Chapter Nine
Three days later—
Max walked into Thai Garden along with Liam, whom he hadn’t had to coerce too much into accompanying him; just the offer of buying him lunch had done the trick.
Max had never been in the place before; they’d always ordered delivery. A hostess station was in front with a middle-aged woman that had to be Malee’s mother. She was attractive for her age, her hair pulled up in a bun. She gave them a slight bow.
“Two?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Max replied.
She grabbed two menus and led them to a booth against the wall near the kitchen door. The red vinyl creaked as he slid his big body in.
“Your waitress will be right with you.” The woman smiled and departed.
Max took a moment to survey the place as he picked up the menu she’d set before him. It was dim, the front windows tinted against the bright sun. A large golden Buddha sat on a pedestal against the back wall, flanked by bamboo plants. There were a few booths along each sidewall and about a half-dozen tables in the middle of the room. The place was not packed, but they did good business.
His eyes found Malee. She was across the room, busing a table, her hair braided down her back. She wore a white double-breasted restaurant shirt with the sleeves rolled to her elbows.
Max knew he should stay away, that it was risky coming here—where her family was, where her father and brother were—but he couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t wait any longer. For three nights, he’d gone to the gym and left the light on above the door. And for three nights, no lamp had shown in her window.
Max knew he couldn’t speak to her here, not where anyone could see, but he had a plan.
Their waitress appeared at the table, setting down two glasses of water. Max studied the girl and knew in a moment she was Malee’s sister—the same girl he’d seen walking with her. The resemblance was undeniable.
She took in the tattoos running up their arms, then her gaze lifted to the Brothers Ink logo on their black T-shirts, and her eyes got big. She maintained her demeanor, though, pulling her order pad out.
“What would you like today?”
Liam scanned the menu. “I’ll have the Pad Thai and an order of spring rolls.”
Max’s eyes strayed back to Malee while the waitress was waiting on Liam. He saw her turn, her eyes sweeping the restaurant, probably searching for other empty tables that needed busing. They landed on him, and her mouth dropped open, and damned if she didn’t almost drop the gray bin full of dishes she was holding.
“And for you, sir?” The waitress addressed him, drawing his attention and forcing him to break eye contact with Malee, but not before the girl noticed and glanced over her shoulder. When she looked back to pin him with her eyes, she knew who he’d been looking at.
“I’ll have the same.” He handed the menu to her, wanting to get rid of her. He waited until she left, his head twisting to make sure she was through the kitchen door before he turned back to search out Malee. He didn’t have far to look; she was heading for the kitchen herself, passing right by him. He only had a moment.
He reached out and touched her arm, halting her in her steps. Her eyes flashed to his, and she darted a look around the room. He slipped a note from his pocket and held it out near her hand.
Her fingers extended, just enough to grab onto it, and then she disappeared through the same swinging door.
“Smooth.”
Max turned back to see Liam grinning. “Shut up.”
“You see the look the waitress gave us?”
“Yup. I don’t think they think too highly of where we work.”
“Or maybe she was fascinated by our beautiful ink,” Liam suggested with a waggle of his brows.
“Did that look say ‘fascinated’ to you?”
Liam chuckled. “Nope. You and this girl, it’s starting to feel like Romeo and Juliet. So which ones are we, the Capulets or the Montagues?”
“Hell if I know. I flunked all that literature crap in high school.”
***
Malee set the bin on the stainless steel counter next to the dishwashing machine. She clutched the folded note to her chest, and her eyes slid closed. She was terrified and excited at the same time as to what might be written on it. He’d come, here to her restaurant, and he’d done it just to pass her this note. She’d almost dropped the bin of dishes when she’d turned around and spotted him across the room. Her heart had plunged to her stomach. But she couldn’t deny the thrill that seeing him again gave her.
She’d wanted to meet him, but she couldn’t slip out that first night, and then with every night that went by, she was sure he’d eventually give up on her.
A tug on her sleeve had her eyes popping open. Shoving the note in her hip pocket, unread, she turned to see her sister signing to her frantically.
Did you see who came in for lunch?
Malee nodded.
Is he one of them?
Yes.
Which one?
The one with his back to the kitchen door.
Did he come to see you?
She pulled the note out. He gave me this.
Lawan pulled her by the arm into the broom closet, quietly closing the door and flipping on the light.
What does it say?
I haven’t read it yet.
Well, read it. I won’t tell anyone what it says. Hurry.
Reluctantly Malee pulled the paper from her pocket and carefully unfolded it.
Malee,
Meet me tonight.
I’ll be at the gym after it closes.
I’ll leave the light on above the front door for as long as I’m there.
I need to see you.
Please come.
Max
Lawan read it over Malee’s shoulder, then looked at her and signed, Will you go?
Malee sucked her lips into her mouth. Did she dare?
Her sister persisted. Do you want to see him?
Malee wanted to see Max more than anything, but she’d been afraid. Finally, she nodded.
Lawan brushed a stray tendril back from Malee’s face and tilted her chin up to meet her gaze. Malee saw her sister’s eyes had glazed over. Then Lawan smiled and hugged her. When she pulled back, she signed, Do you want me to walk you there?
Malee shook her head.
Okay, but I’m going to watch out the window and make sure you get there okay.
Malee laughed and rolled her eyes.
Her sister’s look grew serious again. He better be good to you.
Malee gave her another quick hug and peeked out the closet door. No one was watching, so she quickly motioned Lawan to follow her.
Lawan put her arm out, stopping Malee. Do you want me to slip him your answer when I bring them the check?
Malee’s eyes lit up and she nodded.
Lawan pulled a pen from her pocket and held it out to Malee, who snatched it and grabbed a paper napkin with the Thai Garden logo on it. She scribbled on it and tucked it into Lawan’s apron pocket.
***
Max’s knee bounced up and down. The plates on the table were empty, their lunch consumed, and all they needed was the check. He hadn’t seen Malee come back out to the dining room since he’d passed her that note, and now he was worried that perhaps he’d overstepped. Maybe he’d built their relationship up in his head to be more than it really was. Perhaps she wasn’t as interested in him as he was in her. He leaned his forearms on the table, his fingers interlaced.
The water glasses trembled with the rapid movement of his leg under the table.
“Dude, quit it,” Liam said. “You’re nervous as a cat.”
The kitchen door swung open, and Max twisted his head to glance over his shoulder. Their waitress exited, her eyes on them, but before the door swung back he could see Malee standing in the kitchen. Their gazes locked for a split-second before his view of her was cut off. He tried to read her expression, but it was just too damn quick.
“May I get you anything else, gentlemen?” the waitress asked.
Liam answered for them. “No thanks, darlin’. Just the check.”
She put it face down on the table and then her eyes connected with Max’s as she pulled something from her pocket and held it out to him.
He slowly reached out and took it, and she walked back into the kitchen. His gaze followed her as the door that was all that separated him from Malee swung open again. This time she wasn’t standing there.
He glanced back at the folded napkin the girl had slipped him. He opened it.
Yes, I’ll come.
Wait for me.
He felt the fist constricting his heart ease, and he grinned.
“I take it she said yes.”
Max lifted his eyes to Liam’s teasing ones as he shoved the napkin in the breast pocket of his T-shirt. “Yup. Let’s go.”
They stood. Liam grabbed the check. “I got this one. You leave the tip.”
Max dug in the hip pocket of his jeans and pulled out several folded bills. He plucked a twenty from among them and tossed it on the table. Malee’s sister deserved it for delivering the note that had just made his day.