I hurried over to hide in the booth. Squeaking the entire time, I scooted my butt into the booth and tried to make myself comfortable. The woman came over to drop some mugs and pour coffee, sliding us oily, laminated menus. “I hope you brought your appetite. We have the best cooking this side of the Mississippi River.” She looked over to Brent. “Brent, honey, did you want your regular plate or are you going to try something new to impress the first girl you bring in here?”

He sighed. “I’ll look over the menu, Miss Martha.”

She looked back over to me and patted my menu. “Take your time, sweet pea. We’re here night and day and if you have any questions, just holler.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.” I smiled and picked up the menu as she walked away to browse through what could be making those delicious smells throughout the diner.

“Don’t worry about her. She always gives me a hard time.” Brent quirked an eyebrow, clearly pretending to look at his menu, then over to me. “So, Fallon.”

Did he just try to cover up the fact that Miss Martha dropped the bomb that he had never brought a girl in here before? Probably. Was I going to announce that? No.

“Hmm?” I looked up at him from the menu. I knew I didn’t give him my name but hearing that he might have discovered it from an outside exchange gave me just a hint of delight.

He leaned over the table. His eyes up close in the light were piercing. They were a deep grey blue that held a circle of hazel. His hair was short, exposing the tattoos that crept up the sides of his head. I didn’t even want to look at that jawline that flexed in... ways, depending on his facial expression. The brooding aura he held seemed to have sharpened over time.

“Pancakes or waffles?” he whispered to me. “Your answer will seal your fate on if I leave you here.”

​Chapter 5

Brent

She was cute when I annoyed her. I planned to keep doing it. “Pancakes,” she scoffed. “You can leave me here all you want; it would just take me longer to wait for another ride.” She challenged me with a cocked eyebrow, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Hmm. Would hate to inconvenience that boyfriend of yours. It’s a good thing you chose right.”

Martha, the wonderfully patient woman that she was, came back around since we were the only souls in the diner this late in the evening. The drunks wouldn’t be stumbling in for another few hours, leaving me alone with my new plaything. “Any questions, sweet pea? Would you like to start with something?”

I caught the look in Martha’s eye as she glanced between us, and I knew I would be getting an ear full later.