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get too involved again after Brian? Losing someone in that way had killed a part of her, and it had taken her over two years to even begin dating casually.
    Scott settled back on his stool looking nonplussed and answered the last part of her statement first. “I think I just might. I can wait. Guess I’ll have a cup of coffee.”
    She swivelled and poured him a cup, feeling not only his intense stare, but also the eyes of the entire café on her. It wasn’t until she’d placed the mug in front of him that she realised she hadn’t even asked how he took it. She’d known, and from the stifled grins on several of the faces seated next to Scott, her regulars had noticed.
     
    * * * *
     
    This was never going to work, Cassidy thought. An hour later, the coffee shop had emptied and filled again and Scott just sat there, nursing his coffee, watching her with a hooded gaze. She could feel his stare straight down to her toes, had been able to for the last hour. It had her on edge more than she’d like to admit.
    Erica, a woman much closer to his age, had tried to engage him in conversation and had been gently rebuffed. Now her sole waitress watched, amused, as they circled around each other.
    “Why don’t you clear out early, Cass?” Erica suggested none too discreetly. “I can handle it from here.”
    Cassidy looked around the coffee shop. Yeah, she could leave and the business wouldn’t suffer. The question was, did she want to?
    Scott answered for her, “C’mon, Cassidy. We need to talk.”
    She felt pissed off a bit even though he was probably right. “Not gonna wear you down, am I?” she whispered, trying and failing to make her voice sound cold. All she could think of was his body riding over hers, his head between her legs, that single, smouldering blue eye as he’d undressed her.
    “Wear me out, maybe. Wear me down? Never.” His reply was cocky and oh so serious. Erica snorted from behind Cassidy.
    With a sigh of feigned disgust, she pulled her apron off and hung it on a hook next to the walk-through.
    Scott stood, threw a ten-spot down and sauntered behind the counter as if he had every right in being there.
    This time Cassidy’s sigh was real. She’d never, ever hear the end of this from Erica and the resident busybody, Mrs Crane, who was watching the proceedings with hawk-like eyes over the rim of her mocha latte.
    Scott moved in front of her, opening the door as if he were a gentleman and this was a fine restaurant. For a brief moment, Cassidy soaked in the feel of being treated like a lady, but pushed it back in favour of reality. They’d end up in bed in approximately one minute and he’d be gone in the morning. Again. And this time her feelings really would be hurt, because, while she could understand that behaviour once, twice was out of the question.
    To say she was surprised when he escorted her to the couch and seated himself in the big, comfy chair opposite was a bit of an understatement.
    “I meant it when I said we had to talk.” His voice was quiet, introspective.
    “I guess I really didn’t believe you,” she answered candidly, her interest piqued.
    He leant forward, forearms on his thighs. “I know we both thought last night was a fling, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”
    “Oh,” she replied in a small voice. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him either and it bothered her slightly that she hadn’t admitted it to herself until now.
    “We don’t know the first thing about each other,” he began, and smiled. “Okay, so we know more than a lot of people who met less than twenty-four hours ago… You get what I mean.”
    Cassidy nodded, still not sure where he was going with this. It didn’t stop her heart from speeding up, though.
    “I didn’t even catch your last name,” he finished and swiped a hand through his hair.
    “I don’t know yours either and I’m not sure I want to.” Now was the time for truth, even if it pained her more than it should.