Page 5 of Fired Up By the Mountain Man
“Well, he might, you never know. Chloe,
I can’thelpit; I wish hewouldmagically appear. That would involve a lot less stress and high blood pressure which I’m sure is in abundance at my ripe old age.”
“Oh yes, twenty-seven is old. Good thing you’ve got a few months on me. Good lord Maeve; get a grip. You are far from old, and you just met the man yesterday, how about you grow a little patience.”
“I have no patience at least where my dating life is concerned. Hence the nodates I’ve had recently. I knew I should have sworn off men all together. Life would be so much easier that way. Oh man, I’m hiding in the back; you are so helping this guy. He was here yesterday and creeped me out.”
“What? Oh, thanks a lot, who is he?” Chloe was busy running to get around behind the counter.
“I don’t even remember his name, but I am seriously not here.” Maeve hollered over her shoulder as she made a mad dash for the kitchen to hide in their little attached office.
He was way too friendly with her and she wasn’t giving him a second chance, he’d already ruined the first impression. Cole was spot on with that guy, he was the epitome of stalker material. The doors’ bell jingled as it opened. Maeve could just barely hear the guy talking to Chloe but even the mere sound of his voice gave her the creeps.
“Maeve! Psst…”
When she heard Chloe whisper, she peeked out of the office door.
“What’s wrong?”
“You are seriously in trouble for leaving me to help that one. Can’t we post a sign on the door that says no weird people allowed?”
“I warned you, he creeped me out yesterday. Thank goodness Cole was here so I didn’t have to be alone with him. He was mean to Cole too, even tried to pick a fight over my attention.”
“Hello, where’d you go? I don’t have all day to wait for this sandwich. It wasn’t that good yesterday.”
“Is he serious? I wish he’d just leave.” The women would be glad to get rid of this guy.
There was a small opening in the wall so the women could see who came and went while they were making the food but thankfully it blocked most of the kitchen from whomever might be standing at the cash register so the creepy guy couldn’t see them. They both heard the jingle again and Chloe peaked out.
“Speaking of firemen, yours is coming in the door now.”
“Oh crap, I don’t need a repeat of yesterday. Please don’t leave this time Chloe, at least until that guy is gone.”
Maeve crept from her hiding spot and both women stepped out of the kitchen together. Chloe moved to help the creepy guy while Maeve went straight around the cash register to Cole.
***
Shit! Not again, can’t a guy just get some lunch without being harassed?
Cole hesitated after he stepped a foot inside The Sand Bucket. He’d been waiting all morning for lunch time only to have it ruined by none other than that weird guy who tried to pick a fight with him yesterday.
Cole had to restrain himself from walking right back out the door. He was sure the geeky guy would like nothing better than for him to tuck tail and run. Well not today, he came for lunch and a date, and he wasn’t leaving until he got both. He also didn’t trust the guy around Maeve. Cole ignored the other guy completely and walked straight toward Maeve who’d just come from the back all smiles.
“Hi Cole, glad you came back today.” She moved in to give him a quick hug.
Now that’s a greeting I’d take every day.
“Maeve, it’s great to see…”
“Excuse me Maeve, I was here first. Don’t you think you should be helping me?”
Really?
Cole’s face immediately lit with fury but then pride as he watched Maeve snap into action. Disgust crowded her features as she held a hand up to stop the man’s comments.
“What did you say your name was again sir?”
“Ralph, and I’m a bit put off that you didn’t remember that.”
