Here With Me (Paloma's Edge) Read Free

seasoned meats.
    I waved my hand at her. “I am not in a rush,” I told her in Spanish. I’d had three customers this morning who wanted very simple and common tattoos, and one customer scheduled for the evening.
    A pleased grin started on her lips before she dashed to the kitchen worktop and took three dishes as some of the waiters came to get other dishes that the chefs had set down.
    When I looked at the other tables again, I saw a group of men looking at the back of a tall and thin waitress who wore a cap with very loose dark brown curls down her back. The apron around her waist emphasized her tiny waist and her wider hips. She walked toward the kitchen worktop and took off her cap.
    It was Mariska. She accepted a tissue from an employee and dabbed her forehead. I didn’t know that she worked here. I figured that she’d maybe have a work-study job, because she looked so busy at school. Based on the conversations I’d listened to Beth and Jake have, Mariska was either in the dorm room she shared with Beth, or in class.
    “I am Blanca,” she told me. “Thanks for waiting.”
    “I’m Hunter, and it was really no problem.”
    “Welcome to La Caridad, Hunter.” A smiled bloomed over her face. “What would you like?”
    I hadn’t looked over the menu yet. I moved my mouth and thought about it quickly. I went with the Cuban meals I’d had before and liked. “I’ll have a regular Cuban Sandwich, yucca croquettes, and the imperial rice.”
    “Very good choices. You won’t be hungry for the rest of the day with our imperial rice. Do you want black or red beans?”
    “Can I get an extra order of sweet plantains, instead?”
    Blanca nodded and looked over her shoulder. “There’s a table available for you.”
    “I’ll have my order to go.”
    “Sit down until your order is ready,” she insisted and I followed her to a tiny table that could be missed without a thorough look around the restaurant.
    After I was seated, I picked up the menu from the table. I would’ve had a hard time making a decision with all of the dishes on this menu. I heard someone clearing her throat and I brought my head up and met Mariska’s dark chocolate brown eyes. She had her black cap back on her head, but I could still see her face. She put down a glass of ice water in front of me. The white dress she had on looked great against her golden skin. A week ago, at Beth’s birthday party, she’d had a dress on too. It occurred to me that I hadn’t seen her in anything but a dress or skirt. I lowered my eyes to her never-ending long legs. She really was pretty. Two feet from us, the guys at the table she’d just served were eyeing her. I hadn’t given her much thought, or checked her out, because I had no business thinking about her like that.
    “What are you doing here?” She tried to ask me nicely, but she hadn’t hidden her irritation well. Was it because she’d been told to serve me a glass of water? Did she want someone else to do it?
    I raised my gaze and received a pointed look from her as I said, “Waiting on my food.”
    Mariska hiked her brow up. “You’re staying here for lunch?” Her eyes slightly widened, and I felt my lips twitch.
    “The next time you come, I insist that you eat in,” Blanca said from behind Mariska as she moved in front of her.  Since she wasn’t as tall as Mariska I caught the disgusted turn-up of Mariska’s mouth, which changed to a courteous nod.
    Blanca touched Mariska’s arm as she turned on the heels of her feet. “Do you know Hunter?”
    “We know each other…very well,” I lied and sent Mariska a mocking smile. “We go to University of Miami together and she told me that La Caridad is a must.” I threw my arms up and a satisfied expression broke out over Blanca’s face. “I work at Lasting Impressions.”
    “Which is very convenient. Maybe you could do a tattoo for me. I’ve always thought about getting one,” Blanca remarked. Her head rose to meet Mariska’s stare,