Lena
Lena pushed open the swinging door with her hip, balancing a quiche in one hand and a pie in the other.
“Let me help you with that!” Sarah yelped as she ran over to her.
“Thanks.” Lena handed her the quiche. “There are two more in the kitchen.”
“Perfect timing. Mrs. Davidson called and said she was on her way to pick up the order. I’ll get the other ones.” Sarah pushed through the doors and disappeared down the hall.
The bell over the door chimed as Lena began boxing the order.
“That was quick. Sarah said you’d just called.” Looking up, she gasped.
Tank stood there with his hands shoved in his pockets. “Hi, Lena.”
The momentary shock of seeing him wore off, bringing out her anger.
“Get out of here, now.”
His gaze drifted to the flowers on the shelf behind the counter, then back to her. “I see you got them.”
“So?”
He shrugged. “So nothing. At least you didn’t throw them in the trash.”
“My employees liked them.”
“And you didn’t?”
“Do you honestly think sending me flowers is going to change my mind? Are you here to collect payment? Where’s your lowlife partner?”
The muscle in his jaw clenched.
“I’m not here for that. You gotta get out of the store.”
“You’ve got a lot of nerve coming to my—”
“A little help here,” Sarah called out.
Lena rushed over and opened the swinging doors. “I already took the boxes out for them.”
“Okay.” Sarah looked at Tank and smiled. “Can I help you?”
He tipped his head to Lena. “She’s on top of it.”
A brief look of disappointment flashed through Sarah’s eyes as she glanced over her shoulder at Lena.
“Hello,” Mrs. Davidson said as she walked into the bistro.
“Hello,” Lena greeted her. “Sarah is boxing your order now. Would you like a café au lait?”
“That would be wonderful. It always smells so delicious when I come into your place. I heard you’re catering the McNeal wedding?”
Lena started on the coffee. “I am.”
“I’m so glad. At least I know that Bernard and I will enjoy the food. I don’t have high hopes for the rest of the wedding.” She looked around the shop and said in a low voice, “Darla’s daughter and fiancé are getting married on the beach by one of his friends. Can you imagine expecting us to stand on the sand in our expensive shoes? I can’t believe she’s allowing it.”
Lena just smiled and set the café au lait in front of Mrs. Davidson.
“Please tell me the reception’s not on the beach.” she said before bring the cup to her lips.
From the corner of Lena’s eye, she could see Tank fidgeting in place while looking at his phone. “It’s not. It’s going to be at the Sunset Pavilion.”
“Thank God. My husband and I were worried about that. The views are spectacular at the Pavilion. At least Darla got something right with this wedding.”
“I’m sure it’ll be lovely.” Lena set the boxes of quiches in front of Mrs. Davidson, who was sipping her coffee. “I hope your committee meeting goes well tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you, dear. It’s going to be perfect now that I have your delicious quiche and blackberry pie.”
Setting her cup down, Mrs. Davidson picked up her boxes, thanked Lena, and exited the eatery.
Tank opened his mouth to speak, but Lena cut him off. “I’m busy.”
“I don’t have time to fuck around,” he growled, looking down at his phone. “We’ve gotta talk.”
“I told you, I’m not interested in talking to you.”
“It’s not about that.” His eyes darted over to Sarah.
Sighing, Lena turned to the woman. “Sarah, can you finish tidying up in the kitchen for me?”
She looked up from the case where she was boxing cookies for the homeless shelter run. It was nearing closing time, and that night, Sarah had offered to drop off the packages after work.
“Do you want me to finish boxing these first?”
“I’ll do it, and I’ll do the drop off.”
“Are you sure?” Sarah looked over at Tank, and then back to Lena. “I don’t mind.”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay. I’ll finish up in the kitchen and then take off.”
“Thanks.” Lena waited until Sarah was out of earshot before she turned her attention to Tank. “I’m not giving you the money.”
“If you’d let me talk for a damn second, I’ll tell you why I’m here.”
She waved her hand in the air, gesturing him to go on.
“You gotta get out of here. Cougar’s coming for the money tonight, and he’s not gonna play nice. I’ll be here when he comes, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Take care of what?”
“I’ll give him the money for now.”
She shook her head in confusion. “For now? What does that mean?”
A frown wrinkled his forehead. “I’ve told you I can’t tell you stuff. Just believe me. You have to get out of here.”
“Wait. Is this your way of seeing me? I mean, you could pull this act every two weeks.”
“Fuck, you’re an aggravating woman. I have better things to do with my time than play some lame-ass game with you. This is for real, and you have no fuckin’ idea what Cougar is capable of, so you need to listen to me and get the fuck out.”
Tank’s stern look, coupled with his tone, sent shivers racing through her body.
“You’re serious,” she whispered.
“Yeah. Go. Now.”
“Bye, Lena,” Sarah called out from the kitchen.
The sound of the back door closing echoed through the bistro. For a few seconds, Lena could only watch Tank, who was looking out the front window.
“What time do they usually come in?” he asked.
“About this time. They’re not supposed to come for another couple of days, though.”
“Yeah, well, they’re coming tonight.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do. You’d better get going.”
“Okay. I should lock up, or they’ll wonder why the door’s open.”
“Do you have a spare set of keys so I can lock the door when they’ve gone?”
“Hang on.” Unlocking a drawer under the cash register, she pulled out the spare and walked over to him. “Here.”
His fingers brushed against her wrist as he took the key. The touch jolted her with an intense emotion. At that moment, she craved the comfort of his arms around her, and the feel of his hands stroking her back.
“Lock the door and go.” The rumble of his voice almost made her cry.
Tank stood to the side, plastered against the wall when she crossed the room and went to the door. Just as she was locking it, Cougar appeared on the other side.
“He’s here,” she whispered.
She rushed behind the counter as the biker flung open the door and sauntered in.