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“Hey,” Adam called out across the kitchen, “did the diner shut down early today?”

“No, Adam, Claire was just filling me in on what happened yesterday,” Sylvia called back.

“Those boys come back?” His face went hard.

Adam was an amazing fry cook and ran a tight kitchen. He’d learned everything he knew in the state penitentiary. Donna gave him a chance upon his parole when no one else would, and for that, he was eternally grateful. So grateful he was more than willing to rough up and toss out rude customers.

Five years ago, a man who grabbed Sylvia’s ass and tried to steal from the register needed his jaw wired shut after Adam shattered it. He was too terrified to press charges and everyone in the diner told the cops they conveniently didn’t see what happened. Donna gave him a raise after that.

“No, it’s fine,” Clarissa said.

“In that case, we got orders pilin’ up on us, ladies.”

“Alright, alright.” Sylvia went to grab the plates for her tables. “You know, under that rough and tough attitude, I bet you’re just a big ol’ softy.”

Adam scowled at her as she laughed and walked off.

“Clarissa, you let me know if you see those boys again,” he said. “Been a while since I beat someone. I need to take the edge off. You know?”

“Sure thing, Adam.” She would definitely not be telling Adam unless she had no other option.

Between running orders, Sylvia pointed out the man who asked for her. He sat alone at a booth in the far corner, looking across the diner. His red hair was long on the top, cut short by his ears, and impeccably groomed, and he had a short beard. His eyes were a soft brown. The flannel shirt he wore over a gray T-shirt stretched tight across his arms and shoulders. Her stomach flipped.

She couldn’t be certain since she’d only seen the good Samaritan in the dark, but something about him was familiar. His gaze made her nervous. She couldn’t remember the last time a guy made her nervous. What was she, fifteen again?

After running more orders, she internally plucked up the courage to go see him. He watched her walk across the diner, and a smile spread across his face. It was warm and made his eyes crinkle and light up. Looking at it made odd things happen in the pit of her stomach.

“Hello, welcome to Donna’s Diner, what can I get for you?”

His smile broadened. “I came to see how you are this morning. I was worried about you last night.”

He was the good Samaritan.

“I don’t recall telling you I worked here.” She cleared her throat.

“You didn’t, but when you said you had to be back at work at six in the morning, I took a chance you’d be here.”

“So, you’re following me now?”

“No, not exactly. I didn’t drive here behind your car. I’d say that doesn’t exactly fix the definition of ‘following.’”

Clarissa shifted her weight and chewed on her lip. She was grateful for what he did last night but wasn’t sure how far she was willing to let this go. He could turn out to be just as crazy as Alister.

“You came here to check on me, you see, I’m fine. Thank you again for what you did for me, but we’re packed, so if you aren’t going to order, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Alright then.” To her dismay, he opened the menu and started flipping through it. “What do you have here that’s good?”

“If you have to ask that, then you’re already assuming our food is bad,” she said.

“Fair point. Allow me to rephrase: out of all the delicious options in your stunning menu, what do you recommend?” He beamed up at her, a small laugh hidden beneath his innocent smile. She wanted to slap him.

She glowered at him, but his face didn’t falter. If anything, he grew more amused.

“The veggie omelet and hash browns.” She kept her voice deadpan.

“That sounds lovely, I’ll take anything you recommend.”

Huffing to herself, she went to the counter and put in the order. Sylvia was practically jumping up and down waiting for her.