She pulled the towel from the side of her apron and mopped up the worst of the spill. Ari tossed her another towel, and she finished it. Luckily, the burger had somehow avoided being drenched. She didn't fancy going back into the kitchen right now. "What about the parcel?" She flicked her cloth in the direction of the brown wrapped box.
"It's fine," he said softly. "But you did still miss a bit."
She frowned. "No, I haven — " Her voice faded as he shifted, revealing the dots of coffee on his sweater and groin.
Surely you don't expect me — The thought froze as she met his gaze. He would. And he did.
She took another deep breath, then quickly dabbed the stains from his sweater and jeans. And couldn't help noticing — or feeling — the huge bulge of his excitement.
An odd slither of feminine satisfaction ran through her. At least he couldn't deny his interest in her when the evidence of it was so clearly visible.
"Will there be anything else, sir?" she said, voice a little more breathy than she would have liked.
His smile smoked her insides. "Not right now."
She nodded and retreated to the other side of the diner.
"Impressive move," Ari whispered in admiration. "I'll have to remember that one."
Her smile felt tight. Ari wasn't likely to believe it had been an accident any more than Duncan had.
The time dragged by. He finished his meal and sipped his coffee, which she kept topped-off. Everything she did, everywhere she went, she could feel his gaze on her — a heated caress that promised far more than it would probably deliver.
By three, with the crowd thinning out, she was close to nervous exhaustion. Her dad came out of the kitchen, folding down the collar of the jacket he now wore over his uniform. "I'm heading over to pick Mother up at the hospital. You coming?"
She shook her head. She didn't need to go into that sterile place to see her twin. She could see her anytime she liked by simply opening her thoughts. And she would know a lot sooner than any damn doctor when Sav had woken.
"Your mother thinks you should."
"I hate hospitals, you know that." They were too full of pain, too full of misery and hurt, and it overwhelmed even the strongest of her shields. "Savannah will understand, believe me."
"Your mother won't."
"Mom doesn't run my life any more." Though she certainly tried. Neva had images of being sixty and still crossing swords with her disapproving parent. "I'll finish up here and close once the last of our customers leave."
He nodded. "Don't forget dinner."
As if she dared.
"Now's your chance," Ari whispered the minute Levon walked out the door. "Go chat with that delicious man."
There were three customers still in the diner, and Ari herself. If Neva was going to confront Duncan's demands, she'd rather do it when they were alone. "I don't know."
"Oh for moon's sake, he's been watching you all afternoon. What have you got to lose?"
Nothing but my sanity, she thought. And what remained of her self-esteem. But she took her apron off, grabbed the coffee pot and a cup for herself, and walked across to his booth.
"Sit," he said, voice soft but holding no inflection.
She slid into his booth and poured herself a coffee. She didn't refill his, simply shoved the coffee pot his way. A tight smile touched his full lips.
"No longer the charming host, I see."
"I'm on a break. What do you want?" Her voice held an edge.
"You," he all but drawled. "Why else would I be here?"
Something in the tone of his voice sent a tingle of anticipation crawling across her skin. Which was ridiculous when the only pleasure he seemed to care about was his own.