26. Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Layla

"Are you kidding me?" Zane gasps in my office. "He told you he loves you? Girl, you must be dynamite in bed. It's only been like three weeks."

It's only been two days since he told me, but I still feel different. Knowing he feels that way has brought me an odd sense of calm.

"I'd like to think it was more than my bedroom skills that led him to say that," I tell him as I head towards the door. "Has the lunch rush started yet?"

We walk down the hallway towards the kitchen, where I see my team diligently working.

"We're about seventy-five percent full already. I think in the next half-hour, we will be maxed out."

It's still surreal that my restaurant is such a hot spot for lunch and dinner. I've worked my butt off to make sure the menu was trendy, and yet it still feels like you are getting something familiar .

"That's great. I'm just going to do a walk-through in the dining area to make sure everything is running smoothly out there."

I head over to the front of the restaurant to see how the hostesses are doing. Mindy and Becca are the two on the schedule today.

"Hi, girls," I say to them as I join them behind the stand. "How's everything going up here? Are we at a wait time yet?"

Mindy smiles at me. "Hi, Layla. We're getting close. I think we'll hit a fifteen-minute wait time soon."

"That's great. Do you need anything while you're up here? Something to drink? I can cover if one of you needs to go to the bathroom," I offer.

These girls are generally stuck up here during high-traffic times, so I try to make sure they are comfortable.

"No, I think we're good," Becca says. "Thanks for the offer."

I turn around to make sure the menus are stocked adequately. As I shuffle through them, trying to make them straight, I hear the girls whispering to each other.

"Oh my god, Becca. It's him. He's back. Ugh, he's so hot," Mindy whispers.

"Look at him in that black shirt," Becca responds. "You should ask him out."

I turn around to see who these two are talking about like that on the job. Clearly, it's a regular.

"Hey, sis," Asher stands there with a smile on his face .

He's in his white shirt with Josh next to him—my Josh, in a black shirt. My two hostesses were standing there crushing on my man. Becca even encouraged Mindy to ask him out.

I look at Mindy. Her long blonde hair, petite figure, and blue eyes. She's only twenty-three, but I doubt that would stop any man Josh's age from being with her.

What is Josh doing with someone like me when he can have his choice of any woman, like Mindy?

"Hi, Ash," I smile at him. "Josh."

"Hi, Freckles," he smiles at me.

"I'll seat them, ladies. What table?"

I see the look of disappointment on their faces as they look down at the sheet.

"Table 43," Mindy says sadly.

I grab two menus and walk the guys through the dining area, weaving around tables until we get to the table in the far corner. The girls didn't even ask them where they wanted to be seated. They must know the guys want to be inside to enjoy the air conditioning and, in the back, away from the crowd.

I wonder how many times they've been seated by Mindy and Becca. Does Josh notice them? What am I thinking? Of course, he does. He's a man after all.

We get to their table, and I place their menus down then turn around as I struggle to display a smile on my face. I don't want Josh to know I'm being irrationally jealous just because a beautiful woman thinks he's hot .

"Thanks, beautiful," Josh says as he leans in and kisses my cheek.

My cheeks redden at his public display of affection. I sneak a glance at Becca and Mindy at the front who are talking to guests. Dammit. I wish they saw that. I know that seems very high school, but I don't care.

"You're welcome," I smile up at him, noticing that he is resting his chin on his hand and smirking at me.

Asher sighs. "I can't wait until you two are passed this annoying beginning phase of the relationship. All the dreamy looks and constant touching." He makes a disgusted face.

Josh chuckles as he grabs his menu. "Layla had to put up with it with you and Charlotte."

"Yeah, well, I don't think we were as bad as you two."

Josh and I both start to crack up. That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all day.

"You two still can't stop touching each other," Josh replies.

"Whatever. We didn't have the whole dreamy looks going on."

Josh winks at me. I tuck my hair behind my ear. "Well, I'll let you two look over the menu. Your server will be with you soon. Let me know if you need anything."

I walk away from the table and find myself pulled directly into a dilemma in the kitchen. From there, it's one thing after another. Zane is busy trying to order food from our purveyor, a task I have always done but have recently given to him in an effort to further let go of my control issues .

But since he's busy, that leaves me to manage today. I think it's about time I thought about hiring an assistant manager. I would like to have an option to work from home if I am dealing with office stuff.

I can't believe these thoughts are even crossing my mind. It's all thanks to the man sitting across the room from me. I look over at him, just to find him smiling over at me.

Every time I've stolen a glance in his direction, he's watching me. Any insecurities I had earlier about Mindy are gone. He hasn't looked in her direction even once. For some reason, he only seems to see me.