Page 5 of Full House

“You got it, hon.”

“I’ll have the same.” Nate set his menu to the side as if coming to a decision on what he wanted.

Rose nodded, sticking her pad into the pocket of her apron. “I’ll be back in a jiffy to take your order.”

Victoria scanned the menu then set it on top of Nate’s after deciding what she wanted. She looked around the room. Only two other tables were occupied, one with an older couple and the other, a lone man sipping coffee while reading the paper.

Victoria cleared her throat before pointing out. “I know it’s not the dinner hour, but seriously, how does this place stay in business?”

“Try eating here on a Sunday morning. You’ll be waiting for hours. They have a line out the door and around the block.”

Before she could reply, Rose was back setting mugs of coffee on the table in front of them.

Pulling out her pad and removing the pencil from behind her ear again, she asked, “You two ready to order?”

“You know what you want?” Nate asked, implying she should order first.

“I’ll have the number four, eggs scrambled, bacon, and sourdough toast with extra butter on the side, please.”

Nate rattled off his order of a burger and fries and waited until Rose left before raising a brow, asking, “Breakfast?”

“I like eating breakfast for dinner and weird stuff for breakfast.”

“Like what?” he asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

Victoria shrugged, “Usually whatever’s left over from dinner the night before.”

“Ah, so you're lazy?” A smile tugged at his lips.

Victoria gasped. “I’ll have you know, it takes a lot of energy reheating food. You need to remove it from the refrigerator, put it in the microwave—”

“Chew it?”

His expression was so matter-of-fact while he sat lazily slumped, his elbow to the table, his chin resting in his palm, that she burst out laughing. “Yeah, it takes a ton of energy to chew first thing in the morning.”

He gave her a lazy smile, and her stomach fluttered. She had to remind herself this wasn’t a date. Couldn’t be a date. The last thing she wanted or needed was to get involved with a coworker. Been there, done that, and had the merit badge to prove it. No way she’d go down that road again, however tempting Nate may be.

But boy, she was tempted. Who wouldn’t be? He was one of the sexiest men alive. And she wasn’t just saying that. He’d made an actual list, five years running.

She forced her gaze away and concentrated on her spoon. Was that a smudge? Yeah, there was definitely a smudge of something on it.

“Victoria?”

She jerked her head up. Had he said something while she’d been lost in her own little world? Apparently so.

He’d straightened in his seat, forearms on the table, hands folded in front of him. He gave her a knowing smile. “I asked if everything’s okay? Any problems?”

She blinked. Had he read her mind? Then things clicked. “Oh, you mean on set.” She waved a hand. “Yes, everything and everyone’s been great.”

He laughed. “What did you think I meant?”

She blinked, again. “Huh?”

“You said, ‘Oh,’ as if you’d thought I was referring to something else.”

She giggled. Giggled! Granted, it was a nervous giggle, but still. Sheesh, she needed to pull herself together. He would think he was out on a date with a crazy person. No, scratch that, not a date.

Saving her, their food arrived. She smiled up at Rose never so happy to see another person so much in her life. “Thank you,” she said when Rose set her plate in front of her.

---