Page 27 of Half Wolf Mate

“You know what? I’ll take a coffee and…” He glanced at the special’s menu Macy had written on a whiteboard. “Steak and eggs.”

“Coming right up.” I scribbled his order and walked off. Eyes were still on me. I could feel it. Some of the customers tend to stare, and I couldn’t help feeling that a few of them were sizing me up, wondering if I’d make a proper meal. It was hard not to be paranoid after learning that there were werewolves and other creatures walking around, parading as humans. When I glanced back, it was the strange man watching me, but when he realized I’d looked back, he quickly averted his gaze. Dread settled in the pit of my stomach. Had the hunters found me? I hadn’t laid eyes on the one who had confronted me in Nebraska, but from what I learned, their organization was a big one.

Macy smiled when I appeared at the kitchen window to stick the order on the line with the others.

“Hey,” she greeted. “How’s it going out there?”

I swallowed my fear of being found by hunters and forced a smile. “Not bad at all. The weirdness has been kept to a minimum tonight. No one has sniffed me or asked my blood type or anything.”

Macy pursed her lips. I knew she wanted to tell me what went on here at night, but she kept holding back. I bet she was trying to protect me. If only she knew I was in on the whole secret about the supernatural.

“That’s good, I guess,” she said.

“How are you doing back here? You must be exhausted.”

She flipped a burger and smiled. “I’m fine.”

Like hell she was. Her weariness was evident from the dark circle under her eyes and the lines of stress around her mouth. She’d been handling the kitchen since this morning, and something was going on with her, but she refused to confide in me. Of course, it wasn’t fair for me to expect her to since I kept secrets from her, too.

“Table three is waiting on their drinks. I can take it to them.”

“No! I got it.”

My gaze narrowed on Macy. At table three were the same gothic-like individuals I’d compared to television vampires. They came here often, and Macy never let me take them their…drinks. “Fine,” I huffed and went back to the floor. Someone else had walked in, and I aimed for his table.

By the time I reached the newcomer, he was seated at one of the individual tables near the window. “Hi, welcome to Dupart’s.”

Obsidian-like eyes landed on me, and I almost took a step back because his stare was so intense. The man was tall with broad shoulders. A lock of inky black hair fell over one eye. He was handsome, but he didn’t make my heart flutter the way Cole did. I ground my molars, annoyed that he kept popping up in my thoughts. This man exuded power that could easily intimidate.

Taking a deep breath, I smiled at him. He didn’t smile back.

“Coffee and pie,” he said, surveying the room. His eyebrows were knitted as he seemed to take in everything and everyone.

“Okay…” I guess he wasn’t much of a talker. Walking away, I gave him a second look. While he didn’t watch me closely like the man at the counter, he still made my hair stand on end. There was a dangerous edge to Mr. Dark and Brooding that made me nervous. He could be a hunter, too. My paranoia was up full front and center tonight. I started side-eying everyone, wondering if someone was waiting for the right moment to take me out.

I collected the steak and eggs Macy finished and brought them to the man sitting at the counter. My hands shook a little as I placed the tray in front of him. Then I poured the coffee he’d ordered. My fingers trembled so much coffee sloshed onto the counter.

“Oh, shoot.”

“It’s okay, I’ve got it.” The man pulled napkins from the holder next to him and dabbed up the liquid.

“Thanks. I’m not usually so shaky.” Being on the run from killers was getting to me.

“Maybe you’re tired,” he said. “I’ve heard that waitresses work long hours. Is there any truth to that?”

Our gazes locked. Was he trying to determine when I’d leave here so he could kill me? My stomach lurched, but I played it cool. “Sometimes.”

He nodded. “I’m Benjamin.”

I blinked at the hand he extended. Not wanting to be rude, I placed mine in it. “Nice to meet you.”

He smiled and dropped my hand. “I was hoping you’d give me your name. Your name tag is hidden.”

Heat seared my cheeks as I glanced at my name tag that was pinned so that it was lost in my breast pocket. Only the top of the S of my name was visible. That was deliberate. I had to be careful.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to share your name.”

Since I didn’t want to risk anyone complaining to the boss about my bad manners, I said, “My name is Sydney.”