ADORED BY VAMPIRE TWINS

STEPHANIE

It is almost 8 pm, and I'm still working. In the next few minutes, I will be able to go home. I am exhausted. As I carry the next order to the bald man at the other end of the room, I feel my legs start to buckle. Marin isn't going to let me off easy on this one.

"There you go," I say as I place his order before him.

It is an apple pie and a cup of espresso. He nods slightly and smiles at me. His face looks creepy as his face brightens with the smile. This isn't something he should do often.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening," I try to say nicely, but my voice breaks before I can complete my sentence.

I hurry towards the back door and sigh as I place the tray on the countertop. Standing before me dressed in an apron is Britney. She still looks so energetic despite working all day. I'm usually lucky to come around by 2 pm. But the disadvantage is that I don't get off until 8 pm. Marin always tells me he isn't ready to harbor a lazy type.

Juggling college and this job isn't as easy as everybody thinks it is. Britney, who is saving up to go to college next year, is usually excited when I arrive for work and asks me a lot about college. I get irked often by her unbelievable questions.

"You look like you are about to pass out," Britney says.

She understands. Another hour in here and I would be in the ER. I can feel the beard of sweat gathering on my forehead. I wipe them off with the back of my palm and lean further into the counter.

Just then, the door swings open and Marin walks in. He is dressed in the restaurant's attire, a white shirt with red stripes at the sleeves and a pair of white pants. His reddened face doesn't compliment his short blonde hair and brown eyes. I can tell he is upset.

"Stephanie!" He yells which startles me.

I hold my chest as my heart thumps hard against my rib cage.

"There is a customer out there waiting to be served," he says. "Get your ass back in there."

"But I'm almost off the clock," I point out.

"You aren't off the clock until you're off the clock. So get your lazy ass back in there."

I roll my eyes in annoyance and grab my notepad that is by the counter. I walk past Marin and all I can smell is the putrid stench of his sweat. My body shudders in disgust.

I walk into the room and my eyes scan it. I sigh as I realize I didn't ask for the table that needed assistance. My eyes catch an arm raised. It's the table by the window.

I bite my lower lip and look at the clock above my head. Five minutes to eight.

Just one more order, I told myself.

I walk to the table flipping through my notepad. As I arrive, I pull out the pen from my breast pocket without looking at the customer.

"Welcome to Backdoor Grill, what can I get you?" I ask.

"Just a drink," a smooth male voice says.

Stunned by his voice, I slowly raised my gaze, only to be met by the most captivating man I've ever laid eyes on. His deep amber eyes, reminiscent of a sunset, hold a warmth that contrasts with the cool ambiance of the grill. His chestnut brown hair is impeccably styled, each strand neatly combed back, revealing a strong forehead and an elegant profile. His pale skin gleams under the dim lights, giving him an almost ethereal quality. He's dressed in a sleek black Italian suit that hugs his athletic frame perfectly, exuding an air of sophistication and luxury that feels entirely out of place in this casual setting.

A question races through my mind as I allow myself to take in his presence: What on earth is someone like him doing in a grill like this? The atmosphere here is a mix of sizzling grills and laughter, yet he stands apart, almost like a figure from a different world.

My heart begins to pound fiercely against my ribcage, each beat echoing in the silence that seems to envelop us. His jawline is well-defined, and I can see the tension in his muscles as he regards me with an intensity that leaves me momentarily breathless. I feel as if I've been frozen in time, unable to break the spell he seems to have cast upon me.

His amber eyes, deep and inviting, seem to draw me in closer as if inviting me to uncover the mysteries they hold. Then, with a subtle movement that sends a shiver down my spine, his right brow arches slightly, creating two delicate lines across his forehead-a gesture that somehow expresses both curiosity and challenge, igniting a spark of intrigue within me.

Fuck. Fuck.

"Did you get that?" He asks, snapping me back to reality.

I blink hard.

"Y-Yes," I stutter.

His expression doesn't change. I feel stupid.

"What kind of drink, sir?" I ask.

He scoffs.

"Bourbon."

I nod and write it down on my notepad.

"I don't think you need to write that down," he says.

My cheeks grow scarlet as my eyes go back to him.

"Right, right," I say, placing the pen back in my breast pocket.

He gives me a slight nod and I walk away. I can still feel my cheeks heating up as I make my way back to the back door. As I step in, Britney is taking off her apron. It's 8 pm, but I don't feel like going home anymore.

Britney notices how flushed I look and arches an eyebrow at me.

"Are you okay?"

I blink twice before looking at her.

"I just met the prettiest man ever."