Page 32 of Moon's Promise

The restaurant was packed. She guessed everyone else in town was sick of hamburgers as well.

Larissa was happy the hostess found her a small table. She ordered a diet soda and browsed the menu, only lifting her gaze when she heard someone being seat at the table next to her.

When the hostess moved away, Larissa found herself staring at the rude man from the DMV.

Could she catch a break today?

Self-consciously, she hurriedly bent her head over the menu. She really didn’t want them staring at each other as they ate their meals at their respective tables. If it weren’t so obvious, she would leave. Concluding she would order the food to go rather than be uncomfortable, Larissa waited for the waiter to come.

“I’ll take the pork chops and a baked potato, with asparagus.”

As she was about to order it to go, a couple took the empty chairs at DMV dude’s table, fortunately blocking her view. She changed her mind about eating there and took out her cell phone to check for messages.

Unable to help herself, she peered through her lashes at the couple who had sat down. The older man had caught her eye. He was striking, with a chiseled jaw and broad shoulders dressed in a suit. There was something about him that struck a chord of fear inside of her without knowing why.

It was apparent the man and woman were a couple by the way they spoke to each other, and the arm placed over the back of her chair was a clear sign of possession. The scary man was giving the conceited jerk a warning.

Larissa almost wished she had a better view of their faces.

She lost interest in the other table when her attention was diverted by her waitress.

“I’m sorry. We’re out of pork chops. Would you like to choose another entrée?”

Choosing a strip steak instead, she forced herself to go through her messages. She dealt with those which couldn’t wait and was electronically paying her storage unit when she noticed the food arrive at the other table. No wonder there weren’t any pork chops left. All three people had ordered them.

Irritated, she set her phone down as her waitress arrived with her food.

She told herself not to say anything when the waitress asked if there was anything she could get her, but Larissa wasn’t able to help herself.

“I have a quick question. How is it that I ordered before the table next to me, yet they all were able to get the pork chops when I wasn’t?”

Larissa wanted to slink under the table when all the occupants at other table looked in her direction.

“The owner of the restaurant placed the order before you sat down,” her waitress explained. “May I get you something else?”

“No, thanks. I’m good.”

Humiliated with the people still staring at her, she started cutting her steak.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt your meal. My friend texted me that he was coming, and I placed the order, not realizing we were taking the last. I apologize.”

“No, no, there’s no need to apologize. I shouldn’t have said anything to begin with.” Larissa took a bite, hoping the woman would turn around and continue with her meal.

The pretty redhead smiled. “Let me make it up to you. I’ll have Valerie give you a gift certificate. Your meal will be on the house.”

Swallowing her bite, she forked another piece of steak. “No, that’s completely unnecessary.”

“Eat your food, Evie. Can’t you tell she wants to be left alone?” the man from the DMV told the woman.

Hoping the woman would take the advice, she raised the steak to her mouth. It was delicious. If she had two good feet, she would kick herself.

“Moon, I’m trying to make a customer happy …”

Larissa’s eyes flew to the table at the same time she tried to swallow the bite of steak. Immediately, she regretted the action when she felt it go down the wrong way. Raising her napkin to her mouth, she tried to cough the steak up.

“You want to make her happy? Quit talking to her.”

“I will …”

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