Wishing Well(17)

My laughter was anything but unsure. “We can blame the rain,” I answered standing from my seat.

But, it’s not exactly food I’m starving for...





CHAPTER NINE


Walking into the dining hall, I chanced placing my hand on the small of Penny’s back, my efforts to appear the gentleman as I escorted her to hostess desk thwarted when she silently stepped to the side, allowing my fingertips to graze her hip until my hand fell away entirely. She didn’t complain openly or bother to glance in my direction, but I didn’t fail to notice the distance she kept, the refusal on her part to allow even that small part of a physical connection.

Penny didn’t just have walls that closed her in, she’d constructed a moat as well. My thoughts drifted over the possible reasons why.

“Mr. Mercier, you’re just in time. We have your table ready for you.”

Genevieve was a sweet woman, if not a little slow in the thoughts department. I knew for a fact my table had been ready for over two hours, but still the blond woman with a button nose and blue eyes that were far too round for her face had used a greeting on me that was intended for patrons to the restaurant that didn’t actually own the establishment.

The first several times she’d greeted me in such a way, I assumed she was practicing the expected behavior, ensuring she made it a habit to greet the other guests in such a way, but after months of the continued use of the polite phrase, I’d determined she truly didn’t understand it was a ruse we used with our patrons, a formality that was lost on an employer who had agreed to the custom with the Ma?tre D’.

Breathing out, I grinned politely, inclining my head as she plucked two menus from the desk and walked both Penny and me to our seats.

Like the gentleman I wanted Penny to believe I was, I pulled her seat out for her, refusing to take mine until she was settled and comfortable. Most women would have thanked me, perhaps batted a lash, or given me some demure grin that told me exactly how she’d show me her appreciation later. Penny merely scowled.

If I had to beat some manners into this young woman to drag her into compliance, I would do so with the utmost of pleasure and enthusiasm.

Stepping away from the chair, I ignored how Penny took her seat as soon as I was outside of reaching distance. Genevieve watched the scene with barely hidden dismay, her eyes darting to me in question as I settled into my chair and slipped the cloth napkin from the table to settle over my lap.

“Matthew himself will be serving you this evening. I’ll let him know you’ve arrived,” Genevieve explained before scurrying off, no doubt to tell whoever would listen that I was dining with a woman who had all but told me to take a hike.

“I’m sorry about the chair thing,” Penny muttered as she retrieved her menu from where Genevieve had left them on the table. I didn’t bother grabbing mine, I knew by memory what the restaurant offered. “It’s just weird. I’m not used to all this fancy stuff.”

“Fancy stuff,” I repeated, disbelief coating my voice. She stared at me sheepishly, shrugged, and hid her face behind her menu. I couldn’t help my curiosity.

“How long, exactly, have you lived on the streets?”

“Two weeks,” she answered without bothering to lower her menu.

My theory that it had been the streets that raised her went flying out the window. What had caused this girl to be so ill-mannered? Before I could consider the question further, Matthew approached the table, his uniform perfectly pressed, his apron a blinding white.

“Bonsoir , Monsieur Mercier,” his eyes darted to Penny. “And to you Mademoiselle .”

Penny ignored him and he returned his attention to me. I simply cocked a brow and skipped the typical formalities. “I’ll take my usual evening drink, Matthew, and Penny here would like a -“

Allowing my voice to trail off, I waited for her response. Dropping her menu to the table, she eyed Matthew and answered, “I’ll have a coke, and do you all have regular cheeseburgers here? I can’t read anything on this menu.”

Poor Matthew had to cough just to regain the ability to breathe. My shoulders shook with barely restrained laughter. When he looked to me in question, I waved my hand in the air and said, “You heard the lady. A Coke and a cheeseburger. I’ll have my usual meal as well.”

His professionalism not lost on the odd scene, Matthew turned and walked away. Penny stared at me expectantly. I waited for her to say whatever was on her mind.

“So what is the job you’re offering?”

Straight and to the point. I couldn’t blame her there. “That depends,” I answered, “on your education and skills.” Intentionally lowering my voice to a sultry tone, I asked, “What is it you enjoy doing? Do you have any special talents of which I should be aware?”

Grinning in response to my question, she leaned forward and answered, “I can tie a cherry stem into a bow with my tongue, and I’m a pretty decent pole dancer.”

My throat worked to swallow the blistering censure I wanted to deliver to this rebellious girl. Reminding myself that all good things come with time, I asked, “Are you lying to me?”

“Yes,” she answered, but I wanted to make sure you didn’t get too excited, because if you did, I’d be out of here faster than they could cook the burger you’re buying me.”