Larkin reached for his hand. She stood a little shaky at his side.
"Come on, honey." He wrapped an arm around her waist and maneuvered her into the diner. They took a seat at a booth in the way back.
"Coffee?" the waitress said as she set the menus down in front of them.
Both of them shook their heads.
"Okay, I'll be back in a sec."
Larkin opened the menu. "What's good here?"
"I love the pancakes."
She smiled and closed her menu. "Okay, sounds good."
Darian lifted his hand to get the waitress's attention, and she wasn't the least surprised to see the woman immediately react. The man had a way about him that made people stand up and notice, jumping at his orders.
"What can I get you?"
"We'll both take the stack of pancakes with sides of bacon."
Darian glanced at Larkin. "Milk or juice?"
"Milk, please."
"All right, milk for her and juice for me."
"Coming right up."
Larkin watched Darian relax back against the booth, rest one of his arms on the top of the seat, and train his eyes on her. "Tell me about yourself."
"Oh, well, um, let's see. There's really not much to tell. I'm twenty-three. I live in an apartment with three other girls, all of whom I work with. I've
been working at the lounge for about two years."
"Boyfriends?"
"No." She grinned. "I've had a couple in the past, but they didn't get serious either time. How about you?"
"No, girlfriends, wives, ex-wives, or children. I'm free and clear."
Larkin snorted. "Tell me something about you."
"Let's see. I'm thirty-two. I own a few businesses with a group of friends. We all met in college and hit it off. We've been together ever since."
"I have a friend like that. Brylee. She and I have so much in common. We get each other."
"How?"
She shrugged. "We just like doing the same things. We both love reading, walking, going to movies, and we love baking."
"How long have you known each other?"
Larkin leaned back when the waitress set her glass of milk and his juice on the table and then their plates. Her eyes widened. The dish was huge and filled with pancakes and so many pieces of bacon.
"Thank you," Darian told the waitress.
"Yell if you need anything."