“CeCe has just been filling me in on your blond, mysterious hunk of a man,” Mrs Jones told me.
“Who?” I don’t think I fooled anyone.
“Mr hot coffee pot in the knee,” Mrs Jones reminded me.
“Oh right, him. What about him?”
“He was here for breakfast, and lunch, seemed disappointed not to see you here,” CeCe told me.
“Oh please. He doesn't know I exist,” I said.
“I don’t know. I think you have a new suitor,” Mrs Jones said, sounding giddy. I just shook my head and got on with work. If the Alpha had come in twice again today, I could scratch the idea that it was just a coincidence. What did he want with me? Did he think I was a rogue? There were no packs in the area, so hecouldn’t be worried I was going to poach on his pack’s territory. My thoughts occupied me all through the dinner service. The Alpha hadn’t come in. Maybe he didn’t do dinner service. Could I talk to Mrs Jones and be put on the late shift everyday for a couple of weeks? I was just trying to figure out a good reason to ask when the door opened and the Alpha stepped inside. There went my new plan out the window. As usual, he sat down in my section.
“CeCe,” I started, but before I could say anything else, she held up a hand.
“No, Amie. It’s time to put on your big girl panties and deal with him. He is obviously trying to get you to wait on him. He is always sitting in your section, each time choosing a table he has seen you serve. Now, put on a smile and go over there and see what that hunk of a man wants,” CeCe said.
“I don’t want to,” I objected.
“Too bad. Now shoo, I have my own tables to handle. I’m only doing this because I love you,” she told me. Okay, so I needed to do this. It would be alright, I was in the middle of the diner and nothing could happen to me here. The worst he could do was to talk to me. I took a deep breath and walked over to his table.
“Hi, I’m Amie and I’ll be your waitress today. What can I get for you?” I said in my cheerful work voice.
“Hello, Amie. I’m Finlay and you are one hard waitress to get hold of,” he said in a rich and soothing voice.
“Excuse me?” I said. He chuckled.
“Nothing. I’ll have the pork chops,” he told me.
“Sure thing, and to drink?”
“A Coke please.”
“Coming right up,” I said, grabbing his menu and disappearing to hand his order to the kitchen. I gave him his Coke and then his food. We were polite to each other, but he didn’t try to start a conversation. I felt relieved, I had overreacted. Nothing wasgoing to happen. That was until I brought him his check. The dinner rush had been over for a while and the diner was almost empty except for a couple of locals sitting around, drinking coffee. I walked up to his table and put down the check. I was just about to leave.
“Amie, wait a moment,” he mumbled, low enough not to be overheard, but loud enough for me to hear. I froze and turned back towards him. “I think we need to talk,” he told me.
“I don’t think we do,” I said, using the same low voice as him. A smile appeared on his lips. It didn’t make him look even sexier. Not even a little.
“I don’t mean you harm, little wolf. I just want to talk,” he said. I scoffed. Little wolf, my ass.
“So talk,” I dared him.
“Not here. Too many interested ears. Someplace, private.”
“Yeah, I don’t meet strange men, especially strange wolves, alone. I don’t have a death wish.”
“I promise you are safe with me,” he told me.
“Said no predator ever,” I remarked. It made him chuckle again.
“I guess you are right. Is there a public place we can talk then?” he asked. I sighed. I didn’t want to talk to him, but on the other hand, I had a feeling he wouldn’t leave me alone until I did. I could tell the sheriff that Finlay was stalking me, or I could tell Jessie. Either way, I knew they would try to run him out of town. The operative word was try. There wasn’t much they could do against an Alpha.
“Fine. Behind the library there is a trail leading to the lake. There are some picnic tables there. No one uses them before noon,” I told him. He nodded.
“When can I meet you?”
“I have tomorrow off. Meet me at ten in the morning.”
