Page 10 of Born into Blood

“Can I get a bacon double cheeseburger with everything, fries, a vanilla shake, and a slice of apple pie?”

“Coming right up,” she says, jotting it down and then quickly walking away to put my order in.

The man next to me ignores me, which I’m incredibly grateful for, putting all his focus on the Reuben sandwich he’s almost done with and the pile of fries next to it. I lightly kick my feet in excitement. I haven’t eaten all day, and the idea of a proper greasy meal is making me downright giddy. When my waitress returns a few minutes later, setting a loaded plate down in front of me and then a large vanilla shake, I smile and thank her and immediately pick up my burger. It’s nice and warm, the bacon just the right amount of crispy, and as soon as I take a bite, my eyes close in appreciation. When I open them, I see two now very familiar green eyes staring at me. My cheeks go up in flames, my jaws stop their frenzied chomping, and all I can do is stare at Luka as he leans against the counter, watching me.

I’m just thinking I can’t possibly get any more embarrassed, but then the waitress is back, setting a very large slice of pie down next to my overflowing plate.

“Don’t forget your pie, hon,” she says, giving me a big smile before turning to the insanely attractive man who’s fighting a smile at the amount of food I’m in the process of inhaling. She turns to Luka. “Oh, are you together? Did you want to order?”

I chew as fast as I can, swallowing it down as I shake my head. “No, we’re not together.”

Luka raises a dark brow at me before turning his attention back to the waitress. “I called in an order for Luka a few minutes ago.” He looks back over at my feast, eyes landing on my apple pie. “Any way I could add a couple of slices of pie to it? It smells amazing.”

“Sure thing, hon,” she says, an endearment that she evidently calls everyone.

After she walks away, I pick up a fry and nibble on it, because as nervous as he’s making me and as embarrassed as I am at being caught with such a massive plate when he probably surrounds himself with women who only nibble on carrots while in public, I’m still really fucking hungry. As if on cue, my stomach gives another rumble, reminding me that one bite of that delicious burger will never be enough.

Luka hears it and gives a soft laugh. “Don’t let me stop you. Eat it while it’s hot.”

He keeps leaning against the counter, watching me. I think about taking another small bite of fry, but then give a fuck it sigh and grab the burger, taking a large bite and filling my mouth with it. I swear I see a glint of respect in his green eyes as he watches me eat.

“What’s your name?”

When I’ve swallowed my food, I say, “Lara.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Lara. I’m Luka.”

He holds his hand out to me, and I shake it, watching his large hand swallow mine again. His skin is just as scorching as I remember it, and I have to fight to not stare at the intricate tattoos covering his arm and hand.

“Nice to meet you too,” I tell him.

He releases my hand, breaking our connection when the waitress comes back with his bag of food and two drinks. He hands her a few bills, telling her to keep the change and then gives me a small smile.

“Maybe I’ll see you again sometime, Lara.”

Before I can think of anything to say, he’s walking away, leaving me to stare at his broad shoulders and what has to be a perfectly sculpted ass beneath those dark jeans.

“Is he your boyfriend?”

I turn to see the waitress staring after Luka with a look of pure appreciation on her face.

“No,” I tell her, forcing my attention back to my meal.

“That’s a shame, hon.” She shakes her head softly like she’s trying to clear it and mutters, “If I were forty years younger, I’d be all over that,” before adding in a slightly louder voice, “He did order the same thing as you. Maybe that’s a sign.”

She walks off to refill someone else’s coffee, leaving me to finish my meal with nothing but the stranger beside me and thoughts of Luka swarming my head like a bunch of angry hornets. The faster I forget about him, the better. All he’ll do is hurt me, and I’m tired of being hurt. I just want to eat my greasy meal, keep this job that pays crazy good, and use it to support my mom and me.

An invisible life, just like I want.

I take another bite of my hamburger, ignoring the fact that it doesn’t taste nearly as good anymore.

Chapter 2

Luka

“Did you remember to ask for extra pickles?”

I dig around in the bag and hand him his sandwich. “Of course I did. I remember what happened last time I forgot.”

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