Addicted to You(8)

My hand hovered above the spoons in the drawer. “Um, yeah.”

“Bien.” She turned back to the sink and rinsed the coffeepot. “It seems the rain was bad but thankfully the storm didn’t cause much damage.”

My shoulders relaxed. “Oh yeah, there was no wind damage or anything like that.”

She glanced back, gaze landing on my yogurt. “Let me make you a real breakfast. Maybe some papas con huevos?”

No matter how old I got, Grandma was still Grandma. “Yogurt is fine.” I gave her a peck on the cheek as I passed. “And if I wanted potatoes and eggs, I’m perfectly capable of making them myself.”

“I know, mijita. But you won’t be living here much longer. Let a grandma spoil her granddaughter while she can.”

“Gracias, pero no hoy. How about another day? Sunday? Let’s make a big breakfast together.”

“Ay bueno. I’d like that.”

I smiled. “Me too. Now I need to finish getting ready.”

“Si, but invite Colby to breakfast too,” she called after me. “I need to repay him for his hospitality, and for taking such good care of my beautiful granddaughter.”

I practically stumbled in the hall as heat rose up my chest and seared my face. Oh, he took care of me all right. “Um, yeah. I’ll mention it to him.”

—

That afternoon at work I did everything I could to keep my mind off of Colby, except it was near impossible, partly because business at Eddie’s always slowed after the wave of summer tourism stopped, but mostly because thinking about Colby was like breathing. It was just what I did. How I passed my time every day. Whether I wanted to or not, thoughts of him just floated around my head. Add in the fact that I now knew how it felt like to kiss him—short answer: amazing—and there was no way I could not think about him.

And once my mind drifted back to his bed, little sparks would tingle in the pit of my stomach, then slowly spread over my body, warming it exactly as he had the night before. I brushed my thumb over my lips, recalling how he’d done the same thing.

“Isla?”

I yanked my hand down and turned to Eddie, convinced he could see the flush on my skin and the guilt in my eyes.

He tossed a towel over his shoulder and leaned against the counter near the hostess stand. “We’re kinda slow today, so if you want to take off early, you’re welcome to. I think I can manage the hostess stand for the rest of the day.”

Though I’d normally jump at the chance to have a day off, being alone with my thoughts was the last thing I wanted. At least at work I had something to do to help temporarily mute my brain. Not that it had helped much, but there were a few moments Colby wasn’t in the forefront. Oh, who was I kidding? I forgot menus when seating one family, and completely botched drink orders at another table.

“Sounds good. Let me finish up what I was doing, then I’ll take off.”

He pushed off the counter and called back, “Enjoy your day.”

“Thanks.” I slid the stack of menus back into the holder, finished rolling silverware, then went to the computer to clock out.

The door dinged, and I glanced toward the kitchen but Eddie didn’t reappear.

“Hey, Isla.” Landon’s voice drew my attention to the entrance but my gaze drifted past him and right to Colby, who stood alongside him.

“Hey.” I fought to keep my voice steady and my smile natural. “Are you eating here or picking something up?”

Colby, who’d been studying me, finally shifted his gaze. “We called in something. Eddie took our order.” He glanced back up. “How’s your day been?”

“Um, great.” My forced smile couldn’t possibly look natural so I turned away and scrolled through the computer. “I actually just clocked out, but I can check on your order real quick.”

“Well, if you’re off, you should come hang out,” Landon said.

I glanced over my shoulder as Colby lifted his baseball cap, then settled it back on his head. “Yeah. It’s Matt’s birthday tomorrow so we’re all hanging out tonight. You should come.”

Was that a pity invite or genuine?

Dammit. This was Colby. Of course I was welcome. And this was the problem with hooking up with your friend. At least for me. It shifted the dynamics, and turned me into an insecure mess.

“I’m going to check in with my grandma, but I might stop by.”

“Yeah, for sure. Matt’s bringing his new girl and I’m sure she’d appreciate the company.” Landon chuckled.

“He has a girl now?” I shifted back to the guys. “Who’s he dating?”

“Brandon’s sister Taylor.”