“She yours?”
“She was mine before she’ll be yours.” He winked at the customer and hit the bell. “Order up!”
“I’m right flippin’ here.” Evie stomped her foot.
“Then you better get this order right flippin’ there.”
“Ugh. Brothers.” She shook her head and hip checked me, speaking softly. “Edie, go take his order.”
“Yeah, Edie.” His deep voice purred. “Come, take my order.” He crooked his finger and gestured me over.
He’s a man, don’t fall for it.
Rolling my eyes, I snapped. “I don’t come when fingered.”
His left eyebrow raised again, and a hint of a smile peeked out through his bearded face. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, then walked over.
“Welcome to That One Place. What can I start you with?”
He flipped over the clean coffee cup. “Leaded, black.”
I reached behind me and grabbed the coffee urn, filling his cup.
“What’s good eats here, Edie?”
Lord help me. The deep timbre of his voice made my knees weak.
I shrugged, trying to look everywhere but into his eyes. “It’s all good here, it’s diner style home cooking.”
“Yeah, that goes together.” He chuckled. “What’s the house special?”
“Horseshoe.”
“Gimme that.” He winked lifting the cup to his mouth.
His arms were solid muscle, and my knees threatened to buckle.
No man had the right to look that damn good.
“Big E! House special!” I called over my shoulder.
“On it!” I heard my brother flip his spatula.
Taking the coffeepot, I walked around the restaurant, checking in on all the customers.
I felt his eyes on me. Normally I’d find that creepy, but he felt different. Normally everyone noticed Evelyn, she’s short, bubbly and in your face.
I’m not sure what to do with some stranger eyeballin’ me.
Before I headed back to the counter, I took another order and slowly made my way closer to him.
“I need two on the hoof, one with frog sticks, the other flop two.” I placed my ticket on the wheel and spun it around before picking up the plate for the counter man.
“One special all for you.” I set it in front of him with a bundle of silverware.
“Tell me what I’m eating.” He hooked his sunglasses on his collar.
“Well, you have a wonderful cut of homemade bread we like to call Texas toast. Then you have your burger patty, piled high with hand cut fries and smothered in cheese sauce.”
“And this is your special?”
“It is.”
“Where did it come from?” He picked up the bundle of silverware.
“It was my parents’ favorite when they were dating. So they recreated it here.”
“Good enough.” He winked at me again and took out his fork. “Time to dig in.”
