Page 41 of Nightmare’s Playground

“Rosa, this is Ben,” I said, pointing to the smiling Zoro beside me.

The true Southern gentleman he was, Ben offered her his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Rosa.”

Smiling brightly, Rosa took his hand. “Mija, your beau is so handsome.”

My brows went up as her words caught me off guard. Not that she was wrong; Ben was a very handsome man, but my beau? Just her saying the words felt wrong.

When Rosa’s eyes came back to me, the smile on her face fell. “Right this way,” she said carefully.

Shit.

As we followed behind her, I knew my face had given me away. It always did. My brother’s used to tease that my face telegraphed all the thoughts that went through my head.

“Here you go,” Rosa said as she seated us at a little two-top by the window.

“Thanks,” Ben and I replied in unison. My lips twitched. Even if I was finding that I might not be interested in him romantically, I could totally see him being a great friend.

“I’ll be right back with some chips and salsa.” She disappeared and was back in a flash with a basket of warm chips and two bowls of salsa. “Enjoy, Mija,” she said, then gave Ben one more look that was borderline inappropriate and left.

The chips and hot sauce between us were beckoning me, so I did what any woman with no self control would do. I grabbed a chip and scooped up a heaping of salsa in the red bowl.

“Oh my God,” I moaned.

It was hot. Like, make-your-nose-run hot.

Following my lead, Ben scooped up some salsa of his own, and his face turned red. “Jesus,” he coughed, reaching for his water. “How do you eat that?”

I waggled my brows, then shrugged. “I like it spicy.”

His eyes went to my mouth.

Shit. That’s not what I meant at all.

Abort! Abort!

Scooping up another heaping of salsa, I shoved it in my mouth and started surveying the room.

“You can have the rest.”

Taking the out, I turned back and smiled at him.

“Score!” I said, trying to put off some “how about we just be friends” vibes.

Don’t judge. I knew I was being a coward for not saying the words out loud, but he was a really nice guy, and I wanted to let him down gently. Sue me.

It was on my third chip when a pretty dark-haired waitress came over with a pad in her hand. Her nametag read Isabella, and she had the same doe eyes as Rosa. Ahh, the prodigal daughter had returned from college—or so I was guessing.

“You two ready?” she asked, with her mother’s voice.

Yep. Definitely Rosa’s kid.

“We are,” Ben said, before I’d even opened my menu. “We’ll both have the garlic shrimp with rice and beans, please.”

I blinked.

Then I turned to look at Isabella and blinked again. She was wearing the same look that I imagined was on my face. The look that said, Is this guy for fucking real?

Taking a deep breath, I held it, counted to ten, then slowly let it out, praying that my head wouldn’t explode.