Chapter 9

Author's Note: Boards and taken and passed, so now all I have to do is go to work. Thanks for all of you who keep reading and those who review. It really means a lot to me. I hope you like this chapter. Special thanks go out to the usual suspects- 2NYWLove, When I Make It Shine, and M. Louise E.

"So what is good here?" Buffy asked as she looked over the menu.

"Pretty much everything," Antonio said as he closed his menu. "Been coming here for years."

"One way to find out if a place is good—if the force eats there."

"Pretty much," he confirmed. "And I'm sure Marco has given you his opinions."

"Oh yes. And on every waitress that works there. I had no idea there were so many badge bunnies in Chicago."

"You'd be surprised. And I'm sure you have your groupies too."

"Not as much as you would think. Radio's not as big as TV is. You do get a stalker every once in a while, but not often."

"How did you get into radio?"

"Radio operator on the ship. Figured it wasn't much different working for a radio station except I just added in music."

"Ship? You were in the Navy?"

She shook her head. "United States Coast Guard. I was going to make it a career, but didn't."

"You got married and had Julian?"

"Yes and no." She hesitated for a minute, debating if she wanted to go where this conversation was heading. She felt it was too heavy for a first date, but Antonio seemed interested. He was so nice and she didn't want to scare him away. Since she was between the proverbial rock and hard place, she took a deep breath. "I was a Coastie, Miguel was Navy. He was killed in Iraq. He never got to see Julian. That's why Marco is always at my house. He takes his responsibility as Godfather very seriously."

Before Antonio could say anything, the waitress appeared and asked if they were ready to order. They both decided on coffee. Antonio ordered apple pie and Buffy ordered lemon meringue. The waitress, oblivious that they were on a date, kept inventing excuses to visit the table and flirt with Antonio. She had to give him credit. He ignored the flirting and long mooning looks the waitress had given them.

"Marco is a good guy."

"You've known him long?" she asked.

"We were at the Academy together."

"He never mentioned you though. At least not that I can remember."

"We have a tendency not to do that to protect everyone."

"Makes sense."

"So where were you stationed?"

"Mostly the Pacific Northwest. I thought Chicago had lousy weather, but they are way worse."

"I've heard it's beautiful there though."

"It is. It's very beautiful, but all it does is rain. And the Mariners and Seahawks-"

"Not the Cubs and Bears, that's for sure."

She laughed. "I was trying to be polite."

The waitress made yet another appearance to fill coffee cups. She fawned over Antonio and pretty much ignored Buffy until Buffy placed her mug next to Antonio's, subtly letting it be known that she wanted her coffee refilled as well.

"I'm sorry you are being ignored," Antonio apologized, feeling bad that he had decided on the diner.

"It's quite obvious she is interested."

"Yes, but it's rude to exclude you."

"She knows you're paying the bill. She's trying to get not only a big tip, but most likely either your phone number or a date."

He cut off a piece of pie. "Of which she will get neither."

"Can't blame a girl for trying though."

"Hummm?" he asked, mouth full of pie.

"Nice guy. Smart. Dedicated to family. Handsome. The whole package."

He swallowed the pie and washed it down with a couple of sips of coffee."

"Thank you. That was kind of you to say."

"Truth."

Before she could open her mouth and embarrass herself any further, she looked down at her pie and took a bite.

Antonio smiled. She was turning red from the top of her scalp all the way down to her neck. He found it endearing that she was the blushing type. "No need to be embarrassed, Buffy."

She looked up at him. "Sorry. My mouth gets me into trouble sometimes."

He decided to change the subject to keep from her being embarrassed any further. "So, how did you get the name of Bree Austin for your air name?"

"I just made it up one day. Bree came from a James Patterson novel and Austin came from The Six Million Dollar Man."

"Steve Austin?"

She nodded. "I found it on Netflix and got hooked. Call it a guilty pleasure."

"That's cool. I never met anyone with an air name before."

"You'd be surprised at the people that don't use their real names in radio. My real name just doesn't make for good radio."

"I think it's cute."

She sighed. "There is nothing cute about Grace Margaret."

"No, but there is something cute about Buffy."

"Marco couldn't say Grace. That's how I got Buffy." She rolled her eyes.

"So it's all Marco's fault?"

"Everything is Marco's fault," she giggled.

Antonio smiled. "He loves you, you know."

"I love him too."

"Anything else I can get you?" came the voice of the intruding waitress.

"Just the check," Antonio said.

She set the check on the table and walked away to greet new customers.

"Thanks for agreeing to change plans tonight."

"Not a problem. I had fun."

"Me too," she agreed.

"We'll have to do it again sometime."

"I'd like that."

He took her keys and remoted her car door open. He walked her to the car. "I'll see you soon."

"Hope so," she said as she slipped behind the wheel. "Be careful going home."

"You too."

"I will."

Half an hour later, she unlocked the door to the house and stepped inside. She kicked off her shoes and made her way into the kitchen.

"Hi. How was your date?" Marco asked as he looked up from the Tribune.