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Felina looked down her nose with her snootiest glance.“As you should.”
“It’s a beautiful evening.”He held out his hand.“Shall we walk?”
“I’d love that.”Felina placed her hand in his.
As they strolled along the sidewalk to the diner a couple of blocks away, Lucas couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so at peace with himself and the person he was with.
Felina was the reason.All the weeks of buying flower arrangements he hadn’t needed hadn’t been in vain.He’d known Felina was special by the way she was with others and the way other people treated her.Her community loved her and the joy she delivered with each bouquet.
Making love with her had been just as wonderful.He didn’t want any of it to end.
They arrived at Tante Mimi’s Diner near the tail-end of the dinner rush.
Lucas had been here a number of times with some of the guys staying at the boarding house.
The black-haired, green-eyed female owner of the diner sailed by with a tray full of food balanced on her shoulder.“Find a table you like.I’ll be by to clean it in just a minute.”
“Thanks, Mimi,” Lucas responded.
Felina shot him a narrow-eyed glance.
He held up his hands.“What?”
“I thought you said you hadn’t had the meatloaf at the diner.”
“I haven’t.I always get the chicken-fried steak.”He grinned.“Those of us staying at the boarding house eat here a lot.”
Felina shook her head.“And you haven’t had the meatloaf.”
He laid a hand over his heart.“It’s a character flaw I hope to overcome.”
Felina’s lips twitched, and a smile broke through.“You’re in for a treat.”
“Another?”He rested a hand against the small of her back.“Can’t wait for the third dessert.”
Felina’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink as she slid into a booth.
Lucas sat across from her.
As promised, Mimi arrived with a tray, cleared the empty plates and cups and wiped the table with a clean rag.“What can I get you?The usual?”She nodded toward Felina.“Meatloaf?”
Felina nodded.
Mimi smiled at Lucas.“Chicken-fried steak?”
Lucas met Felina’s gaze.“Not today.I’ve been told your meatloaf is the best.I’m willing to give it a try.”
“Two meatloaf plates coming up.”Mimi hefted the platter onto her shoulder and disappeared through the swinging door into the kitchen.
The door to the diner opened, and two older women entered, talking all the way to a table at the center of the room.
Mimi emerged from the kitchen.“Mrs.Dupuy, Mrs.Gentry, I’m surprised to see you.”She hurried over to clear the table of the dirty dishes and wiped it clean.“I thought tonight was bridge night.”
The ladies smiled, shaking their heads.
The woman in the pale peach pantsuit sat in a chair and placed her handbag on the seat beside her.“It’s supposed to be, but Brenda and Missy claimed to be too busy getting ready for Colonial Day to bother with bridge.”
The other woman wore a soft gray sleeveless dress.She took the seat across the table from her friend.“You’d think they had to do the actual physical preparation.They hire all the help, just like us.”
