Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
It was her first Spring Fling at the Honeysuckle Cafe, and Matilda was excited to participate. She’d worked at the cafe for almost a month, and she felt like she had a good handle on how things operated. It’d been years since she’d waited tables. A job at a local Thai restaurant had helped pay her way through university. But the muscle memory remained even after all these years, she found herself quickly slipping back into the role.
She tied a bright blue apron around her waist and checked her lipstick in the hallway mirror that hung between the dining room and the outside courtyard. They’d had the courtyard closed for winter, but now that it was officially spring, it was open, and a cool breeze floated in every time someone pushed through the swinging doors.
Outside, birds sang. There was greenery working its way out of the earth and the sky overhead was a deep blue with only a few white fluffy clouds scooting by.
Matilda felt happy.
She put vases on the tables and then filled each one with a single cut white flower. Then, she set out silverware and napkins. Refilled the ketchup and mustard bottles. And made certain the salt and pepper shakers were ready to go.
Before long it was time to open the cafe. But there was no sign of Rita. Matilda frowned, her hands on hips, and looked from the front door to the office. She marched to the office, but Rita wasn’t there. Then, she pulled out her phone and called Rita. But there was no answer. She left a voicemail, then with a sigh, hurried to open the front door herself. There’d be customers lined up outside soon, so she’d better let them in. Rita would understand. Although it wasn’t like her to be late. Where could she be?
Amanda poked her head out of the kitchen. “Everything good to go?”
“I can’t find Rita,” Matilda replied.
“Never mind. I’m sure she’s on her way. She called me earlier but I missed it and she left me a message but I can’t figure out what she was saying. It’s all garbled, keeps cutting out.”
“Maybe she was calling to tell us she’ll be late. Well, we’re ready to go anyway. The food smells delicious.”
“I’m pretty proud of the BBQ pulled pork and slow cooked beef brisket,” Amanda replied. “I think people will be happy. Have you tried the Brunswick stew yet?”
Matilda shook her head.
“Well, come a get a bite before things get going. You don’t want to be starving all evening long.”
Matilda joined Amanda and the kitchen staff and ate a bowl of Brunswick stew with a slice of cornbread. Soon, customers began to arrive, and she hurried out to seat them and take their orders. There were two other waitresses as well as herself, so though they were busy, it wasn’t overwhelming. And the whole crew worked together well.
The cafe filled up quickly. Before long, darkness fell, letting the twinkle lights in the courtyard and the candles on each table shine. While she was bussing a table, she felt a hand on the small of her back. She spun around to find herself pressed up close to Ryan. He leaned forward to kiss her forehead, then lingered.
“Hmm … no lips, huh?”
She squirmed out of his grasp. “That’s right. It’s for the best. What are you doing here?”
“That’s a nice welcome from a wife,” he said with a frown.
“Fake wife,” she whispered, making sure no one heard her.
“Not according to the United States Government.”
She rolled her eyes. “Can I get you a table?”
“No need, I’m sitting with friends. I thought I’d come over and say hello.”
“Hello.”
He smirked, stepped closer until she had no escape with the kitchen wall right behind her. “Do I make you uncomfortable?”
She smiled. “Not at all, husband.” Truthfully, her heart was firing at a rapid pace, and she needed to get away from him. He smelled too good. What was his cologne? It always made her knees weak. “There’s going to be live music later,” she said, trying to change the subject. “And dancing.”
“Really? Maybe you should save me a dance then.” He let his gaze fall to her lips, then spun on his heel and strode away.
She released the breath she’d held in her lungs and let the tension ease from her shoulders. She couldn’t think straight when he stood so close to her. He towered over her and made her nervous. She wished he’d keep out of her space. She’d have to talk to him about her personal bubble.
By the time the live band started to play, the entire cafe was hopping. Conversations buzzed, laughter peeled through the electric atmosphere, the scents of BBQ sandwiches and margaritas combined with the smoke of the candles and the perfume of the partygoers to form an intoxicating aroma.
Matilda was run off her feet keeping the food coming and the dirty dishes going. Finally, everyone had finished their dessert and was settled around the dance floor with drinks. She leaned against the bar to catch her breath and watch the fun. Ryan caught her eye and dipped his head towards the dancers.
She laughed and undid her apron, then walked over to him. He held out one large hand and she took it. He led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms so quickly and gracefully it stole her breath away.
He was a good dancer. Who would’ve imagined? So lanky, so comfortable in his ever-present jeans and brown jacket, with his hat hair and his sun browned skin, and yet so light on his feet. He was a mixture of so many things she could barely keep it all straight in her head. Who was he really? What made him tick? She still had no idea. Yet right now, in this moment, she didn’t care.
She leaned into him, letting him take over. Her feet had never glided so easily across a dance floor, she’d never felt so adept at moving. It was as if they were one, melded together with their hands and arms joined.
“Why didn’t you tell me you owned a construction company?” she asked. She had to shout to be heard over the noise of the band.
He dipped his head towards her, his gaze intense. “What do you mean? I thought you knew.”
“I didn’t know. My first impression was that you were the handyman for the bed and breakfast.”
He laughed, his eyes twinkling. “No, I own it. It’s one of my investment properties. I just like doing some of the work myself. It helps me unwind at the end of a stressful day. Especially when the actual handyman is on vacation.”
She shook her head slowly. “Well, that makes a lot more sense.”
“Do you miss being a vet?”
She thought about it for a moment. “Yes, I do. I miss the animals. Not the stress. It can be a very emotionally taxing job. I love animals. I don’t love having to see them sick and in pain all of the time or having to put them down every day.”
“Will you go back to it?”
“I think so. Although in the meantime, I’m hoping to convince Rita to let me get some animals at the lake house. We have Blue, but he’s so old I hardly know he’s there half the time.”
He grunted. “Good luck with that. Anyway, I was considering getting a dog. Maybe you could help me pick one out.”
Joy surged. “I would love that. There’s nothing in the world better than bringing home a little puppy, cuddling it, training it, taking care of it. It’s my favourite pastime. Sugar glider joeys come close, but dogs are still number one.”
“What’s a sugar glider?”
“It’s a tiny possum with wings.”
“What on earth?” His eyes widened. “I had no idea those existed.”
“They’re quite literally the cutest creature in the world.” She sighed. “Sometimes I foster them when they’ve been separated from their mother.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“Do you like animals?”
He shrugged. “I’ve never had much to do with them. We had a cat when I was a kid. I’m not big into cats.”
“I can understand that, but I think you’ll like having a dog.”
“That house is too big and empty. I need someone to keep me company,” he said in a rare moment of vulnerability.
She could see the emotion behind his eyes.
“I think that’s a good idea.”
He spun her around, then dipped her. She laughed out loud, her hair flying out in every direction as she went. Then, she was back in his arms again, pressed to his chest and feeling the warmth of his embrace.
She looked up into his eyes, still grinning. He was watching her closely, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth.
“This is fun,” he said.
“So fun,” she agreed without breaking eye contact.