I could feel the years in my bones with the creaks in my steps and the soreness after a long day at work that I’d never felt before. I was getting old, and it showed. Mentally, physically.
Which was why someone as young as Atlas, with his whole life ahead of him, couldn’t really have feelings for me. This was just a fleeting moment for him that would pass, so I just had to stay level-headed until it did.
“So what were you thinking about?”
“What?”
“Earlier. Even though your body was frying up the burger, your mind was somewhere else entirely. So what were you thinking about?” Atlas asked. A teasing smile flitted across his face.
You.
But I couldn’t tell him that. I could never admit how often the young man was on my mind these days.
So I stayed silent. My mouth flattened as I thought of some bullshit answer to give him.
Atlas placed the towel down, then tugged me by my now-dried hand to where we kept the first-aid items.
I didn’t know if he was doing this on purpose, moving instead of waiting for my answer. It was like he knew I needed the extra seconds to gather my thoughts. Though it shouldn’t have been too surprising.
Despite being young, the man was surprisingly intuitive about others. It was probably the reason he was so well-liked by everyone he came across. He was considerateof people’s feelings and knew how to make them feel good.
“Just thinking about how I’m getting up in age,” I ended up saying. It wasn’t far from the truth.
I was much too old for him.
Atlas had his head down, focused on covering the small red spot with burn ointment and a Band-Aid. It was overkill, but I didn’t stop him because I liked being cared for by him. That, at least, I could allow myself to admit.
“Don’t you know? Everyone wants an older man these days. Hot, mature, and knows what they want. It’s a huge plus when they’re as hot as you are.”
Atlas flashed his pretty eyelashes at me, and I was frozen. I didn’t have enough self-restraint to combat this kind of attack.
I wasn’t sure what Atlas saw in my expression, but he chuckled. His eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as he patted the back of my hand and released me. Still frozen in place, I was reeling from his words and the sudden loss of his touch.
Atlas was back at my side seconds later with a disposable glove. I had a box of food-grade ones stashed for when I made the burger patties. He stretched his hand out, palm up, like he was asking for mine, and I obediently gave it to him.
I was captivated as I watched him carefully slide the glove over the hand with the Band-Aid.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to reply right now. I canwait,” Atlas said softly. The warmth in his voice almost made me want to cave and tell him I was willing to give my entire self to him if he would have me.
But I couldn’t do that to him. Atlas deserved a much better man than me. Someone younger, smarter, and with more of a future than just running a small, run-down diner in the middle of nowhere.
I kept my mouth shut and returned to the griddle to fry up a new burger for Russell. Atlas headed back out to the front to chat with the older gentleman and his grandchild.
My ears strained to hear his melodious laugh over the sizzle of oil and the vents inside the kitchen. He sounded so far, so out of reach. And I didn’t dare try bridging the gap.
Chapter Two
ATLAS
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to come too? Maybe I should just stay back and keep the diner open.”
Hector looked adorably shy as he tugged on the bottom of his black polo shirt. That, along with the black slacks and dress shoes he was currently fitted in, was probably the fanciest I’d ever seen him. It was very different from his usual jeans and white T-shirt under a grease-stained apron, and I had to say Hector cleaned upverywell.
That wasn’t to say I preferred one look over the other…it was just different. And I liked seeing these different sides of Hector. I liked learning more about him.
I walked up to him and straightened his collar. Hector’s eyes flicked everywhere but at me, and a sweet tinge of color tinted his cheeks.
Some—fine, probably most—people thoughtHector looked scary. Half the town probably thought he was one step away from being a thug, and I had to admit the deep scar that ran through his left brow and across his temple only made his hard face even more intimidating.
