Chapter Eleven

Naomi

When I wake up, the sun is shining on my pillow. It’s the best sleep I’ve had in ages. I reach my fingertips above my head until they graze my headboard, and I point my toes, getting a nice, good stretch.

I’m a little bit sore.

I can still feel him. His presence wraps around me like a cozy blanket, and I like that the memory of his dick still rests inside my body. Last night was probably the best sex I’ve had in my entire life, and that wasn’t even the best part.

My stomach flutters as I remember his goodnight kiss, the fact that he walked me to my door. When I first met him, I thought he was some bad boy asshole looking for a good time, but so much has changed in such a short period of time.

For one thing, he’s saved my staff and my restaurant. I don’t want to admit it to myself, but there was no way I could have taken on Skippy and his cronies.

His crystal blue eyes flash across my memory, and I grin into my pillow.

I’ve had a hard time trusting men in the past, and with very, very good reason. I’ve had my walls up for a long time. With Ben, as much as we bicker, I still find that I want to talk to him, to spend time with him. I want to have sex with him every time I see him, which isn’t all that bad of a sensation either. Sex with my ex was vanilla compared to what Ben offers. He’s the whole package, and he might be into me, too.

Could this be the guy to end my trust issues for good? Maybe someone I can be with forever?

I let the thought sit unfinished. I don’t want to overthink this. I want to enjoy the experience of dating someone I have a crush on. For now, it should be enough. I glance at my bedside clock and exhale.

I should get to work. There is prep that needs to get done before the lunch rush, assuming we have one and Skippy doesn’t show up and scare people away again. Just the thought has my blood boiling, and I’m up and out of bed. I need to move. If I lay still any longer, I’ll start thinking up worst-case scenarios in my head, and that doesn’t do anyone any good.

I slide a blue flower-print dress over my head and slip on yesterday’s boots. My lip curls as I remember how Ben insisted I keep them on last night, how he took command and had his way with me. I never knew that I would be so into something like that, but everything he did drove me wild. My body tingles in anticipation of the next time.

I whistle as I walk into the back kitchen. Paul is already there doing prep work for the fish I sent him out for earlier this morning, and he stifles a yawn when he sees me.

“Morning.”

“Good morning,” I say. I can’t help that there’s a spring in my step, and he lifts a curious eyebrow at me but doesn’t ask the question. Paul likes to keep to himself, and I understand that. That’s why he likes working for me. I don’t pry. “Where are you at?”

He shows me how far he’s gotten in his process, and I slide right in. Together, we work in productive silence until Katie arrives. I’m happy to see that she is her usual chipper self.

“Another beautiful day!” she chirps, and I nod. “Another day and a better one, I’m sure.”

“Of course. If we get any unsavory characters, I’ve got the sheriff’s department on speed dial in my phone. If someone acts, Ben will know about it,” I say.

“Probably a good move. Let me know if you need anything.” Katie grins.

Katie’s out and about, and soon orders stream in. A surprising amount of them. When I set four plates of food on the counter for Katie to take, she breezes in even as she’s writing on her notepad. She sets a fresh pile of orders on the counter, and I take a look at them then look back up at Katie with awe.

“This is amazing. We’ve got a full dining room!”

Katie’s eyes are bright as she looks up at me. I can tell she’s a little stressed. She’s never had this many customers, this many tables to manage at once. I knew she had a little experience when I hired her, but now I’m wondering how little.

“Apparently, someone shared how great your food was on the town Facebook page. Folks around here may not be all that hip, but they’re on social media. There’s even a line developing!”

“That’s awesome.” My heart soars at this news.

We might make it in this little town after all. I don’t have time to dwell on the success of it though, as Katie finishes writing and piles two more orders for us to work on. The lunch shift is in full force when she sweeps back in with another set of orders.

“Naomi, there’s someone here to see you.”

“What, to compliment the chef?”

“No, he just walked in. He says he knows you, but Naomi, he’s with Skippy. What should I do?”

I curse under my breath and take the slips from her hand. I pass them to Paul and meet his gaze. “You got this for a bit?”

He nods. “I’ve got this, boss. If you need help, give a shout.”

“I will. Thanks,” I say.

I pull off my apron and head out into the dining room. The second Katie sees that I am handling it, she steps back out to go refill drinks. The room is noisy with conversation, and the sound warms my heart right before it turns to stone.

His face is burned into my brain, of course.

Why wouldn’t it be? I dated him for long enough and knew him well before then. Jordan Henderson was supposed to be the love of my life. He looks exactly like he did the last time I saw him.

His arms are thick with corded muscle and sleeved in tattoos. He wears a tight black T-shirt, in spite of the cold weather, and dark denim jeans. His black hair is tousled, his green eyes serpentine as he stares me down. He may be handsome, but he’s not perfect. His nose is crooked from being broken so many times, and when he smiles at me, the little gap between his front teeth takes center stage.

“Naomi. A pleasure to see you, as always.”

His voice is deep and grainy, his tone familiar. I glance around to see if his or Skippy’s presence has alerted anyone, but no one seems to care. They’re enjoying each other’s company, completely oblivious to the scum that’s walked through my door.

And this day started off so well.

“If I could have a word with you gentlemen outside, please,” I say in my most professional voice.

Jordan crosses his arms and smirks at me. “Look at you, acting the boss. What are you going to do if we make a scene? Call your cop boyfriend? News travels fast around here, sweetheart.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not going to engage with you in this room, Jordan. Either step outside with me, or I will call the cops.”

He doesn’t like my tone. His eyes harden, and he stares me down. After a heavy pause, he laughs and slaps Skippy on the back. “Let’s humor the pretty lady, shall we, Skip? After you,” he says, opening the door and waving his hand for me to walk through. I want to tell him no. I want to tell him to fuck off. Since we’re so busy, I have no choice but to go if it means it will get them out of sight of customers. I walk across the street and wait for them to join me.

Jordan waits until a car approaches, then he slowly crosses the street, forcing them to slam on their brakes. The old man behind the wheel honks at him, and Jordan flips him the bird.

“I see you haven’t stopped being an asshole,” I say, and Jordan laughs as he and Skippy join me.

The air is cold, and I wrap my arms around my middle as I stare them down.

“You used to love that about me, Naomi. You used to like a good risk, a little bit of fun.”

“That was before you fucked my family over. Now what are you doing here? What do you want?”

“Oh, come now. You know that’s not true. We were good together, Naomi. Remember the old times? Just you and me, a motorcycle, and plenty of adventures?”

“No. I don’t. Do you have anything else to say before I remind you that your friend here has a permanent ban from my place, and that now applies to you, too?”

Jordan glares at me, and his hand twitches. I wonder if he has a gun, then I realize that’s ridiculous. Jordan was always a bad boy, but it never went that far. He liked to flirt with danger, but he never went all the way with it.

“Skippy here tells me that you’ve been hanging with a cop. That true?”

I glare at Skippy, who snorts and spits a large chunk of snot onto the ground. That is his only reaction to Jordan’s statement.

“I had no idea Skippy was so invested in my love life.”

“I like to have my men keep an eye out for people who matter to me. And you do matter to me, Naomi.”

“I recommend that you change that opinion, because you mean nothing to me, and you never will.”

“You don’t want to hang out with the wrong crowd. You know what cops are like. I don’t know what wool this guy’s pulled over your eyes, but it’s always the same in the end. You’re not the kind of girl who ends up with a cop, Naomi. You’re one of us.”

“Are you done?” I grit my teeth to keep them from chattering. I don’t know if it’s the cold or my nerves or both, but what I do know is I want these men far away. I want to be safe in my kitchen.

Jordan releases a dramatic sigh. “Oh, Naomi, what are we going to do with you? Once you come to your senses, give me a call. You’d fit in well with me and my boys, and we know the best places to get a drink.”

“Never.”

“Suit yourself. Door’s open for when you change your mind.”

His confidence radiates as he nods for Skippy to follow him. The obedient dog does just that, and the two of them head toward a pair of motorcycles. Jordan blows me a sarcastic kiss before they kick their motors on and speed off down the coast. I am mortified that he even bothered to show up here.

My poor brother is rotting in a jail cell. Because of that man.