Page 6 of Tempted By the Handsome Doctor

"And you thought ambushing me in a dark parking lot was the way to go?"

He winces. "When you put it that way, it does sound creepy. I'm sorry. I can leave if you want."

I should say yes. I should tell him to go, to call me tomorrow like a normal person. But curiosity gets the better of me. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Everything." He gestures to the passenger door of his car. "Can I buy you dinner? Madeline's should still be open."

My stomach chooses that moment to growl. I haven't eaten since a granola bar at noon, too nauseated by morning sickness and nerves to manage anything else.

Daniel's mouth quirks up. "I'll take that as a yes?"

I hesitate, weighing my options. Going to dinner means spending more time with him, prolonging this strange limbo we're in. But it also means food I don't have to cook, and maybe some actual answers.

"Fine," I say, walking toward him. "But I'm driving myself. I'll follow you there."

His face falls slightly. "Right. Of course."

We drive separately to Madeline's Diner, a Cedar Falls institution that's been serving the best burgers in three counties since before I was born. The neon OPEN 24/7 sign buzzes in the window, and the parking lot is half-full with the usual Thursday night crowd—a few truckers passing through, some high school kids lingering over milkshakes, the night shift from the paper mill grabbing dinner before work.

Daniel holds the door for me, and the familiar smell of grilled onions and fresh coffee wraps around me like a blanket. Madeline herself is behind the counter, her gray hair piled on top of her head, reading glasses perched on the end of her nose as she tallies receipts.

She looks up as the bell above the door jingles, and her face lights up.

"Well, if it isn't Lou's grandson!" she calls, loud enough for the entire diner to hear. "Haven't seen you in here for ages, Danny!"

I glance at Daniel, surprised by both the nickname and the connection. His jaw is tight, a muscle ticking in his cheek, but he forces a smile. "Hi, Madeline. Table for two?"

"Sure thing, honey." She grabs two laminated menus and leads us to a booth by the window. "Your grandfather was here just four days ago, telling everyone about how his boy is saving lives at Cedar Falls General. You know how proud he is of you."

Daniel nods, his smile growing more strained. "How is he?"

"Ornery as ever," Madeline says with a laugh. "Still thinks Lou's Diner is better than mine." She turns to me, eyeing me with unabashed curiosity. "And who's your friend?"

"This is Maya Sullivan," Daniel says. "Maya, this is Madeline, owner of the second best diner in Cedar Falls and the keeper of all the town's secrets."

"Sullivan?" Madeline taps her chin. "You must be James Sullivan's girl, the librarian. Your daddy was a good man. Terrible loss."

"Thank you," I say softly. "He loved your apple pie."

"Everyone does, honey." She winks at me. "I'll give you two a minute to look over the menu, but the burger special tonight is the Smoky Mountain—bacon, cheddar, and barbecue sauce."

When she's gone, I turn to Daniel. "Lou's grandson?"

He sighs, running a hand through his hair again. "Welcome to small-town life. Where I'll always be 'Lou's grandson' no matter how many medical degrees I have."

"You don't like it," I observe.

"It's not that I don't like it. I love my grandfather." Daniel stares out the window for a moment. "It's just... I've spent my whole life trying to be more than just Lou Morrison's grandson. To be my own person. But in Cedar Falls, that's how everyone sees me first."

"Is that why you drive a car that probably cost more than most people here make in a year?" The question comes out more judgmental than I intended.

His eyes snap back to mine, defensive. "Maybe. Or maybe I just like nice cars."

I raise my hands in surrender. "Sorry. None of my business."

We're saved from further awkwardness by the arrival of our waitress, a teenager with braces and a Cedar Falls High School sweatshirt under her apron. We both order the special and chocolate milkshakes.

When we're alone again, Daniel leans forward. "Look, I know I messed up. But I'm here now, trying to do the right thing."

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