Chapter 6
Zeke
Our reservation list for lunch is full, as usual, and I have a long line at my stand. The snow is falling relentlessly today, and I hug myself, stomping from one foot to the other beneath my heater to keep my blood flowing.
The door opens behind me, and I turn to thank the departing guests for coming, but when I spin around, I’m met with the very welcome sight of Talon, who wasn’t here yesterday. Even though it was only one day, it feels like it’s been much longer since I’ve laid eyes on him.
Immediately, I notice he’s carrying a bowl, steam rising from its contents.
Jesus. If that’s for me, I’m in trouble because it doesn’t take much to send me into an emotional tailspin these days, and apparently, feeding me is almost enough to make my dick hard.
Pathetic.
“Hey, Zeke,” he says, holding the bowl out. “I brought you some chili, and before you get all bent out of shape about it, Rebecca told me we eat for free from the employee menu when we’re on the clock, and chili is an approved item, so this really isn’t even a kind gesture.”
I’m dangerously close to laughing again. It’s shocking how well he has me figured out already.
Talon’s grin is the only reason I take the offering.
“She also told me you’re allowed to sit down and eat, so why don’t you go get out of the cold for a few? I’ll watch the list while you’re gone.”
I bristle, and what’s meant to be a simple question comes out harsher than intended. “Why are you so concerned about me?”
Instead of being offended by my rudeness, Talon simply smiles and says, “Just trying to make sure you have enough sustenance so the wind doesn’t blow you away.”
He’s teasing again…I think.
Honestly, I could use the break. I haven’t been able to feel my fingers for the last half an hour, and I don’t know what brought Talon to Ricochet Ridge, but I do know his mind is far sharper than what this job requires, which means I trust him to stand guard in my absence.
“Okay. I’ll only be gone for five minutes,” I finally agree.
“Take your time. If I get overwhelmed, I’ll just hit this button that says ‘Delete All’ and seat people on a first-come, first-served basis.”
My eyes widen in horror, making him crack up, laughing from deep in his belly.
I can’t remember the last time I laughed like that, and sadness wells inside me.
“Hey,” he says, placing his hand on my shoulder, leaning down so his face is only a couple inches from mine. “Zeke, I’m kidding. I would never do that. Trust me. I’ve got this. Go eat.”
I nod, gripping the bowl like it’s the most precious thing I’ve ever been given, and head inside.
When I enter the break room, Rebecca looks up at me from one of the small tables and smiles.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” she says.
“What does that mean?” Jesus, Zeke, rein in the attitude.
“I didn’t think he’d actually be able to get you to eat.” She shrugs, “But let’s be honest, that guy could ask either of us to do damn near anything, and I’m pretty sure we’d both cave, no questions asked.”
I purse my lips. “Speak for yourself. I’m taken.”
Rebecca rolls her eyes. “Yeah, by Derek, the abominable douchebag.”
“Don’t start, Becs,” I plead, exhausted by the shitshow that has become my life.
“I’m sorry, Zeke, but you can do so much better. I fucking hate that guy.”
The conversation dies quickly after that. I’m a few bites in, finally relaxing in the warmth, savoring the hearty flavor of the chili, when the breakroom door swings open and Talon pokes his head inside.
“Uh, Zeke, I think your…boyfriend’s here.”
What the actual fuck?
Rebecca’s head whips toward me. “Make him leave before I get fired for throat-punching him, Zeke.”
I blow out a breath and dump my uneaten chili in the trash. On my way out the door, I hand the bowl to Talon, knowing my appetite won’t return after this. “Thanks anyway.”
Talon grabs my wrist as I pass. Not violently. Not in a controlling way. Just enough to ground me and make me focus on him. The contrast to Derek’s touch takes me aback.
“Do you want to see him?” he asks seriously.
I scrub my free hand down my face.
“It’s really the only choice I have,” I reply more honestly than I intended to.
Something about the way Talon sees me has my guard lowering without my permission.
He doesn’t require me to say the words. He somehow already knows me better than everyone else combined, and it’s as thrilling as it is terrifying.
“That’s not true, Zeke. I can make him leave.” He says it so sincerely, I know he actually believes it, but I know better. Talon doesn’t have any more power here than I do, and Derek views me as his property. Nothing will keep him from me.
“It’s fine. I shouldn’t keep him waiting, though.” I tug lightly, and Talon lets me go, causing a chill to wrack my shoulders at the loss of contact. My feet feel like they’re encased in concrete blocks as I make my way through the restaurant.
Derek never comes up here unless he’s trying to make a point.
Then it hits me.
Talon’s voice on the phone the other day.
Derek is here to make a point. He’s come to piss on his territory.
Pushing through the heavy doors, I squint against the snowflakes hitting me in the face.
As I’m trying to make out the space in front of me, a firm hand grabs my biceps and drags me to the side of the building, pinning me against the structure.
Derek’s mouth slams into mine. Not out of passion, joy to see me, or a genuine desire to feel connected, but to brand, remind, threaten.
“You didn’t tell me your new employee looks like fucking Batman,” Derek seethes.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, trying to buy time as I shrug out of his grip.
“Don’t take me for a fool, Zeke. I fucking saw that guy,” Derek says angrily.
“You can’t hold me responsible for the fact that you find him attractive,” I argue dangerously.
“Watch your attitude and cut the shit, Zeke.”
“What shit, Derek?” God, I’m so tired of this. “What are you even doing here?”
“I need to use your car.”
“Where’s your truck?” I ask.
“Don’t you ever listen to anything I say? I had to drop it off to get the lift kit put on today. Jason brought me all the way over here so I could get your keys.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Right. The lift kit.”
I’m trying to save every penny I can, while he’s blowing his on unnecessary car parts.
“I bought something for you, too,” he says, leaning into me, his breath hot on my neck.
“Derek, I don’t want things,” I say, knowing he means he bought some new sex toy he wants to use on me. I push on his chest to prevent him from getting any closer. I want love, affection, respect, and freedom, I admit to myself.
“Fine, you ungrateful fucking—”
“There’s really no need to finish that sentence,” a deep voice says, coming around the corner of the building.
Talon.
Could this day get any worse?
Derek leans into me, sliding his arm around my waist, clearly staking his claim, a snake-like grin spreading across his face as he turns his charm on full-blast.
“My apologies, I wasn’t aware anyone was paying attention to my boyfriend and me. I’d hate to make you uncomfortable.”
I wish Talon would just let it go, but for all his easy smiles and his giving heart, Talon doesn’t back down.
“The only thing that makes me uncomfortable is when wolves hide in sheep’s clothing,” Talon says calmly. “And Zeke is needed at the host stand.” He never breaks eye contact, and all traces of his earlier smile are gone.
Derek’s unsure how to respond. People don’t usually call him out like that. I know he’s pissed, which means I’m going to pay for this later.
“Keys,” he finally says, with an open palm stretched toward me, his gaze never leaving Talon.
“How am I supposed to get home?” I ask quietly.
“I bet he’d love to give you a ride,” Derek says, dipping his chin at Talon.
“Don’t be a fucking asshole, Derek.” Eh, what the hell, if I’m going to get smacked around for this, I might as well do something to deserve it.
“Watch it,” he growls menacingly, already making my ribs ache.
Wanting to get rid of him as quickly as possible, I fish my keys out of my coat pocket and shove them against Derek’s chest.
“Just go. I’ll see you at home tonight.”
With a laugh, he whispers, “Speaking of fucking an asshole…”
I close my eyes as Derek walks away. I’m far too ashamed to make eye contact with Talon right now.
“I’d be happy to—” Talon starts quietly.
“Don’t.” I can’t handle him being nice to me anymore. He makes me wish for things I can’t have.
“Zeke,” he starts again.
“Please, Talon. Just drop it.”
Let me lick my wounds in peace, I silently plead.
Talon gives me space the rest of the day, which I’m grateful for, and when I finally clock out several hours later, it’s only Rebecca and me left.
“Hey, check the fridge. I think Talon put something in there for you,” she says before pushing through the door from the office into the main restaurant.
Pulling open the stainless-steel, commercial-grade fridge, I find a bag labeled with my name scribbled on a sticky note.
I grab the bag and set it on the matching stainless-steel table behind me. Peering inside, there’s a blank time card. With my curiosity at an all-time high, I pull the card out and flip it over.
Zeke,
Since you didn’t get to eat lunch, I thought maybe you’d like this for dinner.
-T
Inside the box at the bottom of the bag isn’t anything from the employee menu. It’s a fucking fillet, baked potato, and green beans.
I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but this feels awfully close to a pity meal.
And eating it feels like I’m simply going from needing one man to relying on another.
I’ll starve before I become indebted to someone else ever again.
Even if Talon has the biggest heart and the deepest eyes I’ve ever seen.
I think about finding a pen and writing a response on the blank side, but in the end, I just put the bag of food back in the fridge uneaten.
My stomach growls the whole way home.