When I finished my meal, I began refilling the ketchup bottles and salt shakers. I was about halfway finished with all the tables when the bell on the front door rang out, indicating the entrance of a customer. I looked up to see Conrad walking into the diner. Immediately, I could feel my heart pick up its pace. He stalked past me and took up a seat in the back corner of the room. I waved at Caroline in an attempt to get her attention, but her head was already bent toward Kit, deep in conversation. They both motioned for me to go over to him. I shook my head no. After I blatantly insulted him, I figured there was no chance he wanted me as his waitress.  Ignoring my apprehension, Caroline scowled and mouthed the word, “GO.”  I nervously wandered over to his booth and pulled out my pad and pen.

“Hi, what can I get you to eat today?” I asked anxiously.

Conrad studied the menu for a moment before meeting my gray eyes with his shocking blue ones. “Can I tell you my order or do you need to insult me first?”

“Sorry about that. I can be pretty opinionated sometimes.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He laughed. “I’m really not that conceited, it was just amusing to get a rise out of you. I’m Conrad by the way. You’re Evey, right?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, you too.”

“You still don’t seem to like me much.”

“I don’t really know you,” I answered.

“I see. Well, if there was something you would like to know about me, all you have to do is ask.”

“Thanks, I guess. So what can I get you?”

“I’ll have a burger, fries, and a Coke.”

“Okay,” I said, writing down his order. “I’ll have that out to you in just a few minutes.” I walked back to the counter and could feel him watching me as I handed the slip to Mickey. I filled a cup with soda before carrying it back over to Conrad’s booth. “So what made you move from Los Angeles to Estill Springs?” I set his Coke in front of him, waiting for a reply. He held the cup to his lips, draining the dark liquid.

“It seems like a nice enough place.” He shrugged. “Why don’t you sit down and join me for a minute or two?”

“That might be doable if I wasn't currently at work.”

He glanced around and smiled.  “Because the diner is so preposterously busy at the moment?” Other than him, we only had two other diners.

Preposterously busy? Any time I met his gaze, I felt my heart flutter inside my chest, but his word choice definitely piqued my interest. Maybe there was more to him than met the eye.