Warrior's Cross Read Free Page B

respond,” she hinted.
    “I don’t want to make a move,” Cameron insisted stubbornly.
    “Why the hell not?” she asked in shock. “ I would if I thought he’d go for it!” she claimed with a laugh. “No man who dresses that nice would be straight, though,” she muttered. She peered through the blinds with an exaggerated sigh.
    “If you’re this bored, I’m sure we can find you something more to do,” Cameron threatened as he glared at her.
    She turned around and winked at him, patting him on the back.
    “Fine, Mr. Head Waiter, sir. I’ll take his dessert out then,” she taunted, Warrior’s Cross 13

    swooping in to take the plate and ramekin that had just appeared, setting it on a small, linen-covered tray, and heading out to the dining room.
    Cameron caught his objection at the last second and watched her go before he turned narrowed eyes on a couple of the other waitresses who huddled at the end of the bar. They scurried back to work with a flutter of giggles. Cameron groaned. This was all he needed. Miri and the other girls would pester him about it forever, never mind that he was technically their supervisor. He didn’t know what Miri hoped to get out of this little interaction, but he hoped she was satisfied with whatever it was.
    As much as he hated to, Cameron went to the slats and peered through, watching curiously.
    Miri composed herself and approached the man’s table. “Your dessert, sir,” she offered as she presented the plate.
    The man watched the plate as it was set in front of him. He slowly looked up at the waitress, his expression blank for a long moment before simply nodding his thanks.
    Miri offered him a polite, charming smile. “May I bring you anything else?”
    The man gave her his usual jerk of the head in answer as he placed a linen napkin in his lap with his good hand.
    “Feel free to flag us down if you need anything,” she told him happily, pausing for a few breaths before moving along to make her way back out of the dining room.
    Once through the dark doors, she marched over to Cameron and waved her hand at the blinds. “See?” she said triumphantly.
    “No, I don’t,” Cameron responded, looking up from the coffee service he was preparing. Yes, he’d given in to the urge to watch Miri talk to him, but she didn’t need to know that.
    “He was annoyed with me,” she informed him with a smile. “He only wants you, Romeo,” she crooned with a smile before heading off again.

    14
    Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux

    Cameron stared after her before turning to check the dining room.
    He watched the man for a minute, examining the set of his shoulders and searching for signs of annoyance before frowning and shaking his head. Why would a man like that be interested in someone like him?
    First of all, he’d have to be into guys. And even if he was—which was a long shot in Cameron’s opinion—why pick up a mere waiter? The man looked rich and successful and powerful. None of which Cameron was.
    As he watched, Blake Nichols appeared and approached the table.
    The restaurant’s owner stood for a long while as they talked, and then he sat on the edge of the chair across from the man, speaking with what was obviously concern. The patron’s expression didn’t change, but Cameron sensed he was speaking to Blake somewhat heatedly, if the motions of his uninjured hand were any indication.
    The men were a study in opposites. The unnamed man had a tall, firm frame with tight muscles under his well-tailored clothing, jet black hair with those little hints of gray at the temples, his ever-present well-groomed beard and mustache. Blake Nichols, on the other hand, was clean-shaven with fine blond hair that always looked as if he’d been dragging his socks against the carpet. Fashionably messy. He wasn’t as tall or as broad, but he was still trim and in very good shape.
    Another difference between the two men: Blake wasn’t shy about expressing himself verbally when his