Page 13 of Caught Looking

ANNALISE

Dottie’s was my favorite place for breakfast food. It was the kind of place people looked at twice and most walked away. It was an old building that had seen better days, but the windows were enormous and the food was greasy, just the way I liked it.

Plus no one ever looked at me sideways when I came in dressed in fuzzy pajamas or a onesie. Tonight I’d opted for the onesie. It almost looked like a sweatshirt or a baseball shirt with gray sleeves that contrasted with a black body. My hair was piled up on my head. And I had fuzzy socks stuffed into my fuzzy boots so that when I kicked them off and sat cross legged in the booth my feet were still covered.

Dottie herself came over in her green uniform. The same green that matched everything else in the diner. “Your usual?” She set a large glass of water down with a plate of lemons.

“Actually, can I get a menu?”

She blinked. “Why do you need a menu?”

I usually ate alone but sometimes Rhett joined me. Often enough that he didn’t need a menu anymore either. “I have a guest tonight, Dottie. Don’t make a big deal out of it. We have plans to discuss.”

“Interesting. So I take it you’ll wait to order?”

“You can go ahead and put in the pancakes and sausage.” Normally I turned Rhett’s games on in the background but tonight I skipped straight to Dottie’s. Partially because I was starving, but mostly because the idea Seth Butler would meet me at Dottie’s made me nervous.

“Mmmhmm. And will Roscoe be having his usual?” She glanced down at where my dog laid against my discarded boots.

“Of course.” While I got my reward for a day of hard work, he got his for being a good boy.

The bell above the doortinkedand a man stepped in dressed in head-to-toe sweats. I knew it was Seth before I saw his face. That body of his was hard to miss, even in baggy cotton. His gaze swept over the mostly empty diner, then he gifted me with a stunning smile as he hurried over.

I lifted my water to my lips because that darn dry mouth of mine was back.

“Fuck me,” Dottie muttered. “Seth Butler is hot when he smiles.”

“Dottie.” Of course she recognized him.

She shrugged. “What? You said it was only planning.” Then she grinned. “Let me go get that menu.”

“Hey,” he slid into the opposite side of the booth. “You weren’t kidding about the pajamas.”

The way his eyes swept over me made my stomach flip. “I like to be comfortable after a long day.”

His grin somehow widened. “I couldn’t agree more. I’m always so hot right after the game. But then I’m cold as my body works through everything I just put it through.”

I liked the way his eyes danced and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Exactly. That’s why I’m dressed like it isn’t a sauna outside.” Not to mention Dottie liked to blast the air conditioning so hard it was like the Arctic in here.

Roscoe sat up and put his head in Seth’s lap for attention. And Seth automatically began scratching behind the German shepherd's ears as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I couldn’t stop staring. Roscoe didn’t just like Seth, helikedSeth. There hadn’t been one moment of hesitation either of the times they met.

“Whoa,” Dottie said as she placed a menu in front of Seth. “That’s something.” Then she spun and walked away, throwing a look at Seth.

“What was that about?” He flipped open the giant plastic monstrosity. His hair was still damp from his shower. His chin was clean shaven, but I was willing to bet he sported a significant amount of scruff in the morning when he woke up since he probably shaved right before practice. Would it be rough against my cheek?

I shook myself. Those were not things I should be thinking about.

“Uh, Roscoe is picky. Dottie never seats anyone by us just in case he doesn’t like someone. Not that there are a lot of people here at this time of night.”

“Huh.” Seth looked down at Roscoe and gave him a smile. “We’re old buds, aren’t we?”

Roscoe gave him a huff and asked for more pets because he was a greedy dog.

Dottie came back with my pancakes and sausage, then placed a plate of bacon on the floor for Roscoe. “Order?”

“I guess I’m behind.” He scanned the menu. “I’ll have orange juice, steak and eggs, extra hashbrowns, and a short stack of chocolate chip pancakes.” He eyed the chocolate chips in mine like they were gold.

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