Thanks for all the comments and votes so far. Those on the last chapter made me giggle - I dunno about the ditto thing, but glad you liked it! Unless I get totally carried away, I think there is one more chapter of this story to go.
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Throughout lunch and dinner service I was so relieved and so happy I was singing to myself, not even caring that the other staff were laughing about it and speculating on why I was in such a good mood. When Mark came through the kitchen on occasions he gave me a bit of a look, but I was fairly sure now that he would end up giving me his blessing. It would make things very awkward at work if he didn't, and our friendship would definitely suffer, but I had known all along he was overprotective of Tess and it was hardly a surprise that knowing my history he would give me a hard time.
It was almost at the end of the evening crowd when I got told that Tess was in the restaurant and had asked to see me. I was just about still in work mode, at least to get someone else to finish up the desserts, before I went out. I wondered why she was there, since I thought she would be home tonight and I was expecting to go join her, and hoped it was nothing bad. One glance at her made me sure it wasn't.
She was laughing with a female friend, clearly the two of them had been out drinking as they were a little louder than they needed to be, and were giggling a lot. It made me smile before I even got to them, and I slowed down, wanting to hear their conversation before I intruded.
"... gorgeous, great body, a real sweetie as well when he wants to be, and that seems to be all the time at the moment. It's wonderful!" Tess told her friend.
I had missed the beginning of the sentence, but I suspected (and hoped) that she was talking about me. It sounded good and I reached their table smiling, sitting down next to Tess and kissing her on the cheek before she seemed to realise I was there. Her eyes sparkled when she looked at me, and she didn't seem bothered if I had heard what she was saying. Her friend however was looking at me like I was a piece of meat, and it made me shift in my seat with discomfort as she checked me out.
"Hey baby. This is my friend Gemma," Tess told me.
I shook hands with Gemma as she told me how she'd heard all about me, making me cringe with the implication in her words, and almost purred how pleased she was to meet me. I had to suppress a shudder as she held on to my hand for what felt too long. She wasn't exactly hiding the looks she was giving me either, and I wondered why Tess wasn't complaining. Perhaps this woman was always a flirt, or Tess was testing how I would react to her. I wasn't exactly happy at either option.
"I take it you've been out down the pub while some of us have been hard at work!" I teased Tess, trying to ignore the other woman.
"Gem called and asked me out and I figured it would be fun to go for a few drinks and then come and meet you. I haven't seen her for ages so we've been catching up," she told me.
"It turns out there was a lot to catch up with too. I can't believe she's never mentioned you before this evening, I'd be calling everyone I knew to tell them I'd found a hottie," Gemma said.
I cringed again. Before now I'd have been happy to be called a hottie, but it felt wrong in front of my girlfriend, even though she just seemed to be taking it as a compliment that she had good taste. How she wasn't uncomfortable that her friend was flirting with me I had no idea, it was making me feel really dirty, and I found a way out as soon as I could.
"I have to go finish up in the kitchen Tess. Do you want a lift home when I'm done?"
"Yes please. Can we take Gem home as well, it's on the way."
I smiled when I agreed to it, but I had my teeth gritted. I'd never taken so anti a woman in such a short space of time. She was pretty, but she wasn't Tess, and she had no right to be looking at me like that.
I tried to calm myself while I was finishing work, hoping that I wouldn't have to fight this new woman off. Even if I had still been single, I did like to work a little to get a woman, not just have one offer herself on a plate. I certainly didn't appreciate her behaving like that now though, and I steeled myself to be polite but unapproachable.
Sadly, she was still with Tess when I got out into the restaurant, although amusingly she was now trying to flirt with Charlie. He did not look impressed at all -- at least I'd managed to hide it a little. It relaxed me though, knowing it was just the way she was, rather than it being anything to do with me. Tess was laughing hard at the obvious flirting this time, but making no more effort to help Charlie than she had been with me. It was only when Gemma grabbed his arse that he finally cracked, almost growling at her.
"God woman, what is wrong with you? I told you, I'm taken, and you are most certainly not my type."
"Come on, you're so cute! I guarantee I suck cock better than anyone you've ever had," she purred, still trying it on.
"Honey, I really doubt that," Charlie replied, turning camp, which I had never seen him do before. "I'm the best cocksucker around here, and if you had one I might be half tempted to prove it."
Amazingly, even that obvious comment didn't put her off entirely.
"If you ever want to try pussy, give me a call."
"Not going to happen."
I had watched this exchange in silence, noting how Tess just seemed to be laughing more and more, and increasingly sure she was very drunk. That put any chance of us having a sensible conversation this evening right out the window, but at least she probably wouldn't object to me curling up in her bed again. After all, she'd need some looking after, and I could provide that easily, once we got rid of Gemma.
Charlie only calmed totally when Mark came through from the kitchen, the last of the staff still there. I heard Gemma draw in a breath.
"Jesus Tess, why haven't you brought me here before? Eye candy everywhere!"
"Most of the 'eye candy' are gay, and I wasn't letting you near the one that isn't. He's mine."
I grinned at her sudden display of possessiveness, glad she was finally making it clear she didn't appreciate what her friend was doing. She gave me a rather drunken smile in response.
"I need to get you two home, before you cause any more trouble," I told the women, steering them slowly out of the door to a look of relief from Charlie. He even wished me luck when they left me at the car, with the girls leaning heavily on the doors before I unlocked them.
I had to help both of them get in, and I made it quick with Gemma, but as I got Tess into the front seat I made the most of the opportunity to touch her body softly. My hand trailed over the swell of her buttocks as she leaned into the car, not putting any pressure on but it still enjoying the feel of her under my hand. As she started to sit my hand dropped away from her, but I lifted it to slowly run it up her side to the seatbelt, and then across her chest and down her stomach to plug it in, taking my sweet time.
Once she was sat I let my hand drift to her lap and down her leg. When I saw her eyes widen and heard her breathing change slightly I took advantage, letting a couple of my fingers slip up her inner thigh. Leaning into her body I let my breath caress her neck, before dropping my lips to it to nuzzle her gently. I saw her shift in the seat, and her legs parted slightly, allowing my fingers to trail further towards her centre. It was only when I heard a small whimper, a demand for more, that I drew back, closing the door on her and heading to the drivers seat, but I didn't miss the sound of disappointment she made when my hands left her.
