xpected to s

s usual grind-horns blaring, impatient footsteps pounding the pavement, and Zara dodging puddles in

rked Brenda, her no-nonsense

," Zara muttered,

at mean you finally got laid

rin. "I'll let y

as she grabbed the coffee pot,

eath caught

very much out of place in a diner that served $4 breakfast specials and lukewarm hashbrow

he asked, voice st

you're

day, just the top buttons of his shir

coffee, silent,

ld me your na

a look. "Neit

d. "Luca

she'd seen on a hundred headlines, usually next to words

urse

e asked gently, re

crossed. "Just waitin

used. "There

ionaire doing in a greasy spoon wit

ion." His eyes softene

men. She didn't do messy. And she

fairy tale. It w

't belong in yo

aver. "Maybe I don't

ent p

ng shifted. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just a thread being

them had the st