Chapter 12
Kayla
I pull into a parking spot far from the door and grab my wallet and phone.
I stare at the iced coffee a moment and then finally grab it.
I’m not going to let it go to waste just to prove a point.
I can’t remember the last time I splurged and bought an expensive coffee like this one.
I don’t even know what it is, but it’s amazing.
I walk towards the door quickly. The parking lot is mostly empty at this early hour, and I don’t see Jackson’s car anywhere.
I'm almost to the door when I see him pull into the parking lot. I stop a moment and watch as he drives past, giving me the same wave I gave him when I left my apartment parking lot. I almost laugh. Instead, I walk around to the back door and knock. Butch opens it and waves me in. “Mornin’, Butch.”
“Mornin’.” He goes right back to working in the kitchen, and I head to the back to grab an apron. I take another sip of my coffee and nearly run into Jessie on my way back.
“Hey, Kayla.” She pauses and then grins. “I didn’t know you liked Grounded.” She must see the confusion on my face because she points to my cup. “I recognize the cup from Grounded.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“What drink did you get?” she asks as she ties her apron.
“Oh, just an iced coffee.”
“You like plain iced coffee? No fun flavors or anything?”
I try to think of a way out of this, but I really don’t want to lie to her. “No. Actually, I like vanilla.”
“Oh, were they out of vanilla?” she pushes.
I come clean. “Okay.” I take a breath and let it all out. “I didn’t buy it for myself; I actually have no idea what kind it is. Jackson bought it for me. I had a choice between this one, a hot coffee, a hot chocolate, or a tea.”
Jessie blinks. “Who is Jackson?”
“The redhead guy.”
Her mouth drops open. Then she shoves her arm through mine and all but drags me into the back room. She drops my arm. “Are you in a relationship with him?”
“With whom?”
“With Jackson.”
I stare at her. “No! I barely know the guy.”
“Then why did he bring you coffee? And I thought you went on a date with Cole last night.”
I take a breath. “I did. Jackson showed up this morning with coffee.”
“How does he know where you live?”
I think for a second about not answering, but she gives me a look of determination.
I have a feeling she won’t let this go. “Okay, so after my date last night, Jackson showed up. There were these two guys giving me a hard time, and he...showed up...at the right time. He kind of scared them away. And then, he bought me coffee this morning.”
She lifts an eyebrow. “So he’s a stalker.”
I throw up a hand. “See? That’s what I keep saying. He gets all mad when I call him that.”
“Kayla, I’m pretty sure stalkers don’t admit to actually being stalkers.”
Weariness overtakes me. “Yeah, well, take it up with him.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen seeing as he’s banned from the restaurant.” Her last words are a little dramatic.
“He’s outside,” I tell her. I regret it approximately 1.0 seconds later. “No.” She’s already gone. “Jessie!” I hiss as I chase her through the restaurant, walking, of course. She’s outside moments later, and I follow her outside. “Jessie, stop.”
“Jackson!” she shouts, and I wince.
“Jessie, he’s probably long—” My words trail off when I see him step out from the trees, the same spot he was the other day. Jessie starts marching that way, and I hurry to keep up with her.
When we get close, those electric blues meet mine. He scans me, like he’s looking for a problem. “What’s wrong?” He’s looking at me, but it’s Jessie that answers.
“Are you stalking my friend?”
I step close to Jessie. “Jessie, stop.”
“Again with the stalker thing?” he asks, still looking at me.
He finally looks at Jessie. “No, I am not stalking her.” To me, he says, “I told you why I’m doing what I’m doing.
” He looks back at Jessie. “I showed up with coffee this morning because I wanted to. I know how hard she works, and I knew she had an early morning after a late night. So, I brought her a coffee. Is that so terrible?”
Jessie frowns. “Huh. Well, when you put it that way.” She turns to me and shrugs. “You should just put the guy out of his misery and start dating him.”
My mouth drops open in shock. “What? You were just saying he’s a stalker!”
He glances at me with a smirk. “I like her.”
A wave of something passes over me, and it surprises me. It can’t possibly be jealousy; I don’t even know the guy. And yet...“What time is it?” I suddenly ask.
Jessie’s already turning towards the café.
“Come on; we’re going to be late.” We race back to the café, and I laugh when Jessies stops right before the entrance and takes a composed breath before opening the front door.
I step inside and can’t help it; I glance back.
Jackson is in the same place I left him.
I hurry to clock in and jump into my morning shift.
A little before ten-thirty, I put in my order for my break.
I’ve had all morning to think about it. I put in an order for a meat lover’s omelet with toast and home fries and an extra side of bacon, all to go.
I clock out and drop off my apron and grab my phone.
I grab the box of food and open it and take out the bacon and put it in a small white box.
I leave the box on the serving counter out of the way, grab an ice water and a fork, and then head towards the front door.
I slip outside before anybody notices me and start towards the area where Jackson was this morning.
Sure enough, I see him step into the parking lot a few seconds after I’ve started towards him.
He watches me with an intensity that unnerves me.
When I get to him, I stop, suddenly unsure of what to say.
I take in the truck he’s standing next to and frown.
“Did you get a new truck?”
“Rental,” he says. “Truck suits me better.”
Okaaaay. “Here.” I hold the box out towards him.
“This is for you; I figured you’d be hungry.
I don’t know why, but you don’t seem to leave from here all day.
I don’t want you to starve, so here.” He stares down at the box a moment.
When he doesn’t take it, I push it towards him.
He finally puts his hand out and takes the box in his large hand.
“Where’s mine?”
I startle to see Jackson’s friend walk towards us from the trees. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were going to be here. I only get one free meal; you’ll have to share it.”
They both stare at me with looks I can’t read. Jackson steps forward and puts a hand on my arm, surprising me. “You gave me your meal?” He looks and sounds horrified.
I laugh. “Relax, I put in a side of bacon for me; I’m fine.”
He continues to stare at me. “Take it,” he grunts, all but shoving the box at me.
“No, it’s for you. I don’t even like omelets.”
“I can’t eat your food,” he says, sounding pained.
I wave off his concern. “It’s really not that big a deal. I’m still full from the coffee you got me this morning. And like I said, I have bacon waiting for me.” I take a step back. “All right. I’m going to head inside now.” I turn around and start towards the café.
“Kayla.”
The sound of my name in his low voice makes me shiver. I almost keep walking but force myself to turn back and act unaffected. “Yes.”
“Please eat this food.” Jackson holds the box out towards me.
“Jackson, I’m not going to eat it. If I take it back inside, I’m just going to give it to somebody else. I told you; I don’t eat omelets.”
He steps forward, and I am very aware of what a big guy he is. “Please don’t ask me to eat your food.” He sounds pained, and it really doesn’t make sense.
“Fine. Give me some of your home fries, and I’ll eat those with my bacon. I seriously won’t eat the omelet though.” He opens the box before I even get the words out and tears off the lid. I snag the fork and scoop out a spoonful of potatoes and put them in the lid.
“More,” he nearly growls at me.
I look up at him. “I’ll take what I want; no more and no less.” I hear a sound from Ransom that sounds suspiciously like a laugh. I glance over at him. “What?”
He smiles. “He’s just not used to being bossed around.”
“Me?” I ask in surprise. “I’m not bossing him around.” Ransom just smiles. “All right; I have to get back inside.”
“Eat with me,” Jackson says suddenly. I pause and look up at him, unsure what to say. “Please. I just want to get to know you.” His words are soft, and I study him a moment.
I get the feeling that this strong man, who looks like a mountain man, doesn’t ask for a lot of things. I don’t know him and yet, I find myself agreeing. “Okay. Let me grab my bacon.”
“You really have a thing for bacon, don’t you?”
His words surprise me, but I find myself grinning. “It’s bacon. What’s not to love?”
His eyes soften, and it surprises me so much, I stand there staring. “Go get your bacon. We’ll be here.” His words are soft and have a tender sort of quality to them.
I force myself to step back and out of this spell or whatever it is he has me under.
Without another word, I head back into the café.
Thankfully, everyone is busy, and nobody notices me grab my box of bacon and head back outside.
I look over and see Ransom and Jackson right where I left them.
I can’t help the smile on my face as I start that way. “Kayla.”
I turn to see Cole striding towards me. “Hey, Cole. How's it going?”
He smiles. “Better now. Are you on break?”
“Yes, I,” I pause unsure what to say.
“Perfect,” he says. “You can keep me company while I eat.” He glances down at the lid of home fries and the small box of bacon.
“And while you eat,” he adds with a grin.
He puts a hand on my lower back and ushers me towards the door.
When we get to the door, I can’t help it.
I glance over my shoulder. I take in the single figure standing almost out of sight, and then I duck into the restaurant.
I can’t get over the sense of sadness I feel, like I’m missing out on something.
I slide into a booth across from Cole, and Jessie shows up with a grin.
“Hey, Cole.” When she turns to me, though, there’s a question in her eyes.
I drop my eyes, unsure how to respond. I have no idea what’s going on in my life right now.
I’ve never had a guy interested in me, and now, suddenly, there’s possibly two?
It’s too much. I use the fork on the table and eat some of my potatoes while Jessie takes Cole’s order.
“I hope you don’t mind me eating; I have to get back to work soon.”
“Go right ahead.”
I eat a couple bits of potatoes, but they seem to be flavorless. I manage to eat the bacon because...it’s bacon. I try to carry on a conversation with Cole, but I can’t get past the feeling that maybe I chose to eat with the wrong man. That thought stays with me the rest of my shift.