Page 85 of Warrior's Cross

He lifted the tray and folded the stand against his thigh, trying not to glance again at the man.

“Do you work here every night?” the man asked casually as he spread his napkin in his lap.

Warning bells went off in Cameron’s head. The last time he’d answered questions like these, it had led him to Julian. And as wonderful as that had been, it had ended very badly. “I work a variable schedule,” he answered. “That’s the restaurant business for you,” he added with a shrug. He stepped back to leave.

“Yeah, the restaurant business,” the man echoed thoughtfully. “I hear it’s a killer,” he said slowly as he looked up at Cameron with his odd, sparkling eyes.

Cameron slowly looked up at the man and thought that maybe he now knew how other people felt when faced with Julian: intimidated and frightened by the dull grind of uncertainty and fear in his gut. How could someone be so polite and outwardly pleasant, but still cause that feeling? Was this how Julian operated with other people?

“It can be, sir,” Cameron acknowledged with only the slightest waver in his voice. “Enjoy your meal,” he forced out as he moved away, heading straight for the service area.

“He’s kinda cute,” one of the waitresses commented to him as soon as he stepped into the back. “Cam, why do you get all the hot, lone guys? Are they all gay?” she asked jokingly.

Startled, Cameron looked over at her with wide eyes.

“Something’s off about him, Sylvia,” he said to her.

“What do you mean?” Sylvia asked in confusion as Miri stepped up beside Cameron and peered out the window into the dining room.

Cameron closed his eyes, unable to believe he was saying this. “He kinda scares me.”

Miri and Sylvia both turned around to look at him incredulously.

“That guy?” Sylvia asked in disbelief as she looked back through the blinds. “He hasn’t stopped smiling since he got in here!” she protested.

Cameron nodded slowly. “Yeah,” he said. He rubbed his arms as if he were cold. “I don’t know,” he muttered.

“What’d he do?” Miri asked him as she stood on her toes and looked out the window again.

Cameron tipped his head and mentally arranged what he wanted to say. “He asked about another customer, but I guess that’s not too out of line.”

“And that scared you?” Miri asked doubtfully.

“Some of the things he said,” Cameron murmured. He sighed and glanced to Miri. “He asked about Julian.”

“What?” Miri asked in disbelief. She frowned and turned to look back at the man again. “Maybe he’s... his brother?” she posed hopefully. “Kinda looks like him.”

Cameron slanted her a sharp look, his jaw set. She shrugged and winced. Cameron rubbed a hand over his eyes. “All right,”he said tiredly. “Go back to work,” he told them with a frown. They both nodded as Sylvia risked one last glance at the man in the dining area.

Cameron allowed himself a moment to openly hurt at the mere thought of Julian, and then he forced himself to get back to work as well. About fifteen minutes later, he made his way out with a water pitcher to freshen the man’s glass.

“I hope your entrée pleased you,” he murmured, having to saysomething.

“It was very good,” the man answered in a low voice. He was watching Cameron in a way strikingly similar to how Julian had always followed his movements. There was definitely a predatory hint to it.

But while with Julian’s eyes following him Cameron had felt flattered and excited, now he just felt pinned and suffocated.

“Would you like to have dessert tonight?” Cameron asked after filling the water glass, trying to shake the discomfort.

The man smiled crookedly. It gave him a slightly rakish, almost mischievous air. “What are my choices?” he asked in a somewhat suggestive tone.

Cameron’s back stiffened. He knew he wasn’t misreading the man now. “English trifle with caramel, vanilla bean crème brûlée, Dutch chocolate pyramid, or strawberries and cream,” he answered, telling himself to ignore what the man was suggesting.

The man’s lips twitched in amusement. “Maybe another time,” he decided softly. “I wouldn’t want to keep you any later,” he drawled as he nodded at the huge wrought-iron clock in the entryway of the restaurant.

His words struck Cameron just as hard as all his other actions had.

It was almost the same thing Julian had said to him all those months ago.

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