Chapter 6
CHAPTER
SIX
“Imust say, I’m impressed.”
Heat flooded my cheeks as I met Joseph’s searing gaze. The desire pooling in his soft brown eyes made me giggle. I wanted to look away, but then he smiled, and I nearly melted. His rich chocolate skin was truly irresistible.
“Thanks,” I breathed.
We stared at each other for a beat, then he continued his casual perusal around my dining area while I stayed on his heels.
My eyes raked over his tall, burly frame.
I started at the cognac-colored oxfords that I was sure were designer.
His long, lithe legs were clad in navy slacks.
He always looked so poised and polished, standing with confident posture while viewing Sadé’s artwork.
The tailored white dress shirt covering his broad shoulders made my belly roll, reminding me it had been a while since we had sex.
I bit my lip while considering the consequences of crossing that line with him again.
“If you had called first, I probably would’ve had some food for you too.”
“Not necessary. I just wanted to stop by before I leave for Dallas tonight.”
Last night, he texted me, asking about my schedule for the day. His drop in was unexpected, but I jumped right into showing him around, hoping to ease tension between us.
“Remember when we looked through dozens of paint swatches?” I asked, hooking my arm around his, feeling nostalgic.
Joseph nodded; a warm smile covered his lips. “I never knew there were so many shades of orange.”
“I know right, but terracotta fits perfectly.”
“It does. You got everything you wanted. That extra year was worth it.”
“Yup. Now, we just need to finish hiring staff, train them, and open in the next four months.” I untangled my arm from his when we made it to the bar.
“So much to do, so little time,” I mused.
While biting the inside of my cheek, I looked around the dining area. As the opening drew closer, the more anxious I’d become.
“Hey,” Joseph crooned. He placed his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. I inhaled his tonka bean and vanilla scented cologne. His embrace tightened and I hadn’t realized how much I missed his touch. My body betrayed me, pressing deeper into him. “You got this, Robbie.”
Robbie.
I hated that nickname, but I let him get away with it because he was so sweet and fine as hell.
He was really into me and trying so hard to show me how great a person he was.
It sucked to say I didn’t feel the same.
I could hardly believe myself because he checked off all the boxes.
He was a career man, family-oriented, and a genuinely nice person.
However, it wasn’t enough. I didn’t feel butterflies when he came around, I didn't yearn for his time and attention, it was sad. With Joseph, I wasn’t my usual overly affectionate self.
All the signs were there, but I refused to accept them.
Cupping his cheek, I ran my hand along his jawline. The pads of my fingertips brushed over his five o’clock shadow. He drew his bottom lip between his teeth and flared his nostrils.
“What are you doing after this?”
My heart pounded and my mouth dried as I mulled over my response. Desire danced in his soft brown eyes. I removed my hand from his face while giggling.
“You know, the usual. Studying, planning B curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “We’ve even talked about being exclusive.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Two breakups in a year. I must've been going for some record. It was crazy to even consider this a breakup since we weren’t together. But the rejection felt just the same.
Clearing my throat, I met Joseph’s eyes. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I told her that I needed time to think about it. She knows about you and understands my feelings for you.”
“I’m not interested in being in a love triangle. If you want to be with her and she feels the same for you, go for it.”
I folded my arms across my chest, suddenly over him and this conversation.
Joseph shook his head. “I’m saying I want you.”
“But I told you I’m not ready for a relationship.” I threw up my hands. “We haven’t gone on a proper date in months.”
“You have a lot on your plate with the sommelier exam and opening. I was giving you space. I’m willing to wait a little longer,” he told me.
Shaking my head, I replied, “You don’t have to do that.”
“I just assumed.” He paused, running his hand over his face. “Look, I’ll give you some time to think about it because I know this is a lot to digest.”
“Okay, Joseph. I have a meeting in a few minutes,” I told him after checking the time on my phone.
The meeting wasn’t for another half-hour, but I was ready for him to leave.
“Call me later.” He kissed my cheek before heading toward the exit.
A scowl rested on my face as I watched him leave. Once the doors closed, I shook my head in disbelief. I grabbed my phone off the bar to call Adrienne.
“Qué pasa, mamí,” Adrienne sang, making me smile.
“You and your bad advice.”
She groaned. “?Ay bendito! Give me a second.” After lowering the music playing in the background, she said, “Okay, what happened?”
“Joseph just left and he’s convinced I’ll be ready for a relationship after my exam.”
Adrienne chortled. “And how is this my fault?”
“You’re the one who encouraged me to start seeing him.”
“Well, what else was I supposed to do? Tell you to not go out with the first guy you’d been interested in since the breakup?” The humor in her voice had me smiling.
“Ah. Thank you for that.”
“Anytime, mamí. What did you say to him?”
“I told him I wouldn’t be ready for a relationship anytime soon and he offered to give me time to think.”
“Joseph,” she droned. “He stopped by the truck a few times, asking for advice. I never give him too much, just enough to draw his own conclusions.”
“So he thinks waiting around is smart?”
“I don’t want to be in the middle, Robyn.”
“I’m not the reason you’re caught in the middle.”
I laughed, not feeling an ounce of sympathy for her. Joseph shouldn’t have gone to my friend behind my back in hopes of learning more about me. And Adrienne didn’t have to take the bait.
“He thinks I have a certain loyalty to him since I introduced y’all.”
During lunch hour, I worked at the register while Adrienne and her sous chef prepared the orders.
I had a few snafus at the register, mostly user error, which made the wait time longer than usual.
When Joseph came to the window, he seemed disappointed to see me.
I made a cute joke that had Adrienne peeking over her shoulder to see what was going on.
At the sound of his voice, Adrienne came to the window and explained that I was covering for another employee. He nodded in understanding, then continued giving me a hard time by ordering “his usual.”
Adrienne laughed at our exchange before telling me what he ordered.
I couldn’t deny the chemistry between us but didn’t expect anything more after giving him his food.
I covered the register a few more times, giving me and Joseph a chance to cross paths.
It took two months for him to ask for my number.
A week later, I was inviting him over after a night out with the girls.
Our communication outside of the bedroom was inconsistent.
Text message conversations often ended abruptly; most dinner plans fell through because we put work first, and coffee dates were short, not leaving much time to connect.
I could go days without speaking to Joseph and be okay with it.
So hearing he wanted to be in a relationship with me didn’t make sense.
“It was hardly an introduction,” I replied, annoyance stirring in my belly.
Adrienne sighed, then said, “You know what I mean. Joseph’s a sweet guy and you deserve someone nice after you know who.” Her disdain for Terrance was ever present in her tone.
“One thing he mentioned was how closed off you were about your family.”
“I know, I know.”
She was one of the sweetest people I’d ever met in life.
It was hard to get upset with her for helping Joseph.
I wasn’t forthcoming about my family. When people learned who my parents and brother were, their attitude and expectations changed.
I wasn’t ashamed of the affluence and opportunity my family name brought me by any means.
It was just easier to make genuine connections when my parents were left out of the conversation.
Once Joseph caught wind of my family’s notoriety, his approach changed.
Unfortunately, he still remained inconsistent and nonchalant.
“I just want you happy, and if it isn’t with Joseph, fine,” Adrienne conceded. “Maybe after things cool off you two can have a serious conversation.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I pushed out a breath, glancing around the dining area.
Would absence really make the heart grow fonder?
“I’ll call you later. Starling and Raven will be calling soon,” I told Adrienne after a beat.
“Talk to you later,” she trilled before ending the call.
Moments later, I was in my office preparing to meet with my siblings and Carmen, the floor manager of B&B.