Page 35 of Diners, Damsels & Wolves

A cold spring breeze beat against the car, whistling through the cracks in the doors. She pulled her hoodie in closer. Normally she’d start the car and turn the heat on, but her tank was creeping toward ‘E’ and it had to last until Thursday.

Stomach growling for more, she wrapped her apple core in a napkin. Closing her eyes, she did the mental math for how much she had left on her car and what bills were due next week.

A chill crept over her that had nothing to do with the weather. The unmistakable feeling of being watched had come over her. Not just watched, but calculatedly observed. Opening her eyes, she slid them from side to side. The parking lot was still.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, her heart stopped. A green SUV was parked in the empty lot of The Barrel.

Clarissa knew little about cars, but she was almost certain it was the same one Alister and the others had been in. Wasn’t it?

It was too far away to tell. Fear seized her. What if it was? Was he here, or was it the others?

A knock rapped on her window. She screamed.

She clasped her hands over her mouth, and her heart hammered. It was just Thomas.

Struggling to catch her breath, she opened the door.

“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said. “Are you alright?”

“I saw …” She turned her head toward The Barrel. The lot was empty. The green SUV was gone. Had she just imagined it? “I thought I saw something.”

“I’m sorry, I should have waited for you inside,” he said.

“It’s not your fault.” Getting out of the car, she wrapped her arms around her middle, huddled against the chill. “Do you want to come in out from the cold?”

As she asked, she realized he wasn’t wearing a jacket, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up. Wasn’t he frozen?

“I’m afraid I don’t have much time this afternoon. Instead, I stopped by to ask you a question,” he said.

“Shoot.”

“Would you like to have another meal with me?”

“I just had my lunch break, I need to get back to work,” she replied, confused. Hadn’t he just said he didn’t have much time today?

“I didn’t necessarily mean now, but I appreciate your enthusiasm.” He fought back a laugh. “Are you free for dinner one night? I’d like to take you out, spend time with you someplace other than where you work.”

“Oh,” she said, blushing at her own obliviousness. “I work late tonight, but tomorrow I’m off earlier.”

“Tomorrow works perfectly. Have I moved far enough from stranger territory to pick you up from your home?”

“I’m not sure. After all, I’ve only seen you at work. I’m not entirely convinced that counts.”

He chuckled. “Do you still have my business card? Text me your address and I’ll come pick you up at six.”

“What—” She chewed on her lip. The ridiculousness of the question she wanted to ask hitting her.

“Yes?” he prompted.

“What should I wear?”

He thought for a moment. “Something casual. I won’t scare you off with anything too fancy. Not yet at least.”

“I can’t tell if that’s supposed to be a threat or a promise.” She frowned.

“Yes,” he said. “I should let you get back. I heard the coffee maker is planning an uprising. You need to get in there and stop it before it recruits the toaster to its cause.”

“If the toaster stops working too, I quit.”