Excerpt 1
Ruthie is staring at the new arrival when I step back into the diner. “I’ve already given him a menu,” she says.

I nod and grab the coffeepot in case he wants a cup, so I don’t have to backtrack. Looking at him from behind, it’s another buzz cut. Well, his hair isn’t exactly that short, but that’s how I refer to all the military guys we get here. There’s an Army base in the next town, but eventually, they cruise over here for something different.

“Would you like coffee?” I ask. 

Without looking up from the menu, he places a hand over the cup. “Too late in the evening. I’ll be up half the night.”

I glance over at Sally’s table to see where the demons are hiding. Rufus sticks his tongue out, but I ignore him. I put the pot down and pull out my order pad from my pocket. I could do this by memory, but Russell likes a paper trail.

“Do you know what you want, or should I come back?” My pencil is poised to put down the order.

“Is the meatloaf homemade?” His head still bent over the menu.

“Yeah, Ruthie makes it herself; it’s a favorite around here.”

He continues to study the menu like he’s planning a freaking tactical maneuver. Gee, dude, why is it so hard to decide? It’s just basic American diner food, not the menu at the ritzy Holiday Inn.

He looks up. “I’ll have that and a beer. Could I have water first?”

I just stare at him for a moment, looking into intense blue eyes. He holds my gaze, connecting, boring deep into my soul until he sits back, eyes narrow, a devious grin pulling at the corners of his lips as his hungry gaze takes me in slowly, traveling over the contours of my body like I’m the special on the menu. 

I’m used to men looking at me. Waiting on the military guys, it’s what you put up with while waitressing, but his brash inspection is different; it stirs something inside me, forcing me to look down at my order pad to break the contact. I write water on the top of the page to give me time to gather enough control to look at him again. “Sure, I can get you water,” I say, trying to sound like the last few seconds didn’t affect me. I breathe in deep, pull my gaze back to him, and I can’t believe it. I’m dragged back into this crazy surreal space like somehow this moment is important.

“That would be good,” he says, breaking me out of a weird time gap. His gaze turns quizzical as he pushes the menu toward me.

I snap out of it long enough to scoop up the menu and lift the coffeepot off the table, heading for the counter. Did that happen, or was that all in my head? I quash an urge to look over my shoulder to check to see if he’s real.

Ruthie leans into me as I’m pouring the water, still a little shaken by the encounter. “That’s a bona fide hottie you got in that booth. He looks military. Maybe he’s on leave, maybe he’s lonely, maybe you just got lucky?” she whispers.

Excerpt 2
Ruthie is handing me a beer when I get to the counter. I unscrew the top and reach under the counter for a glass. I slowly pour the brew into the tumbler, place it on a tray, and travel back to the table. There’s a little condensation pooling at the base of the water glass on the table. I balance the tray in one hand and pull a cloth from my apron. Moving forward to wipe the water, my shoe finds something squishy on the floor. My foot slips, I lurch forward. The bottle falls over on the tray, beer running over the side, as beer sloshes from the glass in an arc. I let out a shriek as the liquid lands on his face, shirt, and his meal.

He’s covered in beer, most of it dripping from his face. “I’m sorry,” handing him the cloth. He snatches it from me, rubbing it over his face, then looks down at the dark stain on his shirt.

“I can wash it for you,” I offer. “I can have it back to you tomorrow.”

He’s staring at his shirt. “I’m not going to be in town that long.”

Ruthie bustles next to me. “I’m Ruthie. We’ll comp your food, sir. Sorry about the accident.” She’s loading his beer-soaked meal on the tray. “You can clean up in our bathroom.”

He drops the towel on the table. “I have another shirt in my vehicle. I’ll get changed and come back.”

“I’m sorry,” I mumble.

He stands, towering over me with no anger on his face, but it’s much worse; it’s pity. “Don’t worry about it. You can try again when I get back,” his polite grin tight.

We clear everything off and walk to the kitchen. Russell isn’t happy when he has to reopen containers with the leftovers. I volunteer to clean up for him. He grunts and says, “No need.”

Ruthie and I are waiting for the order at the counter. I’m checking my phone to see if Creed has left a message about tonight when she nudges me, chucking her chin at the window to our back parking lot. “Hey, take a look at that.”

Buzz Cut is standing at the back of a black SUV. He opens the trunk, pulling the back panel down. He slides a case to the edge, then pulls his wet shirt over his head. The sight of him with his chest bare, broad shoulders, and fucking tight abs is turning my insides into mush.

“Halleluiah, sweet Jesus. Talk about eye candy,” Ruthie moans.

He unzips the case, rummaging inside of it for a bit. He finally pulls out a shirt, sniffs at it, then shrugs into it, buttoning it from the bottom up. All I can do is stare while my body has all kinds of uncomfortable feelings in places where it shouldn’t. I look away.

When he walks back into the diner, he’s pushing his shirttail into his jeans. He slides into the booth, looking over his shoulder at me. “I’m ready.”

Excerpt 3
I’m shifting my weight from side to side, eager to be gone. Being with Banks wasn’t real. I let a fantasy get way out of hand because I needed it. He’ll be gone tomorrow, and before he hits the edge of town, I’ll be a memory. 

“Banks, I hope you liked the tour.” I’m trying to keep my agitation as low as possible without being rude. I look toward the church. Did everyone know about Creed and his new girlfriend? Am I the biggest idiot who ever lived? I’m lucky I live in the opposite direction from where I saw him, so I don’t have to walk past that alley. Banks stands in front of me while people stream around us.

“What’s wrong? Is it something I did or didn’t do? Did someone scare you?” 

“I hope you have a safe drive back to your home. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to leave.”

He steps closer, taking my hand and leading me away from the mass of people. We stop between the church buildings, my back against the wall. “I know we just met,” the concern showing on his face. “Let me drive you home, or if you’re close, I’ll walk you? I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

“I’ll be fine, really; everyone knows me here.”

He looks away, studying the lights of the Ferris wheel, my hand still in his. “Maybe I’m way out of line, but I thought there was something between us when I saw you at Ruthie’s, like I already knew you.” He takes a step closer, leaning in, his face inches away. It’s his eyes that have me mesmerized and hold me captive, but before I can react, his lips are on mine. And it feels like all I’ve ever wanted is in that kiss, so I melt into him. His chest presses against me, and my arms are around his neck, wanting more than his lips, afraid to trust what I feel.

His fingers brush my cheek as we break apart, both of us a little breathless. “I think if I don’t say this, I’ll regret it, so here it is. Stay with me tonight, Ri. We can do anything you want, go anywhere you like—take a drive, talk all night…” His voice trails off. “I just want to be with you. There might not be another chance; I leave tomorrow.”

I felt it too, the electric jolt of recognition when he looked at me. Is this a moment in time I shouldn’t let pass? Am I standing at a crossroads? With everyone gone in my life, it feels like this could be a turning point.

It’s tempting. God, it’s tempting to spend a little more time with him, but the way I’m feeling, I wouldn’t be good company. Eventually, I would blurt out what Creed did and ruin it for him, with me sobbing over my asshole boyfriend. I don’t want Banks to remember me as an angry, crying mess. I step away from him. “Thank you, but no. Really, I want you to have a great trip.” I step into the flow of foot traffic. With each step I take, I feel worse for leaving him. I throw a glance over my shoulder. He’s watching me, his face molded in disappointed bewilderment.

Excerpt 4
I continue my run another mile, coming back to myself as I push my body. When I reach the edge of town, I smile when I see the neon Miss Lolly sign with a girl in heels and not much else sitting in a martini glass. Last night was more fun than I’ve had in a long time. Ri was funny, smart, and beautiful. She must be 26 or 27, way too young for this broken soldier. That girl is just starting her life. She still has dreams, and she still has time to live them. 

Her teasing brown eyes and wild hair come back to me in a flash, and I realize no one’s made me laugh like that in a long time. It was easy with her and after all these years, that says a lot. She talked about a boyfriend last night; he’s probably some big kid with dog shit for brains who loves her. Ri’s life is here, with carnivals, Ruthie’s Diner, and the people she grew up with. 

But I can’t deny there was a connection. What I felt when I saw Ri for the first time wasn’t just a spark, it was a fucking lightning strike that left me enthralled and completely consumed by that beautiful woman. All I wanted was to be near her, to touch her and keep her close to me. All that was a wish, or a want, and since she didn’t agree to spend the night with me, those feelings were all on my side. The short time I was with her was enough. I say that shit to myself like it’s true, but it’s not. I could try for something obtainable, like seeing her smile at me one last time, but I’ll be gone before that can happen; that’s probably for the best.

My focus lands on the provocative posters of the girls who are performing at Miss Lolly’s. The bar won’t be open until late. I need coffee. I passed a donut shop on my way over here. Right now, that seems to be my best bet for caffeine.