.” Again, I use my wink in an attempt to flirt back. He’s a red-blooded male, so he’s checking out the goods.
“Okay, I’ll take your number then. Don’t tell me you don’t have one of those.” He gives a disarming grin, showcasing a brilliant white smile with dimples I’m sure works on all the girls.
“Oh, I got a number, but I reserve it for special people, not just anyone.” I say, batting my eyelashes as I fill his pitcher. From where I’m standing, I can see the steam coming from Braxton’s ears and his fist is clenched so tight around his mug it might shatter. His eyes haven’t left me.