Page 14 of My Haven (Bewitched and Bewildered #16)

He gave a half bow. “I’ll return with your first course in just a moment.”

She turned to Arlo. “Were you expecting boar?”

He shook his head. “I was thinking fillet mignon or high-end seafood being near the coast.”

“Me too,” she agreed.

Arlo looked past her to the man who walked them to their table. “I think he’s gay.”

Behind them Hunter burst out into laughter at something someone said.

She sputtered into her water goblet as she was just taking a sip. “What makes you think that?” she asked, wiping her mouth.

“Did you see how he relaxed when I flirted with him,” he paused. “Though, he was staring at you as if you were the only drop of water in a desert.” He shrugged. “Maybe he goes both ways.”

She had noticed how he relaxed at Arlo’s playful flirting. “I have a feeling you’ll find out.”

“A man that good looking, you bet I will.”

She had just sat her water goblet down when a smiling young man bounded over to them.

“Hello! My name is Pip. I’m the ma?tre d’.

” He placed their wine down on the table and held the tray to his chest. “I wanted to be a waiter like my brothers,” he pointed to Nigel and a man that looked identical to him.

“But they said the ma?tre d’ gets to talk to people more.

Are you comfy? Do you need anything?” he asked, his eyes shining with innocence and warmth.

“We’re very comfy, thank you for asking, Pip,” Arlo replied.

“I’m assuming that other young man is Nigel’s twin?”

Pip nodded. “Yup, that’s Neil.”

Arlo pointed to the men visible in the kitchen preparing plates. “And who are those majestic, golden gods?”

Pip turned and looked at the kitchen. “Oh! That’s Aeson and Balder, they’re helping with food today.”

“Do you only employ handsome men?” Arlo asked.

Pip thought for a moment. “Meryn is here. She’s my sister, so not a man.

But, technically she isn’t working, just sitting at the bar and eating.

” He pointed to a small woman watching the room with bright green eyes.

When she saw them looking her way, she held up her hand, flashing them the Vulcan ‘V’.

Genevieve held up her hand and returned the symbol, causing the woman to smile brightly. “She’s cute.”

“She’s the one who planned our pop-up restaurant,” he said, proudly.

“Ahh, like the event organizer?” she asked.

“Yes, she’s very good at telling us what to do.”

Arlo pointed to Caiden. “What about him?”

Pip smiled. “That’s Meryn’s new big brother.

She did all this to help him. He’s very kind and loves to cook.

” He leaned in. “Last night he made steak so good, I wanted to eat all of it!” he covered his mouth with his hands giggling.

“He promised Meryn to cook different dishes for her to try, he said I could eat them too.”

“So, this is like a family business?” Arlo asked.

Pip nodded. “We have a huge family now.”

She was still staring at Caiden, when he turned to look at her. When their eyes met, she couldn’t help an overwhelming sense of recognition. She fought every fiber in her being to keep from getting up and going to him. The raw emotion had her dashing away her tears.

A warm hand on her shoulder had her looking up at Pip. He gently enfolded her in a small hug, then let her go. He bent down and whispered. “People only find magic when the look for it,” he said, then stood up. “I’m gonna get you a special treat. Be right back!” He hurried back toward the kitchen.

Arlo took her hand. “We can go,” he said, with a concerned expression.

She shook her head. “It must be my time of the month or something. Looking at him made me homesick.”

“For your home?” Arlo laughed, which caused the sudden need and melancholy to be chased away.

“I know right? The only good thing I have from my family is Mike.”

“How’s she doing anyway? Kill all the bad guys yet?” he asked.

Her older sister Mikayla joined the Marines as soon as she was of age. They kept in touch constantly. “She’s with some special squad or was. I couldn’t get all the details last time, because she had to go.”

Arlo looked toward the kitchen where Pip was talking animatedly, hands waving. “Can we take him with us?”

She laughed. “No, but I know how you feel. I wish he was six inches tall, so he could ride around on my shoulder and chase all the bad things away.”

They watched as Pip turned, with what looked like a cocktail in hand. Beaming he was halfway to their table when a hand shot out and grabbed him.

“I’ve been waiting five minutes to be served!” the angry man growled.

Pip dropped the glass, it shattered at his feet. His now empty hand went to where the man held him tight, a pain filled expression on his face.

She grabbed her clutch and took out her taser. Six steps later, she slapped the man as hard as she could across the face, causing him to let go. When Pip was clear, she reached out and tased the man. He jerked once, then slumped forward breathing hard.

She pulled Pip behind her, Arlo wrapped an arm around the small man.

The officious man looked up at her, his bloodshot eyes wild. “You bitch! I’ll have you arrested!”

She felt nervous for a second, but saw how every single employee of the restaurant, including the kitchen staff was converging on their location. “Grabbing his arm like that is assault. You’re lucky it’s not broken.” She looked back. “Pip, are you okay?”

He sniffled. “He made me drop your special drink.”

Nigel and Neil made it to them first. Each took a side and pulled the man up out of his chair. Under their feet, she could have sworn the floor shifted. “You’re out,” Nigel said, growling each word.

“I demand to speak to your manger!”

Neil grinned wickedly. “If you insist. Meryn, what do you want to do with this asshole?” Nigel and Neil, looked over to the bar.

Meryn was trying to hop off her barstool, a lovely Japanese man helping her. “I suppose killing him is out?”

The man gasped and Neil laughed.

Caiden walked over and simply grabbed the man by the collar. “I’ll take care of it, Meryn, you stay put.”

Meryn glared at the thrashing man. “Make him understand.”

“Oh, I will,” Caiden said, staring daggers at the thrashing man.

From behind her she heard Pip yell. “No soup for you!” She looked back and he was pointing to the door imperiously.

Nearly everyone around them began to chuckle.

Caiden dragged the man out the front door and everyone calmed down. She turned to Pip. “Thank you, for thinking of me.”

He looked to where Nigel and Neil were cleaning the floor. “I’ll get another one. It has chocolate. Meryn’s mate says chocolate helps women when they are sad. It helps me too,” he added. Then he gave each of his brother a small hug and ran back to the kitchen to put the order in.

Nigel looked up at them. “Sorry for that, I’ll be bringing that first course out in just a minute.”

She waved him off. “Take your time.”

She and Arlo sat down. “Did you see everyone move?”

He nodded. “There aren’t many family restaurants like this anymore.”

She looked toward the door, where Caiden had exited. “He didn’t even strain to move that guy.”

Arlo heaved a sigh. “Sexy as hell.”

“Agreed.”

“They didn’t even bat an eye when you tased that guy either,” Arlo observed. “It’s like they see it on a regular basis.” He frowned. “The area isn’t that rough.”

She shrugged. “Maybe they believe in a woman defending herself and others.”

“God, I hope so, especially if we’re walking back.”

Her eyes wandered back to the bar area where Meryn was checking Pip over from her barstool. The woman pointed to the floor and the man beside her sighed and helped her down. Once she was walking their way, she could see that the woman was very, very pregnant.

When she reached their table, she thrust her hand out. “My name is Meryn McKenzie, pleased ta meetcha.”

She took the small and shook it. “Genevieve Taylor, and this is my best friend Arlo Sommer, pleased to meet you, as well.”

“Thank you for helping Pip. I woulda done it, but moving around is a real bitch lately,” she complained pointing to her belly.

“Genevieve loves putting arrogant men in their place,” Arlo said.

Meryn brightened. “Me too! My friend Keelan made me a taser that looks like a Sonic Screwdriver.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small device.

Genevieve looked it over. “That’s really cool.”

Meryn was nodding as she put it away. “Has Caiden asked you out yet?”

Arlo grinned. “Was he going to?”

The small woman grinned evilly. “Yup! Be nice if he asks. No matter how creepy it may sound, just assume he has the best of intentions. He has zero practice asking women out.”

“What about men?” Arlo asked.

Meryn became thoughtful. “Not sure.”

“What do you mean by creepy?” Genevieve asked for clarification.

“You’ll see,” Meryn promised. “Ryuu, help me back to my front row seat. I want to see what Caiden does next.” The man placed a hand on her back and steered her back to where she was sitting.

“Goodbye, I guess?” Arlo said.

Pip smiled. “She didn’t say goodbye, because she’s sure she’ll see you both later,” he explained.

Behind them a tall, impossibly handsome, blond walked up holding a cocktail. He handed it to her. “This is the special treat Pip wanted you to try.”

“Hello,” Arlo said, staring up at the man. “My name is Arlo Sommer, and you are?”

The man inclined his head. “My name is Balder. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Seeing anyone?” Arlo asked.

The man smiled gently. “No, but I am also not on the market. I am taking a break from dating for a while.”

“That’s criminal,” Arlo said.

“I thank you for your kind sentiment,” Balder said, before inclining his head and returning to the kitchen.

“Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink,” Arlo said, in a tragic voice.

“Are you thirsty?” Pip asked, innocently.

Genevieve cackled, causing Arlo to shoot her a nasty look. “I’m fine Pip, just lamenting the fact that I’m single.”

Pip thought it over. “You like boys, right?” he asked.

Arlo’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “And girls,” he clarified.

Pip stared. “You can do that?”

Arlo nodded. “Why limit yourself?”

“That’s so cool!” Pip exclaimed. “I wanna do that.”

“You do you, lil’ guy.”

Pip turned and shouted to Meryn. “I’m gonna like boys and girls!”

She just gave him a thumbs up.

He looked back at them. “I gotta go greet the new table, but I’ll check in on you later,” he promised.

Arlo watched him walk away, a sorrowful expression on his face. “He was accepted, just like that,” he murmured.

She reached over and took his hand. “As are you, with the family that counts.”

“Meaning you and Mike,” he said, squeezing her hand.

“Of course.”

After Pip left, Nigel brought out the Vegetable Medley, which burst with freshness.

She was actually sad when she finished hers.

Each course that followed, surprised her in different ways.

The soup was creamy but not heavy. The tomato flavor came through as if she were eating one straight from the vine.

As promised, the sparkling water was so refreshing it was as if they had dipped the glass into a glacial melt.

Ice cold and an odd compliment to a warm soup.

The bread was exactly as Nigel described. Addicting. But, what really blew her away was the boar. She had never tasted the like. Tender, bursting with flavor and it simply melted in her mouth.

Try as he might, Arlo wasn’t able to identify a single vineyard, but by his third glass he didn’t care. Everything from start to finish was perfect. “I could eat here every day and be happy,” she said, sitting back in her chair. She looked around, they were the last two there.

“Girl, we haven’t even had dessert yet.”

Someone walked up behind her. She thought Nigel had returned but was surprised to see Caiden standing next to their table. He had been absent throughout the meal, so she hadn’t taken Meryn’s words to heart, but seeing him next to her, his hands fidgeting slightly, she felt her heart rate pick up.

“I know this may sound forward, but would you like to join me for dessert and coffee?” Caiden asked.

She simply stared at his full lips, until Arlo kicked her under the table. “Yes!” she blurted out.

The tips of Caiden’s ears turned red. “We’re wrapping up for the night here and heading back to our family home. Would that be, okay? Meryn said if a lot of people were there it wouldn’t quite be like taking you to a secondary location,” he explained, fumbling the words.

So, that’s what Meryn meant when she said creepy.

She looked at Arlo who nodded. “I’m coming too.”

Caiden looked relieved at her acceptance. “You are more than welcome. I was told to tell you that, Meryn, Pip, Nigel and Neil would be there as well. They said, it would seem less scary that way.”

Her heart melted. “Why me?”

He blushed fully. “I saw your videos and felt I had to meet you,” he explained. He pointed to the restaurant. “My sister, did this, so we could meet.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? You created a pop-up event, just to meet me?”

“Marry him,” Arlo said, downing his wine.

“What!”

“Girl, that man is so sweet he’d melt in the rain and has the money to pull this off, marry him or I will,” he ordered.

“Arlo!”

“Don’t ‘Arlo’ me.” He looked up at Caiden. “We’d love to come to your house for dessert.”

She tried to kick him under the table but missed and kicked the table leg. “Sonofabitch,” she complained.

“Serves you right,” Arlo said, smugly.

Caiden offered her his arm. “If you’d feel safer, you can ride with Meryn or the boys.”

She took his arm. “I’ll ride with you. Arlo can catch a ride later.”

His mouth dropped. “Bizatch!”

“I know you are,” she retorted.

Caiden led her toward the door and opened it for her. Once outside, he looked down. “I swear I’m not a stalker killer,” he said, sincerely.

“You better not be, you promised me dessert,” she said, and held up her clutch. “Don’t forget, I have a taser.”

He nodded. “Good. Tase anyone that makes you feel threatened, myself included. Nothing should come before your sense of safety.”

“Lead the way,” she said, before she could lose her nerve.