Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Larado stepped aside. “I think you’ve got this under control, ma’am.”
“Shabina,” she corrected and stepped closer to the table, pinning both men with as stern a gaze as she could manage. It wasn’t her strong suit. The dogs didn’t believe her when she threatened to give them away or cut off their food. “Say what you need to say, but there aren’t going to be any more scenes in my café by Sean, Bale or either of you. I will press charges against anyone refusing to pay after they’ve eaten, or if they threaten me, the café or my staff. Am I making myself clear?”
Oliver flushed and Maurice looked annoyed, but both nodded, indicating they understood.
“We came in to apologize for what happened the other day,” Oliver said. “None of us, including Sean, had any idea Bale would break your dishes and refuse to pay. The meal was fantastic, which is why everyone comes here. One minute we were all laughing and the next he was raging. I didn’t know what to do and neither did Sean or Maurice.”
“And then your husband came to the table,” Maurice continued. “I’ve never met anyone like him before.”
If there was a question in his statement, she wasn’t going to answer it. “He’s very protective.” She made that her response. “I accept your apology. I have no problem with you coming to the café as long as you don’t cause a scene, you treat my staff with respect and you pay your bill. Have a good day, gentlemen.”
Abruptly, Shabina turned away from them, refusing to allow them to take up any more of her time. Raine, Zahra and Vienna waited for her at their usual table in the back.
“It’s girls’ night tonight,” Shabina greeted as she sank into a chair beside Vienna. She didn’t want to discuss any of the men she’d spoken with. She needed a little reprieve from thinking about the problems she faced. “Raine, I know it’s your turn to have us over, but I’ve been thinking it might be better to hold our get-together at my house. Your leg is still hurting, and I know you had physical therapy today.”
Raine shook her head. “I can still pull it together. I’ll get the food from the Grill, so no one will starve. You’ve worked all day, Shabina. You deserve time off.”
“You know I love to cook. In any case, I already have tons of food prepared from here. And, just so you know, Rainier insists I have a security team looking after me, and they love to eat—a lot.”
Zahra rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen those men.” She indicated a table near the door. “They ate breakfast, and now they’re eating lunch.”
“I don’t think there has been a pause between breakfast and lunch,” Vienna added. “They do like to eat.”
“You know what’s annoying?” Zahra said. “They can eat like that and never gain a pound.”
Silence greeted her statement. The women stared at her in astonishment. Shabina cleared her throat. “Zahra, you eat anything you want and never gain a pound. We should know; we watch you do it.”
Vienna nodded. “Don’t say you don’t. We all want to strangle you.”
“That’s Raine,” Zahra objected. “She can put away an entire large pizza and not gain an ounce. I watch my diet very carefully.” As always, she sounded a little haughty. One dark eyebrow raised as if to dare them to contradict her.
“That’s you too.” Vienna wasn’t intimidated. “Stop denying it. You can even eat desserts with no problem. I look at whipped cream and have to go running for miles in order to get the pounds off my hips.”
Shabina refrained from rolling her eyes. Vienna looked like a model, with her tall frame, gorgeous hair and figure. “In any case, I’d really feel more comfortable having our night at my home, Raine. The security team eats like locusts.”
“If you’re willing to do the cooking and host, then I’ll say yes if I can pay for the food,” Raine conceded.
“It’s settled, then. I’ll run the dogs after work and then get busy.” She hesitated. “The two students from Algeria asked to come to the house to speak with me. With us,” she corrected. “They may have the mistaken idea that you are doing something to have their student visas revoked. I think they want to plead for mercy.”
Vienna and Zahra both looked confused. Shabina sighed. “It’s a little bit of a story. I’ll tell you tonight.”
“I’ll come early and help,” Vienna said. “I’ve had too much time on my hands after the search. I need to keep busy, and they won’t allow me to go back to work until the end of the week.”
“Have you been talking to the counselor?” Zahra asked. “Maybe she can advocate for you. I know what it’s like to have my mind running a hundred miles an hour.”