Chapter 16

“I thought you worked at the Golden.”

That knocked Carlo for a loop. “How’d you know that?”

“You’ve been coming into my shop for two years. You think I don’t notice things?”

“But I never talked to you before last night.”

“You’ve talked to other people, though.” An amused glint replaced the steel in his eyes. “I’ve got ears, Carlo. Occasionally, I do use them.”

His teasing admission proved Carlo had never stood a chance at not getting recognized in the driver’s seat, but rather than feel stupid for believing he could pull it off, Carlo warmed at the idea that Joe had noticed him enough to know where he worked as well as what he aspired to do. His cheeks heated, and he averted his gaze to his eggs again, mildly fearful Joe would see something in them that would shatter the tenuous friendship they were building.

“I wait tables at Grande Joie,” he said. “Lunchtimes, mostly. On top of my shifts at the Golden.”

“So you work two jobs.”

“Yeah.”