Page 32 of Unleashed

I could feel my cheeks redden. "You always say that, Nick."

"I mean it. How many hearts you been breaking since last time?"

I grinned, shaking my head. "Would you believe none?"

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Now I’d say you're teasing me. Sally told me you’re here with a beau. Is he treating you right?"

“He’s just a friend, not a beau,” I said, waving him off.

Nick released me, and I hopped onto one of the red vinyl barstools, spinning around with a laugh. He chuckled and shook his head. “You’ll make yourself dizzy.”

I smiled and steadied myself. "I need to order some food to go."

Nick frowned, leaning against the counter. "Why didn’t your friend come out and grab it in this rain?"

"He’s got a cold coming on, I think. Didn’t want to risk him getting worse. Slade’s a good guy."

Nick raised his eyebrows. "Sounds like he might be worth dating."

"Maybe," I said, quickly shifting the conversation to Slade’s food order. I scanned the two-page menu briefly and then rattled off mine. "BLT, fries, and a vanilla shake."

Nick gave me a playful look. "That’s a hearty meal for a little girl."

"I’m burning a lot of calories out there."

With a grin, Nick snapped the ticket into the window behind him and called out to the cook. When he turned back, he leaned on the counter, his elbows propped up. “How’s life treating you?”

“Good. Starting a new job in a couple of weeks,” I replied, glancing around the bustling diner.

Nick raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Thought you were happy where you were?”

I shrugged. “I was, but that was two years ago. Things change.”

“How’re your folks?” he asked, concern creeping into his voice.

I sighed, my smile fading slightly. “Dad’s arthritis is getting bad. He’s been cutting back on his meds to make them last longer. It’s part of the reason I took the new job. More money.”

Nick nodded sympathetically. “And the other part?”

“The old place had a... hostile atmosphere. You know how it is—engineering’s still a boys' club. Some guys don’t take kindly to a woman knowing her stuff.”

Nick frowned. “What about the new gig?”

“Better. More women in leadership, more transparency. Feels like I’ll have room to grow there,” I said, feeling hopeful.

Just then, an old man a few seats down banged his coffee cup on the counter. “Hey, Nick! What’s a guy gotta do to get a refill?”

Nick shook his head, muttering under his breath. “Hold your horses, Phil, I’m coming.”

As he filled Phil’s cup, the cook rang the bell for my order. Nick grabbed the white plastic bag with "Backpack Diner" written in bold black letters and brought it over to me.

"Twenty bucks even," Nick said with a wink, sliding the bag across the counter.

I narrowed my eyes. "No way. The Mega burger alone is fourteen without the shake, and mine’s twelve."

Nick chuckled, shaking his head. "You sayin’ I’m a liar? Twenty even."

I grumbled but handed him two tens from my jacket pocket. “You’re too good to me. You’ll never make money this way.”

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