---

“What was I thinking?” I grumbled as I paced around the bar’s little kitchen.

Hawk peeked in the window. “I saw her. You were thinking ‘hey she’s cute! I’d like to date her.’ Am I right?” He waggled his brows.

“You remember when you were all…” I puffed out my chest and flexed my arms. “And this?” I pushed my sunglasses on my face, set my jaw, and stared silently back at him.

He snickered. “Is that me? Are you really trying to be me?” Hawk slapped the counter. “Wait until I tell Isla.” He puffed out his chest and stood in a way only he could. I think it was the military training.

“You really have no job insecurities left, do you?” I shook my head.

With a shrug, he murmured, “Not really. No.”

“Well, you should,” I grumbled. As I leaned anxiously on the stainless steel counter, I added, “Because if this goes badly, you’re fired.”

“You serious right now, bro?” His brows rose.

I nodded then sighed and shook my head. “Once in a while, I’d like to be able to throw my weight around.”

“I can bench three hundred. I can throw you around for sure.” Hawk leaned low. “Remember that next time you want to be a dick.” He gazed at me and I recognized the pity in his eyes. “Be nice and I’ll be happy to help you.”

I blew out a breath. “Okay. I’ll be nice. I’m running out of time here. And there’s nothing to eat. Why did I think this was a good idea?” I lifted the laminated menu I had on the counter in front of me. “Norah isn’t the kind of girl I can feed chicken wings and French fries.”

“You mean she’s more of the mozzarella stick type? Got it,” Hawk teased.

“Who’s being a dick now, huh?” I glared at him.

He laughed. “So, go check the fridge. You’re all focused on the menu. You don’t even know what we have to work with.”

I frowned as I wandered over to our walk-in cooler. As soon as I pulled open the door, I grinned. Just as quickly, my joy faded away. “I can’t feed her wedding leftovers.” I shook my head adamantly. “She’s not the leftover type either.”

“Bodhi.” I could hear the strain in his voice as he tried to be patient with me. “They’re not really leftovers if she hasn’t had them before.” Hawk disappeared from the window and for a second I thought he’d completely given up on me. Then he reappeared as he entered the kitchen. He quickly yet gently pushed me out of the way. “Okay, so we’ve got some puff pastries here. We can warm them in the oven. Oh, this looks promising. Bacon wrapped scallops. Some mini quiches. Here’s some of those mini baguettes. We can whip up a salad…”

“Whip up? Warm? Who are you?” I stared at him in mock disgust.

“I’m a bachelor. We reheat everything. We cook nothing. Actually, your sister doesn’t cook either.” He chuckled.

“She doesn’t?” My brow furrowed. “I seriously remember eating some rock-hard brownies she served once.”

“Isla tries, but she shouldn’t cook.” Hawk smirked. “Anyway, you go set up the table. Go with a quiet one in the back corner. Here.” He passed me a folded tablecloth and centerpiece. Then he opened one of the stacked boxes and pulled out a couple of bottles of wine. “Now we just need to figure out dessert.”

“I saw there’s cake left.” I was actually getting excited about this. “The top layer hasn’t even been cut!”

“Dammit, Bodhi.” Hawk huffed. “Nor will it be cut until the happy couple’s one year anniversary. Max’s instructions were very explicit: save the cake at all costs.”

“So if I were to…” And I started to sneak closer to the cooler.

Hawk stepped in front of my and cracked his knuckles. “I’m allowed to maim you. He actually encouraged it. Don’t make me do it, man.”

I shrugged. “Okay. We can go with a few slices from the section that has already been sliced, I guess.”

“You’ll have to.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’ll just go make up the table. Norah will be here soon.” I inhaled deeply.

“We’ve got this. I’ll handle the food.”

I stared at him a moment before the edge to his voice snapped me out of it.

“Bodhi, go on.”

“Right.” I ducked out of the kitchen and set to work on the table. By the time Norah arrived less than ten minutes later, it was ready. “Won’t you join me?” I asked as suavely as I could manage.

Her eyes widened as she surveyed the place.

“You look really nice,” I murmured nervously. “Did you do something different with your…face?”

Norah laughed. “Yes. I washed it and put makeup on it. Oh, here.” She held out her wrist. “Before you ask…perfume.”

I held her wrist in my hand and brought it up to my nose. “You smell…positively delicious.” I wanted to smack myself in the forehead. I was making a complete fool of myself over this woman.

She smiled and studied the table. “You know, you mentioned we weren’t in competition.”

“We’re not.” I sat beside her even as Hawk came toward us holding plates of food.

He set them in front of her. “Hello. Enjoy your dinner.” He bowed slightly and backed away.

Scanning the plate, Norah licked her lips as if she were carefully considering her words. “So, we’re not in competition because you’ve decided to blow my little café out of the water?”

I shook my head and sank back in the seat. “You got me. These are wedding leftovers.” I sighed. “I invited you to dinner, but I can’t cook and I couldn’t serve you bar food. You deserve to be wined and dined. You should be treated like a princess.” I glanced at her, almost afraid of her reaction. I wouldn’t be surprised if she dropped her linen napkin and strode away.

Instead, she was grinning. “Let’s eat,” she murmured.