“I’ll have a cappuccino, please. A large one.” He checked the menu. “I think I need a few moments to decide what I want.”
“We have a couple of specials if you’re interested.” Lizzie pointed at the blackboard on the door. “The fish tacos are great, and so is the smoked salmon quiche.”
“Thanks.” He set his cell phone on the table next to him. “You have good reception here.”
“We’re lucky.” Lizzie went to deal with a family who had just arrived at the only vacant table and handed them some menus. While they were sorting themselves out, she made the cappuccino and took it out with a glass of water.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.” He moved the glass of water as far away from his cell phone as he possibly could. “I have been known to spill stuff. Have you lived here long?”
“My parents came here when I was about five, so I consider myself a local.” Lizzie flipped through the pages of her pad to find a clean page. “It’s a great place to grow up. Did you decide on lunch?”
“I suppose that in such a small town, everyone knows everyone’s business. I think that would drive me crazy.”
“I suppose it depends what you’ve got to hide,” Lizzie joked.
He picked up his menu and handed it to her. “I’ll have the smoked salmon quiche and a salad on the side, please. No dressing.”
“Got it.” Lizzie jotted down the order. “Would you like the quiche warm or cold?”
“Warm might be nice.” He grinned at her. “Although it’s pretty hot out here already. Do any of these old buildings have air-conditioning?”
“Most of them.”
“Do you live in town or out on one of the ranches?”
“In town. It makes my commute a lot easier.”
Lizzie got on with her other tasks. She hadn’t heard from Adam, but as Leanne was due to arrive today, she suspected he might be busy worrying about other things. Which was fine by her. The longer it took for her to see him again, the better. In a year or two she might be able to face him without blushing.
She delivered the quiche and salad and received a distracted thank-you as the guy was busy typing on his phone. She checked on him occasionally, between other customers, topped off his water, and removed his empty plate.
When he beckoned her over, she approached with a smile.
“Can I get you anything else? Or would you like the check?”
“Check, please.”
Lizzie went and prepared the check and brought it back to his table.
He sat back and regarded her as she placed the billfold in front of him “I’ve got to stay here tonight since I’m meeting a client. Can you direct me to the Hayes Hotel?”
Lizzie pointed. “It’s literally just down the street. You can park behind it.”
“Cool. My name’s Mike by the way.” He slipped his credit card into the billfold. “How long does this place stay open?”
“We close at six.” Lizzie picked up the folder. “I’ll get this right back to you.”
“Does the hotel have a restaurant?”
“Yes, it’s really good.” She paused. “There’s also the Red Dragon Bar, which does less fancy food, and Gina’s, which is mainly pizza.”
“Which do you like best?”
“It depends on how I feel, and how much money I want to spend,” Lizzie quipped.
“How about if I was paying?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Then it would be up to you.”
He grinned at her. “Come on, you know what I mean. I can’t be the first guy who’s asked you out after being so well taken care of over lunch?”
“You certainly aren’t,” Lizzie agreed. “But I generally don’t go out with customers I’ve just met.”
“Generally? So you only go out with local boys?”
Inwardly, Lizzie sighed. She hated it when a man wouldn’t take a hint. “I’ll just go run your card.”
She went back into the shop where Angelo was dealing with a fresh batch of roasted coffee beans.
“Can you hang with me here for a minute?” Lizzie asked her fellow server. “I’ve got one of those persistent customers who wants to take me out to dinner, and doesn’t seem to understand the word no.”