You've Got Love and Lobsters: Shipbuilt Shenanigans Book One by Jilli Waters

Author:Jilli Waters [Waters, Jilli]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hutia LLC
Published: 2023-08-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Layla

“Yes, you will do this. This is the Deeb standard for every new baby, every wedding, every new business in town. We celebrate. We bring a gift.” Dad’s voice has a determination in it I haven’t heard in years.

“Fine. I’ll drop off the gift, but I’m not eating there. And I’m not staying any longer than is absolutely necessary.” I grit my teeth and cross my arms, the cleaning rag in my hand soaks the side of my shirt with cleaning solution.

The past three days have been the best three days I’ve had since arriving back in town. The shack has been hopping every day. Milkshakes always make people happy, even without secret make-out sessions with the competition. I haven’t even told Jane, I don’t think I can. And while it won’t happen again, the memory of that night is good imagination fodder for when I can’t sleep—it’s certainly more delightful to dream of his hands and lips on my body than of overdue bills.

Dad has been at work every day and seems to be holding up under the stresses of being on his feet all day. The relief I feel at that one victory makes me think that we’ll be okay.

Yesterday I introduced a new dinner special, hummus and falafel. We sold out before the dinner rush was finished. Pride at my own idea and execution of it had me riding a high—only deepened by beating Ben while running this morning—until now when Dad popped my bubble.

“Good. You have something on your chin, and Jane is here.” Dad smirks at me and walks off to finish inventorying the paper products. Wiping my chin, I turn, sigh loudly, and walk with arms outstretched toward Jane to take my coffee from her.

“Why are you so huffy?” Jane asks by way of greeting.

Slurping the hot coffee, I let my body relax a minute before answering her. “Dad insists I drop off a ‘congratulations on your grand opening’ gift tonight for Ben and Emmett.” There are more words on the tip of my tongue. Words of anger, but also of lust and desire, and so I don’t say more, unsure of which is more likely to come tumbling out.

“I’ll go with you,” Jane grins from over the top of her coffee. “I love a good drama. And that Emmett is pretty cute, in a Prince Harry sort of way.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. I respond maturely by sticking out my tongue at her. Then we sit in a booth by the window while I drink my coffee.

“Your dad looks good. After Milkshake Day, he still has pep in his step.” Jane says as she watches him make his way from counter to kitchen and back again, scribbling in his notepad.

“Yeah, it’s really heartening to see him back to his old self. When he twisted his ankle, I thought he’d never make it back to normal, that he was too weak to ever get back to his old level of operating.” I sigh.

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