Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

When that didn’t work, I called Bailey and she came over for the night. I know she hated how loud the apartment was because my neighbors on both sides were potheads who enjoyed Primus in the middle of the night. Bailey didn’t complain though. I saw how much she wanted to, but she kept her mouth closed and pretended we were having a sleepover.

The next morning, a sleepy Bailey dropped me off at work and mumbled something about seeing me later. When I called Farah to let her know my first night had gone well, she asked me to come to dinner that evening. When I didn’t answer right away, she sent a picture of a frowning Cooper. Taking the hint, I agreed.

Lark was back to her happy self and we enjoyed the first few hours of work. She even helped me flirt with a guy who had come back in to talk to me. When I was unsure how to handle his invitation to dinner, Lark assured me that at the very least I’d get a free meal out of the date.

“Free meals make it all better,” she said, winking. “If he gets handsy, casually mention that your sister is marrying a Johansson. Those hands will get respectful in a flash.”

Feeling more confident, I agreed. Ryan still made me miss the Judd of my fantasies, instead of the real Judd who played with my heart.

Then, four hours into my shift, Lark seated the real Judd in my section. She walked past and said he requested me. Oh, and a coffee. Setting his drink on the table, I stepped back and held out my pad of paper. He looked up at me with his faded blue eyes and smiled casually like we were old friends.

“Do you need more time?” I asked coldly.

“Hello, Tawny,” he said in the deep voice I craved.

“Hello, Judd. Do you need more time?”

Judd tapped his tight black tee to indicate where I wore the necklace he bought me. “It looks good on you.”

“I’ve sent a thank you note in the mail.”

Judd lost his smile. “You’re kidding, right?”

“I got your address from Bailey. Do you need more time to order?”

Sighing, Judd looked back at the menu then back at me. “What do they serve here?”

“You ate at several Denny’s on the way to town.”

“I ate breakfast crap and I don’t want breakfast crap right now.”

Leaning forward, I flipped the menu to the lunch and dinner pages. “Do you need me to read it to you too?”

Before I stood up, Judd leaned forward and brushed his lips against my cheek. Jerking away, I wiped away the sensation of him, even though he felt like heaven on my skin.

“I’ll give you a chance to look it over,” I said, moving away while caressing the necklace absently.

“Stay and help me pick.”

“Why are you here? Did Cooper tell you to watch me?”

Judd gave me a cocky grin. “Watching over a chick is below my pay grade. No, he sent Parker to keep an eye on you. Say hi to Parker,” Judd said, gesturing towards a guy in the corner booth who had been drinking coffee for two hours. I gave a little wave to the older guy with the longass goatee.

“So what do you want?”

“You know what I want. I made that clear at your party.”

“To fuck me.” When Judd rolled his eyes, I smacked the table, actually startling him. “Don’t you dare treat me like I’m dumb. You blew me off and said I wasn’t good enough for you. Now, you act like I should giggle and swoon because you’ve decided you’re interested again. I didn’t fuck up and I don’t think you’re cute coming here and bothering me at work.”

“Are you done?”

“Sure, sir. What would you like?”

“Dinner tonight. I’ll explain shit and we’ll get over your hurt feelings and things will be like they were.”

“You mean like on the road when you ignored me most of the time when you weren’t acting like I was either hot or annoying?”

Judd titled his head back and forth then sighed. “No, I’ll probably want to aim higher than that.”

“I’m not amused.”

“You can’t know how sexy you are when you give me your death stare. Hotter than hell.”

“I’m not against fucking you eventually, but I’m still mad. Until I get over it, you’ll have to fuck someone else.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I’ll come back.”

“Dinner tonight.”

“No.”

“Don’t be like that.”

“Like what? Strong?”

“More like a stubborn brat. Hell, you’ve been waiting this whole time for me to get my head out of my ass and come for you. Well, my head is firmly free and I’m here, so stop making me jump through hoops.”

Staring at him, I waited. While it wasn’t like the staring contests I witnessed between Cooper and Farah, it was close. Yet, I didn’t back down, so Judd just grinned.

“Where do you want to go for dinner tonight?”

“I’m busy tonight. Farah is making dinner.”

“Then tomorrow,” he said, glancing over the menu now.

“I have plans.”

Judd stiffened and his gaze met mine. “Who?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“I know Mac wouldn’t go near you, so who is it?”

Again, I stared, but Judd didn’t grin this time. “I’ll come back when you’re ready to order.”