Sizzling for His Omega (Omegas of Oliver Creek #12)

Chapter One

Tobias

My place was smaller than I’d dreamed of, but that just meant it came together more quickly and used less of my funds to get going. When I signed the contract for the building, I told myself I would move to a larger location later, but as I looked around the Greek cafe I’d always wanted to own, I wasn’t so sure that was true.

Occupying the ground floor of the two-story building, my new business had a compact, efficient kitchen, a pickup window, and tables both inside and out on a small patio. It was getting late in the year, and we had already set the heat lamps out there, but it was still cool enough we’d probably have to close outside dining at least at night soon.

Our blue-and-white color scheme with some authentic Greek art pieces I’d picked up on my one trip to the country marked the place as mine. My family emigrated from there a few generations back, but we had always felt a strong connection to the land of our ancestors.

Fridays were one of our busiest days, and although I employed a few local teens with bikes to handle the weekend and after-school hours for delivery, tonight was homecoming, and that left me with limited options for delivery. As in none.

So far, that had gone okay, and I had managed to avoid delivery by offering a free dessert for anyone who would come in and pick up their order. A few more hours and the evening would be over, with no harm no foul. I needed to figure out an alternative delivery system for when the bike team was not available. So far, I’d managed to avoid signing up for any of the delivery services because they truly cut into a restaurant’s bottom line, and I still needed to be careful of extra expenses. So far, doing so had served me well.

My dream was the continuation of my father’s. He’d always wanted to open a restaurant and serve my great-grandfather’s recipes that he’d brought with him across the ocean. Dad always had something that kept him from doing this, mostly raising a houseful of kids, but listening to him talk about all the foods he wanted to make and how he’d decorate the place and make everyone happy serving things he’d only had time to make for us on Saturday nights; well, he’d made an impression on one of his kids anyway.

“Boss, we’ve got a guy who wants a delivery.” One of the servers held up the phone. “What do I tell him?”

“Offer him a free dessert if he’ll come in and get it.”

“But what if he says no?”

“Oh, give me the phone, hello? You’d like an order to pick up?”

The minute he began to speak, I didn’t want to tell him he had to come in. Not that I wouldn’t have wanted him here, but he sounded so tired. Tired yet…something more. Mature, smooth, deep toned. “No, don’t you deliver? It says on your website that you do.”

“Of course we do, but, we, but…of course we do.” I couldn’t afford to lose a customer this early in my tenure in Oliver Creek. I was trying to build relationships, gain a reputation as a reliable choice as well as one with delicious food. “What can I bring you?”

I took his order down and passed it to the kitchen where, fortunately, I had full staffing this evening. “And your address?” He wasn’t far away, luckily, so I could get there and back in a short time. The only reason it would take me a half hour was because everything was made fresh to order. “About thirty minutes, okay?”

“Sure. That would be fine.” That voice! I couldn’t wait to see the face that came with it. And the body. He’d have to have a great one, right? “Do you need a credit card now?”

“I can take the number.” After I input it in the machine, I said goodbye and disconnected, taking the order to the kitchen. The waitstaff took orders on a phone app, but I didn’t usually need it, and my cell phone was in in the kitchen anyway.

While waiting, I made the rounds of the tables and chatted with the customers who were enjoying our food, refilled a few water glasses, and kept an eye on the clock. I didn’t want to take any longer than I’d quoted, but the food-insulated bag was on the front counter for me with time to spare.

Setting out, I wondered if the man would match the voice. Not that I’d do anything about it, but it would be interesting to see. It had been a while since anyone had caught my attention, especially since I’d been so busy setting up the restaurant.

Maybe he’d been in before and I hadn’t spoken with him. I did make a point of talking to as many customers as possible, ensuring they had a good experience, but if I’d heard him speak, I’d remember.

I’d never forget that voice.