I nod, flashing him a skeptical look. “Of course.”
“So?” he asks. “You free tomorrow?”
“Nope, sorry. I’ve got to work at the diner.”
As I peek up at him, the sight of him chewing on his bottom lip makes me smile.
“What time is your break tomorrow? Could I swing by and grab lunch with you?”
Sighing, I turn to him. “You’re awfully eager for someone who is just my friend. What are you really trying to accomplish here?”
“I swear, Tate,” he promises, placing his hand over his heart. The black and gray tattoos on his fingers hold my attention. “I’m just trying to be a friend. Like I said, it’s easier if you stay busy and I want to be here for you if you want to talk.”
I study his face for a moment, soaking in the sincerity shining in his eyes, before I see Reed watching us from behind Lincoln. He looks pissed and I know he’s going to make the rest of my shift hell.
“Okay, swing by the diner tomorrow and I’ll have lunch with you.”
If I hadn’t already said yes, his bright smile alone would have gotten the job done. He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek that makes my head spin.
“See you tomorrow, Darlin’.”
He turns and I watch him walk out of the store before turning back to the shelf with a blush staining my cheeks.
“Was that your boyfriend?” Reed asks and I jump, glancing to the end of the aisle where he’s standing.
“That’s none of your damn business.”
His eyes narrow. “Why don’t you go be a slut on your own time, okay?”
My eyes widen as he turns, thinking he’s won and I resist the urge to chuck a flashlight at his head.
“Hey, Reed,” I call, using my sweet diner voice and he spins back around, a smile on his face. “Go find a bag of dicks and fuck yourself. If you ever speak to me like that again, I’m going to raise your voice a couple octaves.”
Laughter draws both our attention to the door where Lincoln stands, pride shining in his eyes. Pride for me?
“Sorry, y’all. I forgot a soda.”
Reed retreats back into the office, his face bright red and as Lincoln passes me, he whispers, “That was sexy as hell, babe.”
Closing my eyes, I can’t fight back my smile. Yeah, this whole “friends” thing isn’t going to last long at all.
* * * *
“Sweet Tatum, when are you going to kick all those other losers to the curb and admit your true feelings for me?” Devlin asks with a wicked smirk on his face and I bark out a laugh as Shaun and Rico whistle from the kitchen.
“What losers, Dev? You know I’ve only got eyes for you.”
His smile grows as he places one hand over his chest and holds the other one out to me. “My girl.”
Laughing, I refill his coffee before going down the length of the counter, refilling each cup.
“You know, Devlin,” I whisper when I get back to the other end of the counter. “I hear Gigi thinks you’re devilishly handsome if you ever want to turn that charm on someone who’s available.”
“Now, Tate, you know the only woman for me is my sweet Claire, God rest her soul.”
“I’m just saying that you’re a real nice guy and you should be happy.”
His smile is wistful as he shakes his head. “I will be happy when I finally get to see my girl again.”
“It’s kind of romantic,” Mia sighs as she comes up behind me and I laugh.
“Tate, you taking your break anytime soon?” Roger asks from the kitchen. I peek through the pass through and nod.
“Yeah. I’m just waitin’ on someone.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mia’s head whip in my direction. “Tatum Elizabeth Carter, do you have a date?”
“No, it’s not a date. He’s just a friend.”
She arches a brow. “He?”
“Well, now it’s getting interesting,” Devlin says, folding his arms over his chest. “Seems our Tate finally met a man.”
“You, hush,” I scold him and he grins. I haven't said a word to anyone about Lincoln yet so there will be hell to pay when he walks in and she recognizes him but I don’t even know what I would say. We’re friends but also…not.
“Yes, he.”
She turns to Devlin with a wide grin on her face. “Oh, this is about to get good, y’all.”
“You’re an instigator,” I tell her, shaking my head as I grab a plate off the pass through and set it in front of Devlin.
“And yet you still give me plenty of ammunition.”
“Oh, so it’s my fault?” I ask, laughing and she nods before her mouth falls open, her gaze locked on the door. I don’t even have to look. It’s clear from her expression alone that Lincoln just walked in.
“Hey, Darlin’,” he says. His deep voice washes over me and goose bumps race across my flesh.
“Oh, shit.” Shaun laughs as I suck in a breath and spin around.
“Lincoln.”
“You ready for lunch?” he asks, his gaze dropping down to my lips for a brief second before he meets my eyes again. God, I would give anything to feel him press his mouth against mine.
“Yeah,” I whisper before glancing over my shoulder and yelling, “I’m going on break, Rog.”
His hand pokes out of the door and he waves, giving me the go ahead so I grab two menus and step out from behind the counter.
“Follow me.”
A whistle sounds behind us and I shake my head, resisting the urge to flip Mia off. It would only add more fuel to her fire and possibly make Lincoln think this lunch is more than it is. Not that I even know what it is.
After he came into the gas station yesterday, I spent most of my shift thinking of all the reasons that I should avoid any kind of relationship with him and basically it came down to two things. First, he’s obviously a player and while he seems to be putting in the extra effort to woo me, I’m not naive enough to think that he’d want more than one night with me and two, with Mom’s death, this is the worst time for me to be getting into a relationship. I can’t deny that he affects me, though. More than anyone has in years.
“You’re not going to wait on yourself, are you?” Lincoln asks as we sit across from each other in a booth and I shake my head.
“No, I’m sure Mia will be by in a second. Not like I could keep her away if I tried.”
He arches a brow. “Oh? Why’s that?”
“‘Cause she’s nosy as hell and she remembers you from the other night.”
“You mean the night you verbally assaulted me?” he asks, a smile playing at his lips and I roll my eyes.
“Let’s not be dramatic and you totally deserved it.”
Barking out a laugh, he takes one of the menus from the table and opens it. “Did I now?”
“Yes,” I reply with a nod. “I’m only mean to people who are rude to me and you, sir, were very rude.”
“All right, maybe I was a little bit off that night but it’s only because I was so nervous about talking to this gorgeous woman.”