Page 30 of Rivals

“Uh, you’re welcome,” I cough. “Can I get you anything else?”

“More coffee when you have a chance,” he says. I nod and walk away. Betty winks at me and I go back to my other tables. I grab the carafe of coffee, refill Lachlan’s cup, and zoom away, pretending to be busy even though there’s only one couple in here at the moment.

“Is he planning on staying your whole shift?” Betty asks.

I look at her and glance at Lachlan. He’s on his phone now and drinking his coffee. “I don’t know, maybe?”

She grins at me. “I like seeing you all hot and bothered. It’s a nice change of pace from grumpy Revna. And since you only have an hour left, I think it’s safe to say that he’s going to stay the rest of your shift.”

I wipe my hands on my apron and take a drink of my coffee.What does he want from me? What is the point of staying here?

A young woman with a backpack, that looks heavier than her, walks through the door and plops down in a booth under a signed picture of Elvis. I lift my eyes to sneak one more look at Lachlan as if I will find my answer the fiftieth time I look at him, only this time; I find him watching me.

I approach the girl and take her order, ignoring the buzz that goes down my spine. For the remainder of my shift, I feel his eyes trace me around the simple diner while I clean tables, take orders, serve food, and pour coffee.

Before I knew it, my shift was up, and I finished my last task, telling Betty I was leaving. “Revna,” she calls in a sing-song voice.

“Yeah?” She looks at me and then at Lachlan.

“I don’t know what’s between you two. And clearly, you don’t have a clue. He seems like he’s looking for something. Be careful, but don’t be afraid to be open, too. You are locked up tight like a bank vault. See if you can open it a little bit, ok?”

I frown at her, a little thrown by her words and how they made my heart rate pick up. Does she see something I don’t? What am I missing here? He has been nothing but a commanding asshole to me. Why would I open up to someone like that?

“I can see the wheels turning in your head, little girl. Quit thinking so hard and go home,” Betty says.

“Are you on crack?” I ask her. She shouts in laughter, then levels me with a stare.

“No honey, but some days I wonder if I should be. My point remains. Now, leave.”

I grab my bag, still not sure what she was trying to get at. My throbbing feet halt, and then I turn around and look at her again. She looks at me knowingly and winks then slides up to the guy sitting at the counter by himself.

She wants me to… no, nope.Not going to happen.

Chapter 24

Revna

“Areyoureadytogo?” Lachlan says behind me. I spin back around.

“Yep,” I say and walk out the front door. There’s another shoe about to drop, and he’s holding it, I know it.

“Since you wouldn’t give me a straight answer last night, I decided for you,” he says. I walk towards my apartment because the need to shower and get rid of this uniform is my only motivation right now.

“What are you talking about, Lachlan?” I snap.

“We’re going to get your stuff and you are going to stay with me until we’re done.”

“I thought I told you I’m not going to do that.”

“And I thought I told you that I own you, and what I say goes,” he snaps back.

“People aren’t objects. You cannot own them,” I sneer back.

“Then what’s this, Revna? Because I am keeping your secret, and it could end everything for you.”

“That’s extortion, Lachlan. Read a dictionary.”

“It’s also called insurance,” he says to me. Though all of this may be true, it still doesn’t answer my question. If he can hardly stand me, then what’s the point of melivingwith him? Saving time hardly feels like a good enough reason to go to all the effort.