Temptation (Feb 3)

Becca knew someone was watching her. She felt it when she walked into work. Her neck tingled, but when she asked Abby about the guy sitting alone in the corner, Abby said he’d been there for a while, was one of her regulars.

Becca tried to brush off the creepy feeling, dismissing it as her own imagination. She worked through her shift, enjoying chatting with her regular customers as the night went on. She loved the rush of the diner, even if she wanted more for her life. Once upon a time she’d had big dreams, but those were long gone, out the door with the man who’d once held her heart, even if he didn’t realize it at the time.

She couldn’t think about him though. It was a dangerous road to go down, imagining how different her life would have been if she hadn’t tossed him out of it years ago. She knew she made the right decision, but it still hurt every day. The same way her arm hurt when it rained outside or when she had to carry a lot of plates frequently during her shift.

“What can I get for you tonight?” Becca asked the man who’d just taken a seat in her section. She’d seen him in there often, sometimes alone, sometimes with another man.

“I’ll start with a cup of coffee,” he said with a grin. She nodded and rushed to get his drink. He easily could have been the same age as her father, which was always dangerous for Becca because she tended to open up to men who reminded her of the man she’d loved forever.

When she returned with his coffee she asked if he was ready to order. “Do you know that man over there?” he asked, ignoring her question. Becca glanced to the man who’d been sitting in Abby’s section since before she came in then shook her head. “Hmm. He’s been watching you since I came in here. Figured it was an ex or something. Was wondering why he was sitting over there sulking instead of making up for whatever he did to upset you.”

Becca smiled at the man. He had no idea the only man who’d ever managed to hurt her was the one she knew she’d never see again. The one she’d sent away and knew he’d listen. He was guilty, she knew, and he would respect her opinion. Even if she ached for him every day.

She glanced again at the man in the corner, finding him watching her. His eyes met hers and all the breath within her fled. She hadn’t seen eyes like that in years, too many years to count. Eyes that studied her, eyes that knew her. Eyes she never thought she’d look into again.

It couldn’t be him.

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