Page 33 of King of Pain

The blonde’s eyes narrow as she looks at me, her uniform so tight, she’s got a whole lot of cleavage on display.

“I’m not hungry,” I whisper, bile rising in my throat. This is the kind of woman I lose him to, I know it. That run-of-the-mill heartbreak is right around the corner.

“What? Don’t be ridiculous.” He takes my menu. “An egg over easy and whole wheat toast, for the lady.”

“All right,” the waitress gives him a big smile, but it isn’t reaching her eyes.

Luke is studying me with a look of concern. “You don’t want bacon or something?”

“No bacon,” I shake my head.

“How about avocado. You need some good fats for energy.” Then he looks at the waitress. “Got any avocado?”

She bats her eyes, giving him a smile like they share a secret. “For you, sugar, anything.”

I roll my eyes as Luke hands over both our menus, all while she bats her eyelashes. But he doesn’t even notice. He’s still staring at me with his brow furrowed as the waitress leaves. “What was that about?”

I shrug, not really wanting to tell him. Looking down at my lap, I fiddle with my napkin. “She was really attractive.”

“Was she? I didn’t notice.”

My head lifts back up and then cocks to the side. “Well, good thing I pointed it out then.” Irritation skitters up my spine, but I don’t know who I’m mad at. Maybe myself.

He’s staring at me like I’ve lost my mind. I probably have. “Kate.”

I actually feel some silly tears welling in my eyes. “I’m just going to go the bathroom. Be right back.”

I hop up from the table and race to the bathroom, trying to hide my face.

Locking the door behind me, I look in the mirror, my eyes already rimmed red. “Get it together, Kate,” I chastise myself.

I squeeze my eyes shut. What do I know about keeping a guy around? I’ve never done it. My mom never did either.

Splashing water on my face, I head back out to find the waitress at our table, her hips propped suggestively against the chipped Formica as she gives a high laugh at something Luke has said.

My hands ball into fists as I consider ripping her blonde hair out in chunks when Luke senses me or something.

He’s leaned back in the booth, his good arm slung along the back, rocking the casual sexy air he does so well.

In front of him is a phonebook. That’s right. He asked me about that. Who does he need to call that he’d find their number in there? We’re hours from Vegas…

He turns and our eyes meet.

My breath stops in my chest, as he holds out a hand toward me. I know it’s his bad arm and he shouldn’t be using it like that, but I heed the call anyway.

At his gesture, the waitress catches sight of me too, and she takes an involuntary step back as my hand slips into Luke’s.

He pulls me down next to him and before I can question what he’s doing, he gives me a long, slow kiss in front of the entire diner.

I swear, time stops as my eyes flutter closed.

When they open, the waitress is gone. Luke pushes my steaming hot cup of coffee from my side of the table to where I’m now sitting. “Drink it before it gets cold.”

Without a word, I take a sip.

Ten minutes later, another waitress brings our food. Fine by me. Luke and I eat in silence, but this one doesn’t trouble me a bit.

And as we get up to leave, an older woman stops me. “Keep a hold of that one,” she whispers. “That is a good egg.”

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