Grimacing with each step, he tugged the restaurant door open and slowly moved inside. The hostess, who was the owner’s daughter and had worked there for years, did an up-and-down assessment of his dirty boots, stained jeans, and his oldest sheepskin jacket and was about to protest until their eyes locked.
The hostess’s frown turned into a flirty smile. “Mr. Jenks. Good to see you again.”
“You too, Darcy.”
“Are you meeting someone?” Her eyes swept over his filthy boots again. “Or did you need something to go?”
“I’m looking for a couple with a little blond kid.” He hadn’t seen many kids in the restaurant before, so he hoped that’d be enough of a description to locate them.
She nodded. “Yes. Right this way, please.”
She took to the perimeter of the dimly lit dining room rather than down the middle like she usually did when she showed him to his table. Couldn’t blame her for that. Or mind, because the less people saw of him, the better.
They were seated way in the back, away from the others. Hopefully, Ryan was behaving himself. “Thanks. I see them.”
Jo’s back was to him, giving him the opportunity to check out her date. He was a geeky but fit Clark Kent type. Jo probably really liked that.
When Chad got to the table, his usual waitress, Jenny, appeared by his side. “Hello, Mr. Jenks. I just put their order in. What can I get you?”
Jo’s head whipped around. She looked fantastic in a blue dress that showed off her curves, but if her eyes could shoot poison darts, he’d be dead. She said, “Mr. Jenks isn’t staying.”
Jo’s date’s eyes widened, and he stood. The tall blond, no stranger to the gym, stuck out his hand. “Wow. Chad Jenks? Pleasure to meet you. Scott Mason. Please join us. Ryan needs to eat before you go anyway.”
Jo’s eyes narrowed at him.
I’m definitely in trouble.
Ryan stopped coloring and shot Chad a scowl. “Yeah. I have a kadeeya coming.”
He kissed Jo’s cheek in greeting, and maybe to annoy her date. He whispered, “You look great. But what’s a kadeeya? It better not be something fried, or it’s going back.”
She rolled her eyes. “A quesadilla, Pepe Le Pew. But he snuck in a chocolate shake order before I could stop him.” The mischievous twinkle in Jo’s eyes told him she’d let Ryan have that one indulgence.
A shake once in a while wouldn’t kill the kid. He’d been eating a hundred times better since Jo had been making him smoothies every day and sticking healthy lunches from her restaurant in the fridge marked “bad food for Ryan,” claiming they were leftovers and would just go to waste anyway. Jo talked tough, but she had a soft spot for Ryan. It was cute.
He really shouldn’t barge in on Jo’s date, but what the heck? He was starving, and it might be fun to see what Scott was made of.
“Thanks. I think I will join you.” Chad carefully slid his coat off his bum shoulder, slowly sat, and then smiled at the waitress. “Can I have the blackened tilapia with steamed vegetables, please? And a Corona?”
“Coming right up.”
Jenny left, and Chad forced a big smile. His shoulder was killing him, but he didn’t want to miss out on the fun. He was going to catch hell from Jo later, anyway. “So, Bob, is it?”
Jo’s eyes cut his way. She knew he never forgot a name.
“Scott. I’m a real fan, Chad.”
Perfect. “Mighty big of you to share your date with Jo’s former boyfriend and a kid.”
Jo’s pointed shoe landed squarely in the middle of Chad’s good shin.
Scott’s eyelids blinked through his lenses. He glanced at Jo. “Seriously? You used to date him?”
Chad quickly added, “We were engaged, actually.” He turned to Jo. “She still has the ring and everything. Don’t you, babe?”
Another swift kick landed in the exact spot on his shin as the last one had. He appreciated that she’d aimed for his uninjured leg.
Through gritted teeth, Jo said, “Only because the stubborn jackass won’t take it back.”
Ryan giggled at the jackass remark and kept right on coloring. Chad didn’t know Ryan liked to color. That was a lot better than playing video games all the time. Maybe a trip to the toy store would be good so they could find other things he liked to do.
Scott leaned closer to Jo. “So by being Chad’s friend, do you get lots of perks? And good deals on tickets to games?”
Jenny set Chad’s beer in front of him, so he took a long drink, loving every minute of the show.
Jo’s eyebrows arched, and her face turned three shades of red.
That poor bastard didn’t stand a chance after a stupid remark like that.