Chapter 9
Parker walked into the diner and looked around for Kelly. She spotted him in the back booth nursing a cup of coffee. She slid in opposite him. "Rough shift?" she asked.
He nodded. "It was pretty ugly."
"I'm sorry," she said as she reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
"Thanks," he said as he looked up at her.
She had her hair in the ponytail running through the back of her cap again. He smiled. It cracked him up that girls did that to their ponytails, but he figured it helped keep them in place.
"Coffee, Hon?" the waitress asked.
"Please," she said. "What's good here?"
"Everything is good. Your boyfriend ordered the wake up special."
Parker quickly glanced down at the table, suddenly becoming interested in the tablecloth and placemat. "Ok, I'll just have the blueberry pancakes and two sides of bacon."
"Getting your protein fix?"
She raised her head to look at him. "Sorry about that."
"About what? Being mistaken for your boyfriend?" he chuckled.
"Yeah, about that."
"It's ok. Easy mistake."
She reached for her coffee and added two ice cubes and two packs of sugar. She was making a big production out of stirring when Kelly reached over and placed his hand over hers.
"What 's wrong?"
She looked at him. Damn, he was handsome. The problem was, he knew it and he used it. She couldn't figure out why he wanted to meet her for breakfast before going to work on the boat. After weeks of silence and the excuse that he was on shift, then he suddenly decided to call.
"Just thinking about things."
"Wanna share?"
She shook her head. "For me to work out."
The waitress deposited their plates in front of them.
"Is your Grandma okay?"
She nodded. "Mad as hell the Cubs lost last night."
"We're all mad as hell," he laughed.
"No kidding."
She swirled the butter around on her pancakes and added syrup. She then set about cutting them up into small bites. Kelly watched, intrigued. He wondered if he was the reason why her head was so messed up. She glanced up and noticed he was watching her.
"What?" she asked.
"You're so methodical. Each cut is the same and equal size."
"What can I say? I'm a librarian. I like things equal and even."
"That's a Libra thing. You're a Libra aren't you?"
She nodded. "How did you know?"
"Equal and balance. Everything has to come out evenly."
"Shit."
"Can you guess what I am?" he challenged.
"That's easy. You're an Aries."
"How did you know that?"
"Aries is a fire sign. You've got fire all over you. Plus, you like pretty things and sex."
"That obvious, huh?"
"Yep."
"So, beer?" he asked as they cleaned up their tools.
"I'd love one. Or two. Or three."
He laughed. "Won't that knock you under the table?"
"Probably."
"We can go get a pizza."
"Pizza. My lifeline."
"Lou's?"
"I can never turn down Lou's."
"Lou's it is then. "
Kelly opened the door while trying to kiss Parker. He got it unlocked, and the door flew open as Parker leaned against it.
"Whoops!" she giggled.
Kelly bent down and scooped her up, tossing her over his shoulder.
Parker giggled. "Fireman carry, huh?"
"Whatever works," he grinned as he moved up the steps.