What's Your Price

“I’ll take a coffee for now.”

“Just a coffee?”

“It’s all I need.”

She pushed some hair off her face and served him a drink. He took a sip and was surprised to find it delicious.

“You’re a snob,” she said.

“I am not.”

“Oh, please, after that fancy restaurant you took me to? You expect everything here to be bad because it doesn’t have your high-class clientele. Let me tell you something, this place is awesome.” She rounded the counter and put a hand on his arm as she went to serve other customers.

As she came back, a man who he assumed was Frank entered. The man walked right up to his family with a smile on his face.

Gabe watched Laura. She seemed happy, and she excused herself to go and serve some coffee. The moment she got to the table, he saw the smile on her face. It was genuine. She hugged Frank and then Cynthia. She poured the man a drink, and Gabe watched him. Frank stared into his wife’s eyes. He didn’t try to feel up the waitress. The only time he turned away was to check on the baby.

With their orders in place, Laura returned.

“You like them,” he said.

“They’re good people. Frank’s finally been given a salary and the means to stay. They can move from their cramped apartment to a house. They start looking tomorrow. It’s good news.”

“A happily ever after,” he said, agreeing.

“Don’t mock me.”

“I’m not mocking, but it is kind of a fairytale.”

“And I can believe in those.”

“But you don’t believe in them?”

She glanced over at the table. “I think in life, there are exceptions to the rule. They’re the ones I know of.” She shrugged. “Not all men who appear to be the family kind are nice.”

There she went, giving him clues.

She pushed some hair off her face. “Can I get you anything or will your snobbish tongue hate everything here?”

He pursed his lips. “Get me what you think is the best thing on the menu.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

“You’re going to become addicted.”

While ever she worked there, he had a feeling he’d be just as addicted. Ten minutes later, she brought him out a three-tower burger with a platter full of fries, dripping in some kind of spicy cheese sauce.

“You’re going to love it. Trust me.” She put her hand on his arm before stepping away. He was becoming highly addicted to her touches.

Each time she made her way over to Cynthia and Frank, he got to see another side of her. A side he imagined was there before she was sixteen. She was happy, sweet, and kind. Someone had taken that away from her. He had a feeling he knew who it was and even why the man had done it.

All he wanted to do was break down the walls she’d built. What had started out as sex was long gone now. All he wanted to do was take care of her, to put a smile back on her lips, and to have her turn to him with happiness shining back at him.

He’d get it too.

Gabe always got what he wanted.

Chapter Four

“You surprise me, Gabe Moore,” Laura said.

“And why is that?”

“You ate the entire plate of food, and the diner doesn’t do small portions. Charlotte loves to feed people proper food. She’s known for it.”

“My stomach agrees.”

Laura chuckled and held on to his arm. “So, do you want to tell me why you decided to seek me out at my place of work for a second time in a row?” She came to a stop, leaning on a wall that overlooked a city park. Lights were aglow throughout, showing off couples. “Were you hoping for a repeat?”

“I was hoping to see you.”

“And you saw me,” she said, stepping up close to him. “Tell me, why do you keep coming back for more?”

“Maybe you’re like a drug.”

She giggled. “You’re addicted?”

“Maybe.”

Laura put her hand on his chest. The truth was, after seeing Frank and Cynthia, she felt happy. The couple had been going to the diner for the last eight months. The first day Cynthia entered, the woman couldn’t even pay for a cup of coffee. Laura had helped, even though she’d promised herself she’d never help anyone. The woman had looked close to tears. On her own paycheck, she bought the woman and her kids drinks and food. Frank, when he arrived, had been in a state of panic and had tried to pay her back. She refused.

Since that day, the couple had visited her regularly, and she’d seen them get back on their feet.

She thought about what Gabe had tried to do, taking her jobs and offering her gifts. With her hand on his chest, she tilted her head back.

“Please don’t do anything to Frank and Cynthia,” she said.

“You think I’m that cold?”

“I think you’re used to getting what you want.” She nibbled on her lip, hating how nervous she was. Also, she was pissed off with how vulnerable she’d left herself.