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“Here, take a sip.” Four words. That’s it, and even though his voice is deeper—rougher—I’d know it anywhere. Alden Warner is right in front of me. Talking to me. Offering me a drink. Except I’m pretty sure he’s the only thing that can quench my thirst. And the kicker—he probably doesn’t even know who he’s talking to. I’m just some nameless waitress he inherited when he bought the café.

Ignoring him, I continue choking and wheezing into my palms. There’s no way in hell I can face him right now.

Undeterred, Alden pushes the cool glass against my knuckles. “Seriously, take a sip. Please.”

There’s something about the way he says ‘please.’ His voice dropped deeper and sounded so imploring, like his life depended on me drinking that water. Then again, he probably didn’t want a waitress to die before the ink on the deed was even dry.

Slowly, I pull my hands from my face and take the glass from him. Bringing it to my lips, I take one small sip. And then another. Feeling brave, I sneak a peek up at him, but he’s like the sun, and looking at him dead-on hurts. So, I quickly revert back to staring at my lap. He probably doesn’t even recognize me.

Except, judging by the, “No way,” he murmurs, I know he did. He runs his index and middle finger down my jaw and under my chin, using them to tilt my face up toward him. “You work here?”

My words fail me, so I settle on a nod. A stiff, impersonal, awkward as hell nod.

“Holy shit, Small Fry! Get your ass up and give me a hug!”

I open my mouth to reply, but with catlike reflexes, Alden yanks me up from my chair and into his arms. Deciding to make the best of this unexpected but oh-so-welcome physical contact, I breathe him in. He still smells the same—like spicy citrus and pure, unfiltered sex appeal. It’s fucking deadly.

He holds me tight to his body—so close, I can feel the lean muscles beneath his shirt. So close, I might lose my mind and never let go if I don’t move away from him,pronto.

Finally—yet all too soon—Alden steps away from me, taking his blessed body heat with him.

“Jesus, girl, it’s been too long. How the hell are you?” he asks, sounding genuinely happy to see me.

Instead of responding with a polite and rational reply like a normal fucking adult, however, my inner-teenager answers for me, sounding petulant and snotty. “Just dandy. How’s Mia, yourfiancée?” Even after all these years her name still tastes like poison.

CHAPTER 9

ALDEN

For a few seconds,the entire café is silent as if they’re waiting with bated breath for my answer. I smirk at her, even though I know it’s the wrong thing to do. I up the ante with a quirked brow, and I swear she’s ready to spit fire.

“You think she’d appreciate you having me in your arms?”

“Honestly, I don’t think she’d care one way or another.” I let my words settle, and then drop the hammer. “Seeing as we’re not together any longer.”

At that, Natalie sputters, but she still hasn’t pulled away.Interesting.“Wha…you’re not? Since when? Nate didn’t…”

“Nate didn’t what? You been keepin’ tabs on me, Small Fry?”

She rears back, trying to look angry. Hard thing for her to do, though, when we’re so close she has to crane her neck to make eye contact. “Absolutely not. I…just…”

“It’s all good, girl. I’ve kept tabs on you. Hear you got a little one?” The mention of her kid has her pushing away from me as if I’m fucking Michael Myers.

“Oh, uh…um…yup. N-Nate told you about her?”

It still blows my mind that she has a daughter. I’m not sure the world can handle two of her. She inhales sharply, and her cheeks redden. “What did he say? H-have you s-seen her?”

Weird questions, but okay.“Let’s see, he says she is bossy and smart and cute as hell. Which, from the handful of pics he has sent over the years, I’d have to agree.”

Sweat beads along her hairline. “Oh, okay. Good. Great.” Her words are choppy, and she’s acting a little psycho.

Natalie’s reactions are so foreign, so fucking strange, that I feel like we should stick a pin in this topic and save it for when it’s just the two of us. Sure as shit not on my first day as her boss, in front of all of her coworkers.

“Let’s grab coffee one day this week and catch up.” I know she’s going to turn me down, so I pivot and saunter back to the front of the dining room in hopes of getting this meeting back on track. Though, judging from the whispers among the staff, I can see there’s a fat fucking chance of that happening.

Nateand I have been trying like hell to get together, and tonight our schedules have finally aligned. We’re hitting up Bennet’s for a few drinks. It’s pretty chill, seeing as it’s a Monday night. Honestly though, after today’s orientation meeting, a laid-back atmosphere works for me.

I stroll in at a quarter after seven, and damn if this place doesn’t look exactly the same as it did when we used to sneak our underage asses in here. I scan the space looking for Nate, and sure enough, he’s seated at the bar sipping on his drink. He sees me and tips his chin in greeting. I cross the room and he stands, reaching out to shake my hand, but I pull his ass into a hug.