8. Galvin

galvin

. . .

T he day after Sail invited Galvin to go sailing and she politely declined, she expected to see him in the diner the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that. As much as she hated to admit it, not that she had anyone to confide in, but she had hoped Sail would come in. Even if he got under her skin a little. She liked looking at him and found herself wondering what the other Carter boys looked like.

Just as she had the thought, the door to the diner opened and four, very tall and very striking men walked in. Galvin did a double take and swallowed hard when Sail came into view. His gaze leveled on her, holding her there as if he had some magnetic power. When he winked, her knees knocked together and brought her out of her stupor.

These were the Carter boys . . . or men, depending on how someone looked at them. As they passed by, Galvin leaned slightly into the counter and checked out Sail’s backside. He had a very nice backside.

The four of them walked to the last booth in the diner and sat down. They had to be uncomfortable. Sail’s leg extended out in front of him, in the aisle way, while his brother across from him did the same.

Galvin picked up four menus and then set them. When Sail first came in, he said he knew the menu even though he wasn’t as well versed as he had thought. However, Galvin knew the other three lived in town, even though she hadn’t met them yet. She put all but one down and walked toward the table.

“Hi there,” she said as she handed Sail the menu. “I’m Galvin.”

“Dune.” He sat across from Sail and waved.

“Oh, you’re . . .”

“Yes, I am Captain?—”

“Blue Balls,” the one next to him coughed. Dune elbowed him. “Hey, I’m Tidal.”

“I’m Crew.” He gave a two-finger wave and sat next to Sail.

Galvin smiled at them before turning her gaze toward Sail.

“You know me,” he said, as he smiled at Galvin. They held each other’s gaze longer than what most would deem appropriate for waitstaff and customer. Sail held up the menu. “How come I’m the only one?”

“Because the last time you were here, you didn’t know about the sauces. I was saving you from embarrassment,” she said in what she thought was a hushed tone. One of the boys snorted and the another cackled. Sail glared at them, but neither stopped laughing. He sighed and opened the menu. All she wanted was to remind him of their first meeting because as of late, she’d had a hard time forgetting it.

“What can I get you to drink?”

The four of them ordered Cokes.

“Do any of you need a menu?”

“We can share,” Sail told her as he held it up for her to see. He handed it to Tidal and clasped his hands together. Galvin excused herself to get their sodas.

Back at the counter, she filled four glasses with ice and then held each one under the soda stream.

“Each one of them is hot,” Rhianna, the newest hire said, as she leaned against the counter, next to Galvin. Rhianna was a single mom who needed extra money to make ends meet. Penny hired her on the spot for part-time work.

“I believe one of them in engaged. Another one is in high school.”

“And the other two?” she asked Galvin.

“I’m not sure. I only know the one sitting on the end, closest to us. But I’m pretty sure they’re all off limits. Owner’s sons and all.”

“Maybe the one on the end is worth quitting my job.” Rhianna sighed. “Unless you have dibs on him? I saw the way you two looked at each other.”

Galvin choked when she meant to swallow. “No, no dibs.”

“What a shame. He looks like he wants to have a good time with you.”

Against her better judgment, she glanced at the table and caught Sail staring. No, staring wasn’t the right word. He watched her, absorbed her. Galvin felt her body temperature rise, in the most pleasurable ways.

“You’re blushing,” Rhianna said as she leaned closer.

“Because you’re embarrassing me.” Galvin gritted through her teeth. She added the drinks and straws to the tray and lifted it. “I’m here to work, not to get involved with the owner’s son. Besides, our dads are friends from college.”

Rhianna’s mouth dropped open. “You know, this has the sound of a perfect romance.”

Galvin rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Go read a book.”

She carried the tray toward the table and thanks to a lot of practice was able to put each drink down in front of the guys, without spilling, while holding the tray in the palm of her other hand. With the last one set in front of Sail, Galvin tucked the tray under her arm and pulled her order pad out from her apron pocket.

“Are you ready to order?”

Dune went first, followed by Tidal and Crew. When she came to Sail, she glanced at him quickly, regretting it instantly because he had his eyes on her. His stare felt heavy and made her body flush. Tingle even and he wasn’t even touching her.

Not that she wanted him to touch her. Or did she?

“Um . . .” Galvin cleared her throat. “The usual?” She had her pen poised to write down a club sandwich with no tomato and a tater tots instead of fries. How she remembered his order with all the others she’d taken since she started at Carters sent her mind for a loop. Like she had said to Rhianna, Sail was off limits.

“Actually, I’ll have a cheeseburger, medium rare, with bacon.”

“No tomato?”

Sail grinned. “No tomato,” he said softly.

“What kind of cheese?”

“Cheddar.”

“What kind of sauce would you like with your tots?”

“How many times have you come in?” Tidal asked, interrupting Galvin and Sail’s staring competition. Sail’s gaze turned sharply toward his brother. There is a noticeable tick in his jaw. Tidal must’ve recognized something in the look because he looked away.

“Lemon garlic aioli since it’s my favorite.” He winked and her knees almost buckled. Galvin needed to get away from the table as fast as she could.

One of the brothers cackled, and while she wanted to ask what was so funny or off-putting, she also didn’t want to know anymore about them. As she had said to Rhianna, she was there to work and go to law school. Besides, her attraction to Sail didn’t negate that he was the owners’ son. If something went south, she’d lose her job and there would be no way she could face her dad if that happened.

Galvin repeated the orders and then made her way back to the counter where she went over the items listed on her order pad, added the order to the wheel for the cook, and went to her next table. After serving other customers, she came back to the Carter table with four fresh drinks, taking their empty glasses away.

“Your meals should be up any minute now,” she said, trying to treat them like any other customers versus the men who could get her fired from her job. At the thought, a pit formed in her stomach. She quickly backed away from the table and made her way into the kitchen where she went right to the prep line to see where her order was.

“How much longer on my four top?”

“Plating right now,” Andy said as he moved plates around. “Give me a minute.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Fill the sauce cups.”

She did and doubled checked her ticket to make sure everything was perfect.

“What’s the deal?” Andy asked. “Is there a food critic out there or something?”

“No, Jack and Pearl’s sons are and they’re in my section.”

Andy started laughing. He keeled over and heaved in big gusts of air. When he righted, he wiped fake tears from his eyes.

“What’s so funny?”

“You, going to the extra mile for them.”

“Uh . . . they could complain to Jack or Penny, and I’d lose my job.”

Another bout of laughter rolled through him. “You would need to physically harm one of the boys for them to complain. They’re literally the nicest guys in town.”

“Still.”

“Stop worrying your pretty little head over them.”

It was easy for Andy to think. He was a local and had been working for the Carter’s for some time. Galvin shook her head and picked up the first two plates and set them on her arm. She reached for the next one, but Andy took it and the last one.

“What are you doing?”

“Showing you that you have nothing to worry about.”

It took her a minute to gain her composure and while she had, Andy walked out of the kitchen and into the dining area. “Shit,” she muttered, and she tried to catch up. Galvin reached the table just as Andy started talking. She cringed when she overheard him say, “Sail, you mother fucker. I didn’t know you were home.”

Well, there goes my tip.

Galvin set the plates she held down in front of Dune and Crew, and then took the two Andy had. Putting Tidal’s in front of him first, not realizing she left Sail’s for last. Not that he’d notice because he was deep in conversation with Andy. Or so she thought.

She used this opportunity to look at him, just this once, while he was occupied. Except Sail glanced at her right when she gave him an appraising look. He licked his lips and winked. Galvin held his gaze until something crashed in the kitchen. She cleared her throat and turned her attention to Dune.

“If you guys need anything else, let me know.”

As far as she was concerned, they had everything. She hadn’t missed anything in their order, drinks were full, and she had filled the condiment bottles earlier. She excused herself and walked to the back to collect her thoughts.

In the bathroom, she gripped the porcelain sink and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Pink cheeks, sweat pooling at her hairline, and a rapidly beating heart. Sail had gotten to her. The problem, with the exception to the obvious, was she wasn’t sure she even liked him. Yes, he was nice to look at, but he was a bit too cocky for her liking, and she had a feeling he had plenty of women falling at his feet.

All but her.

She would never.

Galvin washed her hands and wetted a paper towel to dab at her face. Her shift was almost over and then she’d head upstairs, heat up some leftovers and watch one of the streaming apps her father graciously paid for.

Back in the diner, she served her other tables, refilled drinks, and cleared tables as people finished their meals. Some ordered dessert, while most paid their check and left.

The Carter boys did not leave.

Even after they ate dessert.

The four of them sat there, chatting like they hadn’t seen each other in years. From what Sail told her, he’d been away at college, but certainly he came home to visit.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said when she approached their table. “My shift is over and wanted to let you know Rhianna will get you gentlemen whatever you need.”

“Can you get us our check?” Sail asked.

She must’ve looked at him like he had three heads because he repeated himself and then said, “You know the paper thing we use to pay our bill.”

“Oh. I . . . uh . . .”

Dune shook his head. “No, ma’am. We pay for our food here.”

“Oh, okay. Give me a minute.”

Galvin went behind the counter and rang in their order and printed a copy of their receipt. She put it in the booklet and carried it over, pausing halfway to question whether they each needed their own or what. She hadn’t thought to ask.

“I put everything on one ticket. Is that okay?”

“Perfect,” Dune said as he took the black booklet from her, wrote a total, and handed her a credit card.

Anxiety filled her as she carried everything back to the cash register. With Dune’s credit card in her hand, she pulled the receipt and looked at the total at the bottom. Her eyes widened when she saw the tip amount and then she did a double take. He or they had tipped her over one hundred percent, which was more than enough to buy her groceries for the week.

Trying not to call attention to her excitement, she finished the transaction and went back to the table. She set Dune’s card and receipt down in front of him. “Thank you,” she said to all of them. “It was great meeting you.”

“See ya,” Crew and Tidal said.

“If you see me out and about, say hi. We’re all family now,” Dune said as he stood with Tidal following him.

Sail stood as well, followed by Crew. Galvin smiled and headed toward the back, clocking out, and walking toward the backdoor.

“Galvin,” Sail’s voice carried over the din of the kitchen. She turned as he came through the door. “Would you like go to down to the bar for a drink?”

As much as she wanted to say yes, she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Sail. Have a good night.” Galvin climbed the stairs to her apartment and slipped her key into the lock and turned the knob, fighting the urge to look over the railing at Sail.