his soft tone threaded with concern.
Steeling herself, Kate looked him square in the eyes. “My personal life is not open for discussion, Mr. McKenna. I’d like you to leave, please. I have a party of four due any minute.”
As if on cue the party swept into the lobby, laughing and chattering. His face unreadable, Hawk stepped to one side, standing firm.
Kate conjured a pleasant smile and turned to face the new arrivals. “Good evening.” Lifting four menus from the neat pile, she added, “Right this way.”
After the patrons were seated and perusing their menus, Kate started back to the hostess station. Spotting Hawk—how could she miss him?—leaning against the side wall, she couldn’t help noticing again how tall and lean and…
Don’t go there, Kate, she advised herself, trying and failing to ignore the tiny twist of excitement curling around her insides.
She began feeling edgy as she approached the station. There wasn’t a single person waiting in the foyer. She lifted her chin, prepared to glare at him for still being there.
Hawk didn’t move but remained standing there, leaning one shoulder against the wall, his gaze fixed on her, a small, enticing smile curving his masculine lips.
His smile set off a new sensation in her body, one so intense she reached for anger in defense.
“You still here?” she said, inwardly cringing at having stated the obvious.
Hawk glanced down, then at the wall he was lounging against, then at her. “I do believe so. At least, it looks like me.” His smile broadened, his eyes grew bright with a teasing light.
Kate suppressed a shiver of awareness as he pushed away from the wall and strolled to stand directly in front of her.
“Will you have dinner with me Monday or Tuesday evening?” he asked softly.
Nonplussed, Kate stared up at him. Surprise kept her silent. Raking her mind for a reply, she decided that she simply couldn’t brush him off. He was a good friend of Vic’s, besides being a customer. Still…the nerve of the man. She scowled at him while fighting a sudden urge to agree.
Foolish woman. She didn’t even know him, trust him. She was afraid to trust any man, other than her father and Vic. Yet she was tempted to say yes to him.
“How did you know I was off Monday and Tuesday?” she said in a sad attempt at irritation.
He cocked his head.
She couldn’t blame him, when the answer was so evident. Damn him. “Vic,” she answered for him.
“Yes.” Hawk nodded. “I can be trusted, Kate,” he said, voice soft, tone sincere. “And Vic will vouch for me. I promise not to step out of line.”
Dilemma. What to do? Kate knew what she wanted to do. It had been so long, months since she’d been to dinner with a man.
Looking up at him, she stared into his dark eyes, seeing admiration and concern…for her.
Hawk leaned closer, against the station, his voice a bare, husky whisper. “Word of honor, I’ll be good.”
Kate relented. “Okay, Hawk, I’ll have dinner with you Monday evening.”
“That has got to be the hardest I have ever worked to get a date. What time and where can I pick you up?”
There was no way Kate was giving him her home address. “You can meet me here. Is seven-thirty okay?”
“Fine. I’ll see you then.” He raised a hand as if to respectfully touch his hat, which wasn’t there. Grinning at her, he lowered his hand, gave a quick wave, turned and strode from the restaurant.
Bemused by his attractive smile, salute and even more so his laughter, Kate stared after him, kind of scared, kind of excited. Had she done the right thing in accepting his invitation, or should she have refused? Should she stay firmly hidden behind her barrier of mistrust for men?
Fortunately, Kate was temporarily relieved of the weight of the conundrum by the door opening to a family group exactly on time for their reservation.
By eleven forty-five, Kate, along with the other employees and the boss, had finished getting the place cleaned, the tables set and everything ready for the next day, Saturday, one of their busiest days.
As he did every night while the other male employees escorted the waitresses out, Vic walked Kate to her car, which was parked in the employees section of the parking lot. Kate used those few minutes to question Vic.
“Why did you tell your friend Hawk my days off?” She kept her voice free of inflection.
Vic slanted a wary look at her. “He asked. Are you angry at me for telling him?”
“No.” Kate shook her head as she came to a stop next to her car.
“Just annoyed with me,” he said. “Right?”
Kate met his direct gaze and smiled. “A bit, yes,” she admitted. “You know how I feel about…” She paused, giving him a chance to speak over her.
“Yes, Kate, I know how you feel about men in general and what’s-his-name in particular. And I respect that.” He shrugged. “But Hawk isn’t any man in general, and not just because he’s my friend. Hawk’s one of the good guys, honey.” He grinned. “You know, the ones who wear white hats in the cowboy movies.” His grin widened. “Besides, I warned him that if you happened to accept his invitation, and he got out of line, I’d have to kill him.”
Kate had to smile. “Well, I…um…I did agree to have dinner with him Monday evening.”
“Good. It’s time for you to get out and about again. Flirt a little. Hawk will love it, after being stuck in the mountains all summer.”
“I’m sure I’ll enjoy his company, Vic.” Kate said. “But I don’t believe I’mready to flirt yet, if ever again.”
“Well, if not this time, then sometime. Just relax and enjoy a little.” He glanced at his watch. “Now, I’d better be getting home to Lisa…before she starts getting suspicious.”
“As if.” Kate laughed. “Thanks, Vic. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He waited until she had slid into the car, locked the doors and started the engine. With a quick wave, Vic headed for his own car.
Kate sat for a minute before pulling out of the lot. Although Vic’s recommendation helped, she still felt a little nervous about the date with Hawk.
Drawing a deep, determined breath, she released the hand brake and drove away.
Two more days until Monday.
Excitement and trepidation pushed at her mind. Fortunately for Kate, Saturday evenings and Sunday brunches were always the busiest times in the restaurant. She barely had time to take deep breaths between greeting and seating patrons, never mind long enough to let herself indulge the nervous twinges playing havoc with her stomach.
Kate
