Chapter 22
Nikki
“I gotta run to Weston for the day.”
“Oh, okay.”
Pipe drank the rest of his coffee and set it on the counter. “Don’t look at me like that, sugar. I haven’t been there since last week.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed his empty cup. “I know. We’ve kind of been in our own bubble the past few days. I can’t really expect to keep you all to myself.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me around the counter. He turned, spreading his legs, and tucked me in between them.
“Hey, no hankie pankie on the clock,” Bos called from the window.
“You really think he has to say that every time I touch you?”
I put my hands on Pipe’s shoulders and sighed. “At least there isn’t anyone close when he yelled it this time. I swear, Mrs. Sawyer about had a heart attack yesterday when she turned around and saw your hand on my butt.”
“Hey, she should have been happy she got a show with her meal.” His hands went to my butt like they did every morning, and he gently squeezed. “We have a much smaller crowd today. Miller and Steve haven’t even looked up from their coffee yet, and I’m pretty sure Maury is sleeping.”
“You keeping tabs on everyone now?”
“Gotta keep you safe, sugar. Now kiss me so I can sort out Wrecker’s shit and be back here before you clock out.”
I leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “If you’re not back in time, I’ll just have Bos give me a ride home.”
“I’ll be here. The only person you’re getting a ride home from is me. Although, I did tell Bos to keep an eye on you until I got back.”
“Oh good, now I’ll have him watching my every move. At least with you, I was able to distract you.”
He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and stuck it in the corner of his mouth. I snatched it away and tucked it into my apron “Hey, give that back.”
I shook my head and pulled out of his arms. “Nope, I’ve decided you need to quit.”
He rolled his eyes and patted his pocket. “Good luck with that, sugar. I’ve got a full pack in here. You can keep that one to remind you of me while I’m gone.”
I lunged for his pocket, but he turned away and slipped out of his chair. “Behave while I’m gone, and try not to give Bos too much hell.”
He snagged me around the neck, pulling me close for a quick, heated kiss and then he was out the door before I could even think.
“You two are so darn cute together.” Alice breezed into the cafe and sat down in the chair Pipe had just been in. “I saw you two from the window, and I’m pretty sure a car passing by heard me sigh.”
I set Pipe’s empty cup in the window for Bos to take and sat down next to Alice. “And just what are you doing here? It’s your day off. If I were you, I would still be sleeping.”
Alice shook her head. “No, if you were me, you would still be in bed, but you wouldn’t be sleeping.” She wiggled her eyebrows and grabbed a menu.
“Um, you really need to look at a menu?” I laughed.
“Hey, I want to feel like an actual customer today. Maybe be a little difficult and send my food back to Bos a few times.”
“Try it, and I’ll add a special ingredient every time,” he called from the window.
Alice rolled her eyes. “I swear, that man has bionic ears,” she mumbled. “Man, we really do have a lot of shit on the menu, don’t we?”
“There’s a lot, but most of the people order the same thing, so Bos only makes about ten things off a menu that has thirty things.”
Alice smiled and pointed her finger at something on the menu. “When do you think was the last time Bos made Eggs Benedict?”
“Not happening,” he called.
“Oh, come on,” Alice protested. “It’s on the damn menu. What happened to the customer always being right?”
Bos stood in front of the window and pointed his spatula at Alice. “You’re getting a ham and cheese omelette, home fries, sourdough toast, and bacon.”
Alice shrugged. “I guess that’ll do.”
Bos rolled his eyes and moved his pointing spatula at me. “You tell your biker about Richard?”
“Richard?” Alice asked. “What do you need to tell Pipe about him?”
“He asked her out, and I think he’s got something weird going on in his head about Nikki.”
I scoffed and moved to the coffeepot. “Richard is harmless. I didn’t tell Pipe about him, but I will tonight. It’s Wednesday so Pipe can see him when he picks me up.” The more I thought about Richard trying to hurt me, the more I realized Bos was crazy for thinking Richard was infatuated with me.
“Backup, backup,” Alice insisted. “I have heard nothing about Richard and you. Spill.”
“He asked her out,” Bos called. “She told him no, but did it in a way that made it sound like she was interested.”
“Girl, you need to shut that shit down right now. I’m sure Bos has heard the same rumors I have. Richard is a few donuts short of a dozen.” Alice twirled her finger by her ear and stuck her tongue out. “I’d stay far away from him if he’s interested in you.”
Now Alice was warning me about Richard. “Look, I think you are both wrong, but like I said, Pipe can meet him tonight. and if he says the same thing you guys are, then we’ll have to close the diner and move it.”
Bos grunted. “More like we’ll have to fire your ass, and you’ll need to move back to Weston.”
“What?” Alice gasped. “You’re moving back to Weston?”
I rolled my eye and grabbed her a clean cup. “I don’t know. Pipe and I have only been actually together for a week. I think that’s a little too soon to jump the gun. I’m happy in Kales Corners right now, and as far as I know, so is Pipe.”
“Well, I guess you’re right. But you better promise you’ll tell me when you’re leaving, and you’ll have to come visit at least once a month.”
“I feel like this is kind of like a custody arrangement,” I mumbled. I filled her coffee cup and wandered over to the other two tables to see if they needed a refill.
Bos had her food done in record time, and I set it down in front of her. I sat back down next to Alice and stole a piece of bacon off her plate. “What are your plans today?”
Alice buttered her toast and shoved half a piece into her mouth. “Mah, tin my van.”
I tilted my head and took a bite of bacon. “How strange is it I actually know what you just said? Mall and then some Vin.”
Alice touched her nose and nodded her head. “Ding, ding,” she gasped as she swallowed. “Jesus, could you dry out the toast a little bit more, Bos, I just about choked on it.”
“Don’t put the whole damn piece in your mouth, and it won’t be a problem,” he grumbled.
“Old man is going to be the death of me,” Alice mumbled. “So, what are you doing after work besides Pipe?” She elbowed me in the side and wiggled her eyebrows.
I rolled my eyes. “Not much. We’ve just been hanging out around the house lately.”
“You wanna go to The Bar tonight? They have dice and pull tabs tonight.”
“I thought you hated going to The Bar. Now you wanna actually hang out there voluntarily?”
She shrugged and shoveled in a fork full of eggs. “It’ll be fun, and we can play a couple games of pool.”
It actually sounded like fun, and I knew Pipe would be cool with it too. “If that’ll get you away from Vin for a night, then I’m down with it.”
I pulled out my phone, knowing Pipe was driving, but he would get the message when he got to Weston.
We were going to make our first public appearance as a couple. I was nervous, but a whole lot excited.
*