The Waitress's Secret Read online

  He’d been fighting his feelings from the beginning, trying to convince himself he was infatuated and that it would all blow over. His life would return to normal and Arden would fade into the background. His restaurant would once more be the entire focus of his life. Instead, she continued to occupy his thoughts. He wanted to spend more time with her. Despite his intention to hold her at a distance, he repeatedly found himself drawn to her. Like any wise man, he knew when he was beaten. So he stopped fighting. No longer worried about defending his heart, he decided to try to win hers.

  The old saying about food and a man’s heart also applied to women. As a chef he had that nailed. One of the first things he’d noticed about Arden was her love of food. Too many women came close to starving themselves in order to attain a Photoshop size that didn’t exist in the real world. At least not among healthy adult females. Arden enjoyed eating and didn’t care who knew. Nothing appealed to a chef more than someone who delighted in his food. So he’d prepared a lavish feast for her and she’d clearly enjoyed it.

  Arden squeezed his hand, and he looked down and returned her smile. They walked in easy silence, the only sound the slap the steady waves made as they softly crashed against the sand before the foam caressed their bare feet. The moonlight shone brightly, spotlighting her delicate features. A gentle breeze blew against his skin and Arden’s tempting scent filled the air.

  An unusually strong wave crashed against their legs, causing Arden to stumble against him.

  “Sorry,” she murmured.

  “What, getting knocked down by a rogue wave isn’t on your bucket list?”

  “Believe it or not, very few things on that list involve water.” She scooped a handful of water and tossed him a mischievous look before letting the water drain through her fingers. Smiling, she splashed and scampered across the beach.

  He followed more slowly, enjoying the sway of her hips in her tight pants. She found a place that appealed to her and sat down, stretching out her legs. He sat beside her on the sand. He could feel the warmth of her smaller body, heating him in a way the sun never could. She turned toward him, still laughing. There were a few grains of sand clinging to her cheek and, without thinking, he lifted his finger to her cheek and brushed them away. No matter how often he touched her skin, he was always amazed by just how soft it was. “Please tell me kissing on a moonlit beach made the cut and is on the list.”

  She leaned into his hand. “It is as of now.”

  He needed to feel her in his arms, to taste her lips and hear her whisper his name on a sigh. His body was hard with need, his passion held back by a single thread. Despite the intense longing surging through his body, Brandon slowly lowered his head until his lips barely brushed hers, keeping the pressure light.

  He could do this. He could allow them some pleasure without crossing the line making return impossible. Although Arden wasn’t as vulnerable as she had been when they’d met, her heart had still been battered. She shouldn’t be rushed. He needed to be patient and give her time to fall in love with him.

  She moved closer and increased the pressure with her own lips, opening to him. Her hands gripped his shirt, pulling him to her, and the thread snapped. His control gone, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her with all the longing that had been building for weeks, allowing himself this brief moment of heaven.

  Beneath the flavor of the chocolate dessert was a sweetness that Arden alone could claim. One sample simply wasn’t enough. It was as if he’d been stranded on a deserted island, slowly starving, and now was being gifted with pure nectar of the gods.

  Arden’s sigh beneath his lips was nearly his undoing. He called upon a discipline he’d never had to use before and reluctantly ended the kiss. Breathing hard, he brushed a trembling finger against her kiss-swollen lower lip and leaned his forehead against hers.

  “Wow,” she breathed, her breath a sexy whisper against his face.

  He exhaled. “Yeah, wow.”

  “So now what?”

  Good question. “Now I take you home and we say good-night.” Even though everything in him screamed in protest, he forced himself to stand, then reached a hand to her.

  She was silent for a long moment. “Must we?”

  The reluctance in her voice matched his. He didn’t want to end the night. At least not this way. But he was determined to stick to the vow he’d made earlier and not take the chance of making their relationship awkward by pushing her to make love. His resolve was weakening when every breath he took was filled with her totally distracting scent. There was no way he could concentrate when her very sexy body was within arm’s reach. “It’s late. Tomorrow will be here before you know it. I have to go to the markets in the morning.”

  She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Her soft breasts pressed into his arm and he nearly groaned aloud. Sometimes being a gentleman sucked.

  She dusted the sand from the seat of her pants. “Do you mind if I go with you again?”

  “Sure. That would be great.” Brandon wasn’t ready to say he’d fallen in love with her, but he definitely liked the idea of the two of them being together. Perhaps for the rest of their lives.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Arden blinked as the alarm clock blared from across the dark room. She’d learned the hard way the consequences of having the clock close enough for her to hit the snooze button repeatedly. Covering her head with her pillow, she tried to block out the persistent noise, but couldn’t. Finally she sighed and sat up, then rose and stumbled across the room to stop the irritating sound.

  She’d barely slept at all, so she was sleepier than normal. Then she remembered last night with Brandon and the reason she’d set the alarm and all sleepiness fled, leaving behind a blur of emotions. She wrapped her arms around her middle as she relived Brandon staring deep into her eyes before he lowered his head ever so slowly to kiss her. And what a kiss. Even now her toes curled at the memory. The sensation of his lips was like nothing she’d ever felt before and something she couldn’t wait to experience again.

  Although Brandon had told her he wasn’t looking for a relationship, she believed his feelings had changed. Even though he hadn’t said a word, his actions spoke for him. He cared for her. He often reached for her hand as they walked, holding it tight as if he didn’t want to let her get too far from him. When she helped at the restaurant, she felt his eyes searching her out as soon as he entered the dining room. And when their eyes met, he always nodded and smiled, his eyes communicating more eloquently than any words could.

  True, none of these things meant that he was falling in love with her. Still, a girl could hope. Especially since she was head over heels in love with him and her love for him grew each day. She still wasn’t sure how it had happened, but her broken heart had healed and was functioning quite nicely. Now she knew she’d never been in love with Michael-the-twerp. It was only her pride that had been hurt. She hated how easily he’d duped her, but none of that mattered now. The only thing that did was Brandon. She hoped that he loved her as much as she loved him. If he wasn’t there yet, that was okay. She’d give him as much time as he needed. But would any feelings he had survive when she revealed her secret?

  She bit her lip. She needed to tell him the truth. Today. She had already let so many opportunities to come clean slip through her hands, each one another nail in her coffin. She knew how much Brandon valued honesty. He deserved to know her real name and identity. And he deserved to know why she’d kept it a secret. Having been on the receiving end of deception, she knew how much it hurt to be betrayed. It was worse when the person doing the deceiving claimed to love you.

  She should have come clean when he’d told her about Sylvia’s deception. That would have been the perfect time. Before then she hadn’t known her using a fake name would echo a painful incident in his past. After he’d told her about Sylvia, every day that
passed only made her look as if she didn’t intend to tell him the truth.

  Her stomach churned and she muttered an unladylike swear word. She didn’t look forward to the conversation they were about to have.

  If only she’d been honest in the beginning, she wouldn’t be in this pickle. Then again, if he’d known her last name he might not have taken the time to get to know her. And she might have been suspicious of his kindness, believing he’d had an ulterior motive. It didn’t matter now. The past was over and done. She had to deal with now. She was helping at Heaven on Earth tonight. She’d tell him the truth after the restaurant closed.

  * * *

  Arden forced a smile and smothered the urge to yell at the young customer to make up her mind and choose something. Generally, indecisive diners didn’t bother her; she’d patiently try to help them choose a meal they would enjoy. Tonight she didn’t have the inclination to do that. The conversation she needed to have with Brandon weighed heavily on her mind. Her head ached with fear and anticipation.

  She remembered how furious he’d been with Sylvia. True, he’d been physically injured because of the other woman’s lies. She’d be just as angry with any person who put her life in danger like that. She was certain Brandon would see the difference in what she had done and what Sylvia had done. Wouldn’t he? Man, she hoped so.

  “Have you made up your mind?” Arden asked.

  The conflicted twentysomething had been sure she wanted seafood-stuffed crepes when she’d first ordered. She’d changed her selection as each of her three companions ordered, mirroring their choice. Now she was opening her menu again.

  “I don’t know.”

  “How about I give you a few more minutes to decide what you want?”

  Her three friends groaned. Arden knew how they felt.

  “What do you think I should get?” the woman asked Arden.

  “Everything you’ve selected tastes wonderful. If I were you, though, I’d go with the crepes. That is what you initially wanted.”

  The young woman bit her lower lip. “Okay,” she said in a rush.

  Arden scribbled the order while the other three clapped.

  “Hurry before she changes her mind,” said the young man sitting next to the woman.

  “You’d better hope I don’t change my mind about you,” she teased. She smiled at Arden and lifted her left hand. An enormous emerald that matched the woman’s eyes perfectly glistened on her ring finger. “We got engaged last night.”

  “Congratulations.” Arden smiled and felt a sudden longing for a ring of her own with all the love it represented. An image of Brandon offering her one on bended knee flashed in her mind. She quickly banished it.

  As if she’d conjured him up, Brandon emerged from the kitchen to make his customary visit to the dining room, starting in the back and moving toward the front. Dressed impeccably in a tailored gray suit that emphasized his broad shoulders, he shook hands with a gray-haired gentleman, then chatted briefly with the woman seated across from him. Whatever he said must have been amusing because they all laughed.

  The front door opened, letting in more patrons. Suddenly an unusual hush filled the dining room. Conversation quieted and then stopped abruptly. There wasn’t even the sound of silverware connecting with plates. Then a slow buzz grew as people began to talk excitedly. Arden shivered and the hair on the back of her neck stood up as a sense of dread filled her. She heard his voice and her stomach plummeted to her toes.

  Jax.

  Slowly she turned and saw her brothers. Her mind was filled with horror. What were they doing here?

  Her eyes returned to Brandon. He had ended his conversation with the older couple and was now weaving his way to the front of the restaurant to discover the source of the unusual mood that had settled on the room. Any second he’d encounter her brothers and the jig would be up.

  No. Brandon couldn’t find out this way. He’d never believe she’d meant to tell him the truth if he found out her identity from someone else. She had to get her brothers out of there before they ruined everything. Dropping her pad, she brushed past two young women who were being seated, mumbling an apology. Several heads turned, including Brandon’s, as she began a mad dash to the front of the restaurant. It was as if she was running through sludge. No matter how fast she pumped her legs, she didn’t seem to move.

  She heard Margo, the hostess, asking if they had reservations, followed by her brother’s response in the negative. A tall man on crutches blocked her path and she could only watch as her world began to crumble around her.

  “There are no openings for tonight, Mr. Wexford,” Margo said apologetically. Neither of her brothers shunned the spotlight the way Arden did, so they were frequently the subject of celebrity gossip that passed as entertainment. There was no chance celebrity follower Margo wouldn’t recognize them. Margo smiled her brightest and Arden knew she’d been correct. “Maybe I can check with the chef if you want to wait, Mr. Wexford. He is also the owner.”

  Before either of her brothers could respond, she signaled to Brandon, who joined them.

  “These are Blake and Jackson Wexford,” Margo said, giving special emphasis to the last name. “You know, of Wexford Industries. The hotel people. They don’t have reservations, but I was hoping you could work out something for them.”

  “Thank you for the offer, but we aren’t here to eat,” Jax said. “We’re here to see our sister. We were told she works here.”

  “Nobody with that last name works here,” Brandon said. “You must have been misinformed.”

  Arden’s heart pounded in her chest, her dread growing as she watched the events unfold. She’d waited too long to tell the truth. The man in her path finally made it to his seat and she was able to cross the remaining distance to the hostess station.

  “No, we weren’t. I’m looking right at her.”

  “Who?” Brandon’s voice sounded puzzled and his head swiveled to encompass the dining room.

  “Arden. Arden Wexford.”

  “Arden Wexford?” Brandon’s quiet voice ripped through her as if her name had been shouted. He turned to her, confusion in his eyes, quickly followed by accusation and hurt. Then he blinked and the only expression that remained was red-hot fury. He swung an arm toward Blake and Jax. “Your brothers?” he asked, as if he needed to hear her confirm Jax’s words.

  A lump the size of a mountain appeared in her throat and all she could do was nod.

  “I see.” He turned his back to her and faced her brothers. “I guess I was wrong about her.”

  She flinched. He’d spoken to Blake and Jax, but the words were directed to her. But he hadn’t been wrong to trust her. He wasn’t wrong about the type of person she was. And he certainly wasn’t wrong about her feelings for him. She was the one who had been wrong. She’d been wrong to continue to hide her identity from him once she’d discovered what a good man he was. She’d been wrong to not tell him of her growing feelings for him.

  He started to walk away and she grabbed his arm. If he left this way he might never listen. And she had to tell him the truth. “Please let me explain.”

  He stiffened, then shook off her hand as if he found her touch distasteful. “Now you want to explain. You had your chance. Many chances. And to think...” He clenched his jaw and looked back at her brothers. “We don’t have any open tables so you’ll have to leave. And Arden, you can clock out. That way you can go with them.”

  “Brandon, please.” She was begging, but she didn’t care. Her pride would mean nothing if she didn’t have Brandon.

  “Actually, we’d like to talk to you, too,” Blake said.

  “Me?” Brandon narrowed his eyes.

  “Why?” Arden asked suspiciously. How did they even know about Brandon? For that matter, how did they know she’d been working here? She hadn’t mentioned it.
They must have hired a private investigator to keep tabs on her. Apparently, they were only pretending to believe she could run her own life. And given the mistake she had just made with Brandon, they might be right.

  But that was different. She hadn’t become involved with the wrong man again. Her mistake had been taking too long to realize he was just as good as he seemed.

  “I don’t have time for this. I have a restaurant to run.” Brandon turned on his heel and strode to the kitchen and away from her.

  Jax took a step after him, but Arden stopped him with a hand on his arm. “He’s working. We need to leave.”

  She looked around the dining room. People were beginning to eat and to pick up the strands of their conversation. She caught the eyes of several of the other waitstaff. Their expressions ranged from curious to confused to downright angry. Nobody liked being deceived and made to feel like a fool. No doubt about it. She’d lost more than her anonymity tonight. She’d lost friends.

  Worse, she’d lost Brandon.

  She lifted her chin and walked out of the restaurant with as much dignity as she could muster. When she felt the cool night air, she rounded on her brothers, her sadness morphing into fury. “What are you doing here?”

  “Trying to keep you from making another stupid mistake,” Jax replied.

  Arden gasped and drew her hands to her chest as if to protect her heart.

  “He didn’t mean it the way it sounded,” Blake interjected with a sharp look at Jax.

  “Oh, I think he did. You two don’t respect me. You never have. You treat me like a child. I’ve grown up but you refuse to see that.” Her voice was a croak, as the hurt she’d tried for years to hide was revealed.