The Best Goodbye (Rosemary Beach, #13)(16)

Her dark brown eyes lit up, and she batted her lashes before turning back to the two men. This time, her eyes were locked on Brad. “Great. Thanks!” she said, before heading toward them with a sway to her hips and a determined gleam in her eyes.

I could have stood there and watched, or I could have finished setting the tables and lighting the candles. I chose the latter and got to work. If Brad was interested in her, then good for him. It wouldn’t hurt my friendship with him. At least, I didn’t think it would.

? ? ?

We were each given three tables to cover. Captain wanted to make sure every guest was given the most attention possible. I had two four-tops and a two-top, so I wasn’t overloaded, but the pressure was on to be perfect.

Brad was getting high praise from the diners, and everyone was enjoying the food. It went pretty smoothly, considering it was opening night.

I glanced around to see Captain talking to an older, obviously wealthy and important man who had a beautiful younger woman at his side. I’d have guessed it was his daughter if his hand wasn’t settled on her waist possessively.

The man was smiling and seemed pleased to be chatting with Captain.

“That’s Arthur Stout,” Patricia said, whispering beside me. “The owner of this place.”

Well, then, that made sense. I nodded and headed into the kitchen. Table seven’s order was nearly up.

I walked back to the serving line and saw Brad organizing orders and laying out steaming plates. He had a bandanna tied around his head to hold back his shaggy hair. He looked up and shot me a grin.

“Hey,” he said, before focusing on the dish he was plating.

“Seven is up,” Henry, one of the other cooks, called out to me.

“Great. Thanks,” I replied, turning to one of the food servers waiting to the side. “Take it to seven. Left to right. I’ll follow behind.”

One of the things Captain insisted on was that the main server of the table shouldn’t bring the food. They were to follow behind, ready to address anything that was wrong or get the guests anything they requested.

I had turned to leave when Brad called out, “Hey, friend.”

Unsure if that greeting was meant for me, I stopped and looked back at him.

He winked and shook his head. “I need to step up my game.” Then he went back to work, still grinning.

Was he talking about what I had said to Patricia? Had she told him?

“Flirt on your own time. You have people to serve, and he has food to cook. No distractions, Rose.” Captain’s hard voice startled me, and I jerked my gaze up to see him glowering at me from the doorway of the kitchen.

I’d been working to be beyond good tonight, but to be excellent and get this treatment from him? I haven’t been flirting, thank you very much—I’ve been working! Why wasn’t he correcting Brad? Biting my tongue, I met his angry glare with one of my own before walking out past him without a word.

“Rose,” Captain called out, in a clipped voice.

I wanted to keep walking and ignore him, but I’d draw attention from the others in the hallway who were watching us. I sucked it up and stopped to look back at my boss. “Yes, sir?” I bit out.

His eyes flared a moment, and I wondered what I’d done to make him so pissed. “Acknowledge me when I give you instructions.” His voice was low, and the warning tone in it only made me angrier.

“You should direct your instructions to those who need them. I did nothing wrong.” I tried to keep the acid out of my voice, but it was difficult.

“Told you Brad is the best. Don’t want his head anywhere but on the food.”

“I’m not distracting him. I was getting my table’s food sent out,” I shot back in defense.

“Then why was his focus on you when he should have been busting his ass on the shit in front of him? Don’t play dumb with me, Rose. I know women, sugar. I know them too damn well.”

That was it. Captain had pushed me too far. “I’ll finish the evening, and then I’m gone. That’s what you want, after all. I’m not going to work here just to be accused of stuff I didn’t do.” I was louder than I should have been, but I didn’t care. I spun on my heel and stalked away from the infuriating man I’d made the mistake of uprooting my life for.





Captain


Shit. I stood staring at Rose as she walked through the door and into the dining room. She was right. It was Brad who had been flirting with her. I’d been watching them all night, and I could tell that when Patricia told him that Rose had said they were just friends, he hadn’t liked it. Figured he couldn’t wait to discuss it with her until after closing.

The fire in her eyes, even behind those glasses, reminded me of Addy. When pushed, Addy had that same fire. That same determination. My chest ached. It always ached when I remembered her, and Rose made me remember all the damn time. The memories were only getting worse. There was no gun in my hand and no revenge in my plans now. I’d left that life behind.

And my mind was once again open to the good parts of my life. The best part. Even though we’d been living through hell in that house with my parents, Addy had made it perfect. She had made everything worth it. I had thought I was saving her, but she’d saved me. She’d given me a purpose. She’d shown me what real love felt like.