Page 13 of New in Town

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She hopes half an hour early isn’t so early it is weird, Maddie hopes. She takes a seat in a booth at the front window and orders a coffee from the perky waitress. The diner is over half full and she’s gotten many wandering glances since taking a seat. Maybe half an hour was too early.

She trains her eyes out the window instead of focusing on the diner around her. It is a warm sunny day, the temperature starting to feel close to summer weather. She watches as people meander in and out of the charming business fronts, the flowerpots lining the road starting to bloom around them. Done with her cup of coffee, and still a few minutes before their set time, she hears the rumble of a motorcycle.

Gaze following the sound, she spies the motorcycle coming into view around the fountain. And there, seated atop a classic looking, mostly black bike with shining chrome pipes, is none other than Grey. He traded his cowboy boots for a different kind of riding boot today, the brown leather sticking out from his black denim pants. A taupe T-shirt stretches across his muscular frame as he guides the bike, right into a spot in front of her.

From where he parks in front of the diner, she can read Triumph down the side of the motorcycle. He dismounts from his ride and removes his aviator sunglasses as he strides inside. Somehow, his hair looks better than usual, blown back from the wind on the ride.

Her eyes follow him inside the door now and so does everyone else’s in the diner. She feels a twist in her gut at the way he’s just commanded everyone’s attention without even trying. He scans the diner before his eyes settle on her and an alluring smile stretches across his face. She feels her body heat with excitement as he strides casually over to her. He slides into the booth across from her and pulls a pen from his pocket, dropping it down on the table.

“Good morning, Maddie,” he says, his voice smooth and relaxed. In fact, his whole demeanor is smooth and relaxed, but she wonders if hers would be too riding around on a motorcycle all the time.

“You came prepared,” she says, motioning to the pen.

“Just tell me where to sign,” he responds without missing a beat.

“Grey! What a pleasure seeing you in town, such a rare thing.” The perky waitress from earlier is practically drooling as she stands before him, but Maddie can’t blame her. He only briefly takes his mesmerizing blue eyes off Maddie though, registering the waitress’s presence and then training his gaze back on her. Holding Maddie’s stare, he speaks.

“Maddie, have you given Annabelle here your order yet?”

“Just the coffee.”

“Has she come back since getting you the coffee?”

“Um, she’s back now.”

“Looks like you’ve made your way through that coffee. Have you been here awhile?”

Maddie shrugs timidly, unsure where he is going with this.

“Annabelle, it’s nice to see you too,” he says, looking up at the waitress now. “But this is Maddie, and I’m in town specifically for her today. I’d appreciate it if you made her feel welcome, so I can keep seeing her in town. Can you please get her order?”His tone of voice is calm and warm, despite the accusation underlying.

Annabelle visibly pouts and turns to Maddie.“What can I get you?”

“Pancakes please, and a side of bacon.”

Annabelle looks eagerly back to him. “And for you, sugar?”

“I’ll have the same. And a pot of coffee for the table.” He smiles at Maddie, clearly with no intention of giving Annabelle anymore of his time. Deflated, she walks away to put their order in.

“I’m honored by the rare sighting on my behalf,sugar,” she teases.

Rolling his eyes in response, he asks, “so, what are the rules here?”

“I’ve been thinking about this, and I have four so far.”

“Let’s hear them.”

“First, dates happen in public to achieve the goal of being seen,” she says, holding up her index finger.

He reaches for a napkin and his pen, jotting it down.Looking around them, he says with a smile, “nailed that one. Continue.”

“Okay well I think we stick with the story of how we met, you bringing Pippa in. If anyone asks how this started. And then maybe we need to do some PDA if that’s okay, nothing crazy.”

He looks up from writing. “Tell me what you’re comfortable with.”

“Maybe holding hands, easy physical touches like that, but no kissing or anything more,” she suggests quickly.

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