Connecting Strangers (Discovering Emily) by Rachel Carrington Page A

giving the last nine years of my life to Mark.
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    The diner is packed the next morning with people wanting to get a look at the new girl. Francine warned me to expect it. Once one customer told another customer, the word would be out, and I would be on display. I’m glad she prepared me.
    With a smile on my face, I start pouring coffee. In general, the patrons are friendly if not a little nosier than I like. I spend the better half of the morning fielding questions about my personal life from Joe Lawton, who owns the biggest hardware store in two hundred miles. I know because he tells me several times.
    On my fourth return to the kitchen because Joe’s eggs aren’t poached just the way he likes them, I see Francine standing by the grill with a grin on her face.
    “What’s so funny?” I slap the plate on the pass and give Art the bad news.
    “Aw, now Joe’s just screwin’ with me.” Art yanks the ties on the back of his apron and marches toward the double doors. “I’ll take care of this.”
    “Is that what was so funny?” I jerk my thumb toward the swinging doors.
    Francine snickers. “Part of it. Joe’s clever. The only reason he’s been sending those eggs back is so he can watch your ass.”
    “You couldn’t have told me that after the second trip?”
    She wraps her arm around my shoulders and pulls me in for a hug. “Oh, honey, half the fun of this job is learning how to deal with these yokels. They’re a horny, harmless bunch.”
    Except Adam. Oh, he’s horny all right, but he definitely isn’t harmless.I keep my thoughts to myself, though Francine chuckles as though she could read my mind.
    “And look who just walked in. Funny. It’s Friday morning, and the sheriff usually doesn’t come in quite this early. I wonder if he’s here to see someone in particular or maybe he just has a hankering for Art’s eggs.” She grins at me and nudges me. “Why don’t you go on and get him some coffee?”
    She’s throwing me into the lion’s den. Not that I’m scared of Adam as a man, but I am a little scared of how my body betrays me whenever I’m around him. All inhibitions go out the window, and right now, I need to keep a few inhibitions, at least, until I’m sure Mark is out of my life for good.
    Several minutes after checking my hair in the bathroom mirror and straightening my apron, I come out of the kitchen and catch a good look at Adam who isn’t wearing his uniform. My breath starts coming a little faster. His jeans aren’t tight, but they can’t camouflage the muscles in his thighs as he walks. And the black leather jacket makes me miss a step. I’ve never seen leather look so good on a man.
    Francine whispers “be careful” before breaking out into hearty laughter that’s only muffled by the loud conversation coming from the diners. I throw her a dirty look she can’t see and straighten my shoulders before turning back to face Adam.
    Those piercing hazel eyes of his watch my every move. He takes a seat at the counter which doesn’t surprise me. He wants to be up close to the action. I have this ridiculous urge to run back to the bathroom to make sure my French twist is still in place even though I just saw it. Just one glance from him, and I’m a school girl again with her first crush.
    Adam turns over one of the upside down coffee mugs and scoots it toward me.
    “Would you like some coffee?” The second the stupid question leaves my mouth, I grimace, but he only smiles.
    “I would. Black, please.” He doesn’t take his gaze off of me as I retrieve the carafe and pour the liquid. Our hands curl around the handle of the mug at the same time, and the electricity is tangible. It singes my fingertips and runs up my arm. I’m sure it’s the reason my heart does a quick two-step.
    When I look at him, he’s looking at me. Then I lick my lips because they’re so dry, and his gaze drops, following the action of my tongue. His fingers tighten over mine.