Tristan narrowed her eyes and glanced over her slumped shoulders as she hastily crossed the street to her usual lunchtime spot, Cal's diner. Her stomach growled its approval as she opened the door and her senses were assaulted with the mouthwatering aroma of fresh from the oven cinnamon rolls and the popping sounds of bacon on the grill. She smiled congenially at the big man behind the grill and waved at the always ecstatic redheaded waitress.
"The usual Trish?" Melanie's tinkling voice sounded out from behind the counter as she grabbed a menu and two empty mugs.
"Yeah and make sure Matt burns the bacon, I'm tired of the chewy half cooked stuff he usually gives me." Tristan winked at the big man and smiled as Melanie took a seat across from her.
It was hard to believe she had been forced to move here 3 months ago. Her body still trembles from the memory that forced her to come to this nearly desolate place and leave her entire life behind. She felt her mouth turning down into a slightly frown as she contemplated the gravity of the situation she was in. Because of a few crooked men, with powerful political ties and the unfortunate witnessing of her boss being murdered by them, had her in the protective custody of the FBI and relocated to the middle of nowhere.
She sighed and brushed a strand of nearly black hair from her face before looking up at her only friend and pushing those painful memories to the back of her mind as she listened to Melanie prattle about the days customers.
"Did you see Mr. tall, dark, and oh so dreamy when you came in?" Melanie's eyes glazed over as she glanced pointedly at a few table across from us.
Tristan curiously followed her gaze and blushed horribly as she met a set of smiling dark brown eyes that roamed freely and without embarrassment over her partially concealed body. She felt her face heat miserably as she lowered her eyes to the table and cursed herself mentally, a light touch to her hand had her jerking her head up in response and glancing around.
Melanie's amused expression faded when she saw the look of terror in her new friends eyes, surely she couldn't have known the man that came in, Spence hardly ever frequented town and his last visit would have been a few weeks before Trish had gotten here. She eyed her friend over again before standing and moving to get the coffee pot, she'd make sure to question her about it later, from the firm set of Trish's jaw and nearly wild look in her eyes Melanie knew she'd get nowhere while they were in here.
Spence watched as the delectable little woman shift nervously in her seat and his throat tightened at the frightened look she wore on her face. He tilted his head back slightly and scented the air, frowning a bit as his heightened senses were saturated with her fear. What could possibly have this wisp of a girl on edge, he didn't know, but from the intense anger he felt rise up in him he was sure he would find out and rid her of whatever was bothering her.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he glanced at her, soaking in the way the way the sun turned parts of her black hair to red or depth of those sparkling green eyes. He swallowed hard as his eyes traveled lower and traced the outline of her pouty soft pink lips and frowned as the urge to capture and claim those lips filled him. What the hell was going on with him? Was his seclusion from the world making him crazy?
