Billionaires and Baby Rattles(72)

Kenzie started and whirled toward him. Her eyes narrowed. “You’re not welcome here, Easton.”

“I need to talk to you.”

She spun away. “Tell it to someone who cares.”

“If you’ll hear me out—” He reached for her, but the man stepped in front of him.

“You heard what she said, pal.”

Easton opened his mouth to put the man where he belonged, but Kenzie moved between them. She laid hands on Easton’s chest, and the space in his pants lessened. Two nights without her, and he missed her.

“You two are not getting into anything in my restaurant.” She started away. “Good-bye, Easton.”

“I love you,” he blurted, loud enough that the entire crowd grew quiet.

Kenzie froze and then whirled to face him. “W-What?”

“You heard me, but I will repeat it.” He spread his hands out to the side. “I love you, Kenzie Bridges, and I want you to be my wife.”

He thought he heard the click of a camera, but he refused to look away from her.

“I’m sorry about Saturday night. I was wrong.” He waited for her to respond, but she stood there with her mouth hanging open. “Did you hear me, baby?”

Hushed conversation started up around them, but every eye was directed at him and Kenzie. Moisture gathered on the back of his neck, and he rubbed it. A desire gripped him to drag her to the back so they could have this conversation in private, but he dared not touch her yet. Kenzie was everything he wanted in a woman, but there was also a stubborn streak there. He had to give her time.

Just when he thought he’d break, she spun away and continued her work. His gasp wasn’t the only one that rose above the crowd. A few titters joined them, and he knew his face had turned red. Okay, he deserved this treatment, but if she thought he would give up, she didn’t know him as well as he hoped she would.

He strode to the counter and met Lisa’s gaze. “An apron?”

She grinned and nodded, then disappeared into the storeroom. He removed his coat and jacket to hang on the hooks by the door. When Lisa returned with the apron, he donned it and set to bussing tables. He could already see the headlines in the business section of the newspaper—Billionaire Easton Tremaine works as a waiter to convince restaurant owner to marry him. Ethan wouldn’t let him hear the end of it.

All day, he worked, and Kenzie continued to ignore him. More than one of her customers called out encouragement to him. Some stuck little handwritten notes into the pockets of his apron, and when he had a second to examine a few, he found that they were all written in the same hand—Kenzie’s. Her customers were rooting for him and her because they felt Kenzie deserved love in return for all that she’d shown them.

Easton took a break and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Kenzie passed by and cast a withering look his way. He winked, and she flushed before hurrying on. After he had made arrangements for a delivery, he got back to work. At the end of the day, his arms and his feet hurt. He never wanted to serve people again.

“I can’t believe you lasted all day,” Kenzie told him.

“You’re talking to me now?”

“Just finding out when you’re leaving.”

“Never. I’ll come back here tomorrow if I have to, and every day after.”

She laughed, amusement making her beautiful eyes shine even brighter. “Easton Tremaine, you’re dead on your feet. You wouldn’t last the week.”

“Try me!”

She pulled him toward a chair. “Sit down before you fall down.”

He couldn’t help following her directive. His feet thanked him, and she dropped to her knees to pull his shoes off. “Stop.”

“Don’t worry about it. Everyone’s gone.”

“Kenzie…”

“Did you mean what you said?”

Her head bowed, he couldn’t see her face, but he caught the hope and the tremor. He’d been a fool to accuse her. Kenzie lit up when he entered a room. She set out to feed and entertain him. She responded to his smallest touch. He’d tried putting it down to her personality, but all the while he had wanted it to be more. He knew women well enough to know when they fell in love with him, and he’d seen all the signs in her.

“Yes, I love you. Stand up, Kenzie. I don’t want you beneath me unless it’s in our bed.”

She did, and he started to tug her onto his lap, but a sharp rap on the door interrupted them.

“That’ll be James.”

Her expression fell. “You’re leaving?”

He stood and kissed her lips, then hobbled over to the door. The chuckle behind him made him grit his teeth. James handed over the bundles, and he gave instructions to pick them up in an hour.