Chapter One
Warrick parked the large black SUV they used for business trips in front of a cafe. The vehicle carried the three huge men comfortably and had the necessary space in the back for everything they would require for any given job they were on.
He, Brett, and Reid walked into the café that was recommended to them and looked around for a large table. Warrick pointed to a corner booth where they could fit and not bump knees with each other under the table.
The place was dated but clean, and everyone eating seemed to be enjoying it.
Within a minute of sitting down, a woman brought glasses of water and menus as she told them the specials. “Shelby will be right with you.”
Warrick nodded and started looking at the menu.
“Um … hi. I’m Shelby, and I’m going to be your waitress.”
Warrick looked up. The pretty young woman stood in front of them with a paper pad and a pencil pressed to her chest. She could be twelve years old or late twenties, it was so hard to tell.
“How old are you?” he blurted and ignored the two guys with him when they snorted.
She dropped her arms and blushed but didn’t take her eyes off of him. “Oh, well, I’m twenty-three and four months. How about you?”
Fuck, she looked like a teenager with her hair up in a high ponytail with a purple polka-dot ribbon. The waitress’s uniform was pink and short, and it barely contained her breasts behind the bib.
“I’m thirty-six.”
“That’s nice. Would you like for me to get you anything to drink?”
“We’ll all take coffee, honey.”
Her eyes widened a bit at the endearment, and then she nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
He watched her walk off. One of the guys clearing their throat got his attention.
He turned to them and saw the smirks on their faces. “What?”
Brett snickered. “I’ve never seen you look like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like someone just gut-punched you,” Reid said.
Warrick pressed the heel of his hand into the middle of his chest. “It feels like I got kicked in the chest.”
“She grabbed my attention right away, too, but it was you she focused on, you bastard.” Brett laughed.
Reid nodded. “She’s beautiful, but she doesn’t look the type to have one-night stands, if that’s what you’re looking for in the short time we’ll be here on this job. But I could be wrong.”
Warrick turned to watch Shelby. “No, you’re right. She wouldn’t.”
“We’re only going to be here for a week,” Brett reminded him.
“I know.”
He watched her concentrate on balancing three cups of coffee on the tray, and he almost smiled when she looked relieved as she set the tray down. Then she handed out the coffee and set a basket with sugar packets and creamers in the middle.
She pulled the pad of paper and pencil out again. “Are you ready to order?”
They all three ordered the special.
She smiled. “You’ll like it. It’s my favorite.” She picked up her tray. “I’ll be right back.”