Page 30 of Tangled Emotions

“Me too.” He shrugged. “What’s the Irv special?”

“Tater tot casserole, covered and smothered.”

“What is tater tot casserole?”

“You’ve seriously never had it?” I leaned back against the counter.

He shook his head. “Can’t say I have.”

“Tater tots, covered in cream of mushroom soup with ground beef, shredded cheese on top.” I noticed someone waving at me. “Hold that thought.”

I made my way to the back booth as my sister passed me, heading to the counter. The customer wanted their check; I handed it over and went back to the counter.

“Hello, Evelyn.” His deep voice made my insides turn to mush, and he wasn’t even speaking to me.

“Hello, Francis.” She spun around with a carafe in her hand. “Need a warm-up?”

“I can wait.”

Giggling, she picked up a plate from the window and bounced off to deliver it.

“Warm up?”

Secretly I felt delighted that he waited for me. But that still didn’t mean I wanted to go on a date with him.

“Please.”

As I filled his cup, I avoided making eye contact. “You ready to order?”

“What’s it covered and smothered with?”

“Onions, pepper jack cheese and more of the meaty gravy.”

“Miss!” a patron called out.

“Excuse me.” I put the carafe back and ran over to take care of the ladies from church.

When I got back to the counter, he smiled and pushed his empty cup towards me.

Hell, I thought I drank a lot of coffee …

Refilling his cup, I glanced up into his blue eyes.

Fuck me, those are gorgeous eyes.

They reminded me of Superman’s blue eyes, though I’m sure Frank’s not a superhero.

“What kind of gravy?”

“Anyone ever tell you, you ask more questions than a child?”

“It’s a gift.” He flashed me a smile and my knees almost buckled.

I heaved a sigh. “Your choice. Dad’s standard for that meal is brown. However, some people prefer the sawmill gravy.”

“What’s sawmill.”

“Where have you been that you lack basic food knowledge?”