Top Dog

“You know I don’t believe in that stuff, Lindy. It’s not easy being a dreamer when reality sucks.” I dealt with the ugly side of life on a daily basis with my father’s illness, and it was hard to see sunshine and rainbows, much less the cloud’s silver lining.

“Did you miss how incredibly hot and well-dressed they are? I bet those shoes on the tall, dark, and handsome one cost more than my freaking car. And lucky you, he’s still staring.”

I glanced over my shoulder and found that she wasn’t kidding around. He was still watching me through the window of the order station. I turned away quickly, but he didn’t seem so easily deterred.

I nudged Lindy who was still watching him as he watched us. “Stop it. You’ll encourage him. Besides, what’s a man like him going to want with a girl like me?”

“We’ve talked about what men want, and you’re a knockout, honey.”

“I’m a waitress who is barely making ends meet, with nothing going on in her life but watching her father grow sicker. So, let me bring this guy his coffee so he can get on with his life. I’m sure he needs plenty of time to buy more expensive shoes.”

I walked around and fixed my tray with their drink order and brought it over. I placed napkins on the table and then the juice, but each took the coffee cups straight from my hand. “You must be in serious need of a caffeine fix.” I placed the creamer service in front of them, but Dark Prince pushed it away.

“Thank you, Carrie,” he said, reading my name tag. “That’s a beautiful name.” Though he was paying compliments, his eyes were narrowed, and I couldn’t tell if he was trying to be seductive, or sizing me up.

I tucked my chin and fidgeted with my collar looking away. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, but I assumed a beautiful woman as yourself gets many compliments.” He sipped his coffee, and his friend turned his head to stare out the window. I wasn’t sure if he were genuine or not.

“Most people just order their food, eat it, and go.” I gave him a pointed look to let him know it was a suggestion, and his friend chuckled.

“Noted. Lucky for you I’ve never been like most people.” He returned a challenging stare along with a smile that lit his entire face. It made him appear much gentler than his previous look had.

“Lucky for me?” I gave a little laugh and was about to come back at him when the bell rang and the cook hollered.

“Order up!”

I glanced over my shoulder to see Joe shaking his head. “I’ll be right back.”

I turned and went to get their order. As I served it, a bus with about twenty blue-haired old ladies came in on their way to a convention, and things got so busy it was all I could do to keep his coffee filled.

I brought them their check, and before I could say goodbye, one of the blue hairs called me over to tell me she needed extra napkins.

The bells sounded over the door, and I looked up to see them leaving. When I went to clear their table, I found a crisp hundred-dollar bill and a message scrawled on a napkin.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

CHAPTER THREE - CHANCE

I stared out the window of my hotel suite and could see the top of Angelo’s sign. It was a tiny speck in the distance, and I couldn’t help staring. The girl at the diner had been the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen; and I’d seen a lot of beautiful women.

Carrie had a wholesome beauty that was refreshing compared to most of the women I’d taken back home with me. I hoped that she wasn’t so pure that she wouldn’t go for my offer, but then, with the money attached, it would be hard for anyone to refuse.

“Hey, when you’re down there, bring me back some of those waffles with the maple bacon.” Nate had appreciated the diner’s food after all and hadn’t stopped talking about it since we’d left.

“I’ll try and remember.” I gave him a teasing grin.

“You’re really going to choose her? She didn’t seem like the freaky type.”

“Most of them aren’t.” I didn’t choose all my companions by how freaky they might be in the bedroom. I didn’t even choose them by their looks, though, admittedly, all of them were beautiful. It took something much more than that: a gut instinct.

“I bet they are when you get through with them?” He grinned and looked up to give me a wink.

Being my best friend, I’d shared with him the details of some of the trips and the women I’d share my time with, the same as he’d share with me about his. He was the only person aside from my intermediary that knew any details about my hobby.

I didn’t dignify his remark with a response, and instead got the call that my car had arrived, so I went down after a casual goodbye and headed to the diner.

The bells on the door announced my arrival as I walked in and spotted Carrie across the room.