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Celeste made a huffing sound. “Darling, have you been hit on the head? I’ve told you twice now that she’s quit the agency. Obviously, she hasn’t taken any contracts. We do, however, have a lovely new girl. Her name is Penny, and I think you and she would get along marvelously. She’s a bit shy but eager to learn.”
“No, thank you,” I said. “I have to go, Celeste.”
I ended the call and shoved my phone into my pocket. What the fuck was going on? Completely confused, I grabbed my coffee cup and headed toward the kitchen. Was Riley working for another agency? If so, why? I needed to call her, but what if she was with someone right now? What if she was on her knees and -
The door to the ladies’ room swung open, and Riley stepped into the hallway. I stumbled to a stop, staring at the cheap polyester white shirt and black pants she wore before my gaze dropped to the hat in her hand. The front of the hat had the words “Lobster Shack,” but I couldn’t stop staring at the obscenely large plush lobster glued to the top of the hat.
She stared wide-eyed at me as I said, “Is that a lobster?”
Blushing furiously, she shoved the hat behind her back and pushed past me. “Excuse me, please.”
“Riley, wait.”
“I can’t,” she said. “I’ll be late if I don’t leave right now.”
She took off down the hallway, and I strode after her, “Riley, I -”
“Deacon?” Cara came out of her cubicle, looking sick to her stomach. “Deacon, I think I fucked up.”
I watched in frustration as Riley left before taking a deep breath and turning to Cara. “What’s wrong?”
* * *
“Welcome to the Lobster Shack!”
The woman who greeted me was very short and very chipper.
I gave her a distracted smile as I studied the restaurant. It was a family-style restaurant, and at seven-thirty on a Friday night, it was filled to the brim with people. The cheesiness of the place rivaled my favourite Italian restaurant. I stared at the neon sign glowing brightly on the wall before taking in the giant fishing nets strung across the ceiling, the anchors fixed to the walls, and the shelf of stuffed plush lobsters, the replica of the plush lobster bobbing and weaving on the headband holding back the hostess’ blonde hair.
“Sir?” Her voice went even chirpier. “How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
“Of course. What’s the last name of your party?” She held a tablet in her hand and stared expectantly at me.
“Oh, um, actually, it’s one of your servers. Riley.”
“Right,” she said. “Are you a friend of Riley’s?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Was she expecting you this evening because her section is already full.” She pointed to the far side of the restaurant. I stared at Riley standing with a group of servers, all wearing matching lobster hats, as they gathered in front of a table.
I watched in disbelief as Riley plunked a lobster hat on the head of a giggling child. She and the other servers slid oversized red felt lobster claws onto their hands. They waved them in unison as they started singing Happy Birthday, and another server carried out a birthday cake.
“There’s a half-hour wait to sit in Riley’s section, or I can seat you in another section in about five minutes,” the hostess said.
I didn’t reply, still staring stunned at Riley. As if she felt my look, her gaze turned my way, and I watched her face go as red as the lobster claws covering her hands. She stopped singing and stared wide-eyed at me for nearly ten seconds before the server beside her nudged her hard in the side. Riley plastered a smile on her face, turned away, and started singing again.
“Sir?” the hostess said, her voice decidedly less chirpy.
“Oh, uh, that’s okay,” I said. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll talk to Riley later.”
I left the restaurant, sucking in a deep breath of the cold air. Riley wasn’t working at an agency. She wasn’t being someone else’s good girl. She was a server at the goddamn Lobster Shack.
CHAPTER 36
Riley
