Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“Hey, Maya. This is the last round of dishes. All the tables are cleared now,” Mateo told her.
“The restaurant is closed?” Maya asked, whirling to look at the clock. She hadn’t turned from her position to check the time.
“It is. We had two busloads come through tonight. It was crazy out there. You don’t want to see the mess on the floors. The servers are going to be here for a while cleaning up,” Mateo said.
Beto jogged in with a few cups. “I missed these. They were at the servers’ station. Can I have my job back tomorrow?”
“Definitely,” Maya agreed as she took in Beto’s exhausted expression. “You look beat.”
“I’ve never run so much in my life,” he confessed. “You should have seen Mateo out there. He was helping us bus tables and deliver food. It took everyone.”
Suddenly, Maya felt better. She hadn’t been the weakest link. Everyone had needed each other’s assistance. Waiting until Beto disappeared through the door to keep working on the cleanup efforts, she asked Mateo, “Was this our biggest night yet?”
“Probably. I won’t know until I run the numbers, but it was crazy. Nora even had to eat in my office. I didn’t even have a table for my own Little girl when she stopped in,” he said, brushing his hand through his hair. “We’re going to have to hire several servers. Go ahead and do the last of the cleanup in here. Don’t try to dump that trash can. I’ll get the cooks to help me. Then, go home.”
Maya finished and then walked through the restaurant to thank everyone who had helped her. Dragging herself out the door, she wondered if she even had enough energy to drive home. As she rounded the corner of the building, she almost ran into Deke who stood leaning against the wall.
“Hey, Precious Girl. Let’s get you home.”
Bursting into tears, she bolted forward to throw herself against him. “I’ve never been so happy to see anyone in my life.”
“I’m glad to see you, too. I was worried about you.”
“I had to stay late. I sent you a text. Did you get it?” Maya asked.
“I did, but I have a feeling you didn’t get my response.”
“Oh! I haven’t had time to look,” she confessed, opening her purse to find her phone.
“It will wait. Let’s concentrate on getting you home.”
He put an arm around her and guided Maya to his car. “I’ll bring you to work tomorrow. Your car will be fine here.”
“Mateo will worry if he sees my car.”
“I’ll text him that you’re with me,” Deke reassured her as opened the door. “Do you have a bag packed in your car for staying over at Daddy’s house?”
“Oh, yes. I almost forgot.” She turned toward her own car, but Deke stopped her.
“Wait right here. I’ll grab it. Can you hand me your keys?”
She dug them out of her purse and set them in his palm before leaning against his car and watching as he jogged over to her vehicle, retrieved her bag, and locked the doors.
A warmth spread through her. He was so thoughtful. If he hadn’t remembered she’d brought a bag, she would have ended up at his house with no clothes for tomorrow.
A few minutes later, Maya relaxed against the seat as her Daddy fastened her seatbelt. He pressed a soft kiss to her lips before straightening and closing the door. When he got in on the driver’s side, she watched him send a message before starting the car.
“How was your day?” Maya struggled to find the energy to make small talk.
Her eyes closed as he related all the news from his evening at work. His deep voice soothed her, and she just let the words float over her head as he steered the car. Maya raised a hand to brush her hair off her face and grimaced at the feel of her skin.
“I’m so dirty, Daddy.”
“Daddy will get you cleaned up and in bed, Precious Girl. You just leave it all to me.”
Maya was barely awake when her Daddy pulled into the garage and turned off the engine.
“Wait right there, Precious Girl. Daddy will come help you.”
She watched as he grabbed her bag, rounded to her side, and helped her out of the car. He was such a good Daddy. The best.
“Did you have time to eat dinner, Maya?” he asked as they stepped into the kitchen.
Sighing, she shook her head. “I think it was the busiest day ever for La Havana, and on top of that one of the waitresses didn’t show up, so I took over as dishwasher, and Beto waited tables.”
Deke frowned. “You ran that giant dishwasher all night? No wonder you’re soaked.”
She blew hair off her forehead. “Yes. Some of this isn’t even water. It was humid back there, and I was sweating. I’m gross.”