"You have no reason to compensate me." He stood. "Are you hungry?"
"No!” she shouted in a panicked voice. “I mean, no, I'm not hungry. I'll just go, my cousin will be freaking out by now. I’m sure she and I can hit up a diner or something." She backed toward the door, keeping her gaze locked on him.
"Well, there's a diner just down the block I enjoy if you’re not in a hurry. They have a great breakfast for cheap." Ryder watched her cheeks flaming as he spoke and wondered why she was so comfortable at the idea of having sex with a stranger but balked at breakfast with the same man.
“I don't give a damn if it's a hundred dollars a plate.” Her laugh was uneasy.
Ryder raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. He wasn't sure why she always felt the need to mention her wealth.
"I'm going there. Join me or don't." He stepped to his dresser, pulling out fresh clothes. He was out of the bathroom in five minutes, surprised to see Morgan standing in the kitchen, drinking a glass of water. He saw the tiny cloisonné pill box she slipped back in her pocket, but didn't comment on that either.
Ryder opened the door, and they left together, Ryder pausing to lock the door. They walked down the stairs and he went right, Morgan on his heels. When he had gone a few buildings down, he stopped and opened the door to the diner, holding it for her. She stood there, staring.
"What?" he demanded.
"I was just here yesterday," she said very quietly. Her eyes swept the booths, and she went to one in the back.
He followed and sat across from her, waving at the waitress as she came over to take their orders. The sheer volume of food Morgan ordered shocked him. She seemed awkward and incredibly self-aware, fidgeting with her hair, rubbing her fingers under her eyes. She practically gulped the first cup of coffee and asked for a refill immediately.
"Are you afraid of small talk?" Ryder asked. He sipped his own coffee, watching her wary gaze dart around the diner.
Her eyes settled on him, briefly. "It's a fucking lovely day, I think. We didn't walk that far." She raised an eyebrow, as though she was challenging him to respond with small talk of his own.
"Yes, I'm sure it's great." He sat back while the food was delivered. "Thanks, Marcia."
Morgan dug into her pancakes, smiling as Ryder poured a vat of syrup on his own stack. She’d finished half her eggs and bacon before she spoke again.
“I’m here visiting Hannah Quinn. She’s my cousin. I thought maybe she’d hire me at Trois Femmes so I could stay in town awhile.”
“Is that a big change from what you’re used to doing?” He watched shadows move across her eyes, and he was sorry he'd asked.
"I’ve never worked, so I’d say so."
That seemed to be the end of the talking. When the bill was dropped off, she snatched it up and headed for the counter to pay. Ryder sat there for a few seconds, annoyed. He would have paid. He wiped his mouth on his napkin, then threw it on the table as he stood. He strode to the door and caught up just as Morgan let it slam closed.
She was moving quickly, her head down, looking at her phone. He followed at a distance, not sure at all why he cared. When she put the phone to her ear and greeted Hannah in a chipper voice, he decided he could go his own way since she was clearly safe for the time being.
