Imprinted Hearts

Chapter 5: Two Pricks and a Halfwit

Ethan instantly felt jealous as he watched the dog-smelling man type his email address into the computer in front of Hope. He considered spilling the blond's drink on him as he brought it back to the table, but decided against it at the last moment as he passed Harper on the way back from busing a table. Harper gave him a slight shake of the head, almost imperceptible, but he could read Ethan's expression and knew just what he was thinking. And he needed to not go that direction.

He wanted to impress Hope, not make her think he was a klutz. So, with a deep breath, he gently sat the cups down on the table and asked them for their order. They placed it, and Ethan was off again, doing his job like he should, even though he wanted to pretend to forget to put the order in for another twenty minutes.

"Behave," Harper said quietly as he reached the kitchen and handed Big Joe the new ticket.

"I'm trying," Ethan said through gritted teeth. "Did you hear that, though? They ran into each other in the bookstore and now they're exchanging emails! How can I compete with that?"

"You literally have a date with her tomorrow. You can exchange numbers with her and get one up on him," Harper reminded him. "And how are you not freaked out right now?"

"How can he be going after a woman who's six months pregnant with another man's child? What kind of creep does that anyway?" Ethan grumbled, not listening. How dare he not have the same qualms Ethan did about approaching Hope like that.

"Hey creep," Harper replied, elbowing Ethan. "Your order for table eleven is up."

Ethan cut Harper a dark look, but took his food to the table. When it was time to come back around to the trio of men sitting behind Hope, he groaned inwardly. They smelled of dog and something else unpleasant he couldn't place, on top of everything he already disliked about them. He really didn't want to deal with them tonight, but it was literally his job. He checked on their food, and unfortunately it was ready, so he delivered it, trying to eavesdrop as much as he could about their conversations, but it was mostly about cases they were doing as lawyers.

Oh great. More pricks. Was every blond guy that went near Hope a prick? Or was this just his lucky month?

As if summoned, Ethan turned away from the trio's table to see the original Mr. Prick himself take a seat at Hope's table, catching the other blond's attention as well. For once, Ethan welcomed his presence, and almost preened because it meant that the dog-smelling lawyer prick saw Hope was unavailable. The look on the lawyer blond's face was almost too fantastic for Ethan to handle. He went over to Hope's table just as Mr. Prick was saying something.

"...going to be okay while I'm gone?" he asked.

"Yes, Rune," Hope replied, nearly exasperated. "I'll be fine."

"Need anything, sir?" Ethan grinned, staring at him. "A drink? A meal? A dessert?"

Rune narrowed his eyes at Ethan suspiciously, yet confused. "...No," he replied. "I'm not going to be here long enough to eat anything." He checked his watch, then turned to Hope, promptly ignoring Ethan. "My flight leaves in three hours. I have to get to the airport in Montgomery."

"I'll be perfectly fine," Hope said. "I'll eat plenty of food, take it easy, and maybe visit my sister some."

"Don't forget your prenatal vitamins," Rune said. "And don't put your phone on silent. Remember, if you're in danger, keep that app I told you to download open on your phone and it'll send your location to the police."

"Oh my god, you're such a mother hen. I will Rune. I promise," Hope replied. "Now go before I kick you out of here myself."

"Fine," Rune sighed. He stood up, kissed Hope on the forehead and told her one last time to call if anything happened with the baby, then turned and left.