Page 48 of Suits and Spark Plugs

“Great.” I jotted his order down and passed it through to the kitchen.

“You look a little tired this morning,” he said to my back while I was filling coffee for someone.

“Cocky and a flatterer. It’s my lucky day.”

He chuckled. “It’s what I do.”

I gave him a nod as I passed by to deliver more drinks and take more orders. The morning was picking up steam, and I was glad. I needed the distraction after days of roller coaster emotions.

The next time I looked over, a woman I’d never seen before had taken the one empty stool left next to Connor. She was eating him with her eyes while he dug into his pancakes.

“Hi, can I get you started with a drink?” I asked her.

She looked up at me with a sunny expression. “Yes. I’d love a hot cocoa, extra marshmallows.”

Connor lifted his eyes enough to share a glance with me, and I saw a glimmer of amusement in his eye, which made the corners of my mouth lift and my toes tingle.

“You’ve come to the right place,” I said.

“Really? Wow, I’m extra glad I stopped in this morning,” she chirped.

I turned away to get her drink, and when I came back I asked her, “What brings you to town?”

“I’m here shopping. I’ve heard your downtown is just too cute to be real.”

“It is. Connor here works at the auto shop on Main Street. The façade is like a page from a storybook.” Connor glanced up at me and I smiled winningly. “Will you be in town long?” I asked her.

“Maybe just overnight. It depends on what I find here.” Her eyes slid to the side, and she gave Connor the coyest look I’d seen in a long time.

“Well, seems to me like you’re in luck already. I mean, you got to share a nice breakfast with our handsome local mechanic.” I smiled. “All the ladies think Connor’s just about the sweetest thing around.” I grinned at the look he sent my way.

Sunshine lady giggled. “It does look like things could be interesting around here.” She stood from her stool and asked where the bathroom was. I pointed and had to stifle a laugh as she rubbed up against Connor on her way by.

“Sweetest thing around?” He arched an eyebrow.

“I could have called you a chocolate bunny, which is what Kelly is calling her new boyfriend, Scott. I thought it might be nice for you to be a sweet treat too. I’d hate for you to be lonely.”

“I don’t need you to try to set me up with some out-of-town lady.”

I shrugged. “I just figured that an out-of-towner may have all the qualities you’re looking for.”

“I hate to ask, but what qualities are those?”

“Um, the out-of-town type. Love them and leave them. Two ships passing in the night, never to be heard from again.”

“You have strange ideas about what I’m looking for,” he said as he stood and pushed away from the bar.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” I put my hands on my hips.

“Nope. Rule number one, no discussing personal lives.” He shrugged into his coat, slapped on his cap, and turned away. “Money’s on the counter.”

“Where are you going?” I asked as I looked down to see the bills next to his empty plate.

“I’m getting out of here before she thinks she can take a bite out of this sweet chocolate bunny,” he replied.

“I already told her where you work,” I called after him.

“The shop is closed today.”

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