“Apparently you and his wife are around the same age.” Chris’s gaze never wavered. “She’s here now. With the kids.”
“That’s good. He’s missed her.”
“It’s good they’re here now. They’ve been going through a rough patch for a while.”
“How do you know?”
“He and I share a room on the road.”
“Ah.”
Chris grabbed a roll of cash from his pocket and counted out three tens, leaving them on the counter. “So when are we going out again?”
She smiled, shook her head. “You’re shameless.”
“I’m not giving up.”
“You should.”
“I won’t.”
“We’re not at all compatible.”
“How can you say that?” He leaned on the counter, looked into her eyes. “You don’t even know my type.”
“What is your type?”
The edge of his mouth lifted. He stood, towering over her. “You.”
And then he was walking out. Make that sauntering out. And drawing every single woman’s eyes in the café.
She shivered.
He was certainly hot, handsome, and available. Which is why he terrified her. There wasn’t a single safe thing about him.
Apparently her sister, Lisa, knew exactly what she was talking about.
Quickly, Lauren began gathering the rest of Chris’s dishes, put them under the counter in a dish tub, and scooped up more dirty dishes from another spot farther down.
“He likes you,” Boone said abruptly.
Lauren’s head lifted, and she turned toward him, hands filled with dishes. He must have arrived while Chris was still here, and neither of them had noticed. “When did you get here?”
“Five minutes ago.”
“Didn’t see you come in.”
“I know. I’m hurt.” But Boone smiled as he said it.
She smiled back. “Let me get the counter cleaned up and I’ll get you some coffee.”
“Take your time.”
But she didn’t. Lauren returned with a clean dishrag and wiped the counter down before setting him up with a new place setting. She chatted with him as she put the silverware down, asking about his road trip, and his wife and kids, and what they were doing for Father’s Day tomorrow.
It was easy talking with him, she thought, after putting in his order. Easy being around him because she was comfortable with him. Boone Walker was handsome, but nonthreatening. Chris Steir, on the other hand, was very threatening.
Again Lisa’s words came back to her. Married, safe. Single, not safe. Hmm. The pattern was becoming uncomfortably, overwhelmingly clear.
“My wife’s family is attending tomorrow’s game,” Boone said, adding milk and sugar to his coffee. “Should be fun. First time they’ve seen me play in an A’s uniform. Then after the game we’re all going out to eat somewhere. Sarah’s sister Meg is making reservations—” He broke off as he saw the look on her face. “You okay?”
Lauren simply stared at him, thoughts spinning in every which direction. Meg. Meg Roberts. Meg had a sister named Sarah. Meg also had a sister whose husband played Major League Baseball. Was it possibly the same Sarah . . . Boone’s Sarah . . .
“What’s wrong?” Boone reached out, grabbed her wrist. “You feeling faint?”
She shook her head, but truthfully, she was feeling a little faint. As well as stricken. Had she . . . had she . . . been lusting after Meg’s sister’s husband?
Oh God.
“I think . . .” Lauren drew an unsteady breath. “I think I’ve met your wife.”
Boone’s hand fell away. “Sarah?”
Lauren nodded. “Yes. Back in April. Does she have a sister named Meg? Meg Roberts?”
“Yes.” Boone looked dumbfounded. “Where did you meet Sarah?”
“At Jack’s funeral reception. I catered it. With my sister.”
“You know Meg and Jack, then?”
“I used to work with Meg a lot when she handled PR for Dark Horse Winery, and we also did some parties for the Robertses. It was surreal returning to their house for the funeral reception.”
“I still can’t believe Jack’s gone. He died just days after my mother-in-law’s funeral. Sarah was there at Meg’s when it happened.”
“I remember your wife from the reception. We talked for a little bit when I was giving the bartender a break. Sarah’s beautiful, and funny.”
“She is,” he agreed.
“Boss, order up!” José shouted from the kitchen.
Lauren carried plates to customers, refilled coffees, and then took care of two different customers at the cash register before grabbing Boone’s breakfast from under the warmer.