TROUBLE
I WALK INSIDE THE HILL, and I’m momentarily blinded from the dimmer lighting compared to outside. Seeing Doris behind the bar talking to Earl, I head that way to grab some lunch when feminine laughter has my steps slowing. Glancing over, I spot Jamie and Jenny sitting across from Remi, who’s laughing at something one of them said.
This shit ain’t good, because the last thing Remi needs to do is become friends with anyone here. When the time comes for her to leave, she needs to do so without having any ties to this place. And fuck me, it’s almost a guarantee she’ll be labelled Jamie and Jenny’s new best friend before the day’s over. This needs to be nipped in the bud immediately before they start planning girl dates and shit.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I shoot Judge a text.
Me – You may want to call your girls Jamie and Jen. They’re currently getting real friendly with Remi.
Judge – Remi?
Shit. I never told him her name.
Me – The pregnant woman.
It only takes him a minute to reply, and I can just imagine the irritated expression he’s wearing.
Judge – Shit. On it.
I take a seat at the bar a couple spots down from Earl, but keep my head turned toward the women. A moment later, Jamie looks down to her phone on the table. Her eyes slide to Jen and she says something I can’t hear. Jamie and Jen get up from the table, speak to Remi for another minute, before scurrying toward the door, takeout bag in hand.
I turn back to the bar just as Doris steps up across from me.
“Hey, Doc. How ya doin’?”
“Good.”
She grabs a glass, fills it with water, and places it down in front of me on a napkin. “I’ve got your order coming up.”
“Do me a favor, will you? Plate it instead of putting it in a container.”
“You got it.”
As she walks off to grab my lunch, I grab my water and turn to face Remi. A small smile plays on her face as she looks at her phone. Not for the first time, I notice how pretty she is. Her brown hair is pulled back in a simple ponytail with a few strands escaping to fall down the sides of her neck.
I’ve never found pregnant woman overly sexy. Yes, they’re pretty just for the simple fact they’re carrying a human being in their body, and that in itself is amazing, but there’s something different about Remi. I can’t place it, but she intrigues the hell out of me, and I find her incredibly appealing.
“She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she?” Earl says from a couple seats down.
“Mind your own business, Earl,” I grunt without moving my eyes away.
“Just statin’ facts.”
I shoot him a glare. “Well, keep them to yourself.”
He chortles before putting his bottle back to his lips.
A noise behind me alerts me of Doris setting my plate down, and I half turn back to her.
“Thanks. Can I get another water?”
She looks from me to Remi then back to me. I know she caught me staring, but she doesn’t say anything. Just offers a smile and gets me another glass of water. I maneuver the bottom of both waters in the palm of my hand, grab my plate, and carry them with me to Remi’s table. Don’t ask me why I’m doing it, because fuck if I know.
I’m halfway there when she lifts her head and spots me. Her eyes widen and dart around before settling back on me.
“You mind?” I gesture to the open spot across from her.
“I was getting—”