Page 3 of The Hot New Bachelor in Town

“Sighting of what?” I ask.

Tish whips back to look out the window. “Hot new bachelor.”

I roll my eyes. Of course.

“Greg told Monk and Monk told Fran that a Benz broke down just outside of town an hour ago,” Tish says.

“I thought it was a Mustang,” Lottie says.

“No, it was def a Mercedes. Anyway, he should be on his way here right now as we speak.”

“And who told you that?” I ask, not caring.

“Fran!” they both answer as if it were obvious.

“Okay. Well... if you guys aren’t interested in your tips today, I’d be happy to take over your tables for you.”

Tish glares playfully at me. “Oh, come on. You’re curious. You have to be curious.”

“I’m not.”

“Why not? We haven’t had a live one in weeks!”

“There he is!” Lottie cries out, her hand slapping the window so hard I’m surprised it didn’t instantly shatter.

Tish spins around, bonking her forehead against the glass as she fights Lottie for a better view.

Past their shoulders, I spot a man in a suit walking through the town square. He holds a suitcase in one hand, his jacket dangling loosely at his side, his shoulders slumped downward. His face is twisted with a scowl, but he’s admittedly handsome otherwise, with thick brown hair and a strong jawline that reminds me of old Hollywood movie stars.

“Purr,” Lottie sighs. “Fucking purr.”

“He’s so pretty,” Tish whispers.

“Dibs!”

Tish gasps. “You can’t call dibs! That’s not how things work!”

“Ah, yes. Work!” I say, eying the tables of hungry people scattered around the diner. “Speaking of, we should get back to work.”

Tish slaps Lottie’s arm. “He’s coming this way!”

“He is coming this way!”

Outside, I watch him step off the curb and cross the street toward the diner.

“Be cool!” Tish shouts far too loudly. “Everyone be cool!”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as the two of them fluff up their hair and push down their skirts. “You two are ridicul?—”

They shush me as the entrance bell chimes.

The man walks in. Now closer, I see the finer details of him, from his shiny silver cuff links to his bright blue eyes.

“Hello!” Lottie and Tish greet him in unison.

He nods at us.

“You can sit anywhere,” I say.

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