Not at her.
He looked toward the service door, then back to the table.
Names?
Tessa shook her head.
That surprised him.
I won’t help you punish them, she signed. They were cruel. But I can handle my coworkers.
Salvatore studied her for several seconds.
You think I punish people for embarrassing a server?
Tessa considered every rumor she had ever heard about him.
I think people are afraid of what you might do.
This time his smile appeared fully, though it held no amusement.
People are useful when they are afraid, he signed. It does not mean they are accurate.
The sentence was more unsettling than reassurance would have been.
Then he tapped the menu.
May I order?
Tessa nearly laughed again.
Of course.
He signed his choices. She repeated them back to make sure she had understood, wrote nothing down, and carried the order to the kitchen.
The moment the service door closed behind her, Brett grabbed her elbow.
“What did he say?”
Tessa pulled free. “He ordered dinner.”
Carla’s face was pale. “That’s it?”
“What were you expecting?”
Owen avoided her eyes.
Brett recovered first. “You were in there forever.”
“You wanted a show. You got table service.”
He looked toward the private room. “Did you tell him we were watching?”
Tessa held his gaze.
That was answer enough.
Brett swore quietly.
