Love By Accident by Michelle Beattie

fingers. Since it was eleven thirty, and they were having fun talking to the other seniors who'd arrived, they'd decided to stay for lunch.
    Donna grabbed Lauren's free hand as she swept by with a pad full of orders. "I have a catalogue for you."
    "Catalogue?" Before Lauren's brain could fill in the missing pieces, Donna handed her a glossy booklet. Confused, Lauren made the mistake of looking at the shiny cover.
    A woman stood wrapped around a dance pole, bathed in a spotlight on an otherwise dark stage. Naked, her arms and legs barely keeping her modest, her head was tossed back, ecstasy was written all over her slumberous expression.
    Lauren gasped, whipped the magazine face down against her thigh. "Donna!"
    The coffee gang hooted and hollered. The others sitting nearby looked over in interest.
    "What? I told you I'd bring you a catalogue." She looked innocent with her pixie cut grey hair, but the eyes gave her away.
    "You didn't have to bring it in here!" Lauren hissed. Then, mortified, she raced to the office and jammed the catalogue into her purse. She had to fold it in half in order to get the zipper on her bag closed but no way she wanted anyone to see her with such a thing in her possession!
    "Is it geriatrics' field trip day or something?" Juliet asked, dumping the soggy coffee filter into the trash. "Where did all these people come from?"
    By the time the customers had their food, Lauren's feet were aching. The good news was, with everybody's mouth full, the noise level in the café had diminished to a respectable level. Juliet had taken advantage of the few minutes of calm and plunked herself in Betty's office. Lauren glanced at her watch and counted down the minutes until she, too, could fold into a chair and rest her weary feet.
    She was making yet another pot of fresh coffee when the bells over the door tinkled like evil elves gone mad. Great. Just what she wanted, another customer. Maybe she could add another fifty cents or dollar to the five she'd earned so far. She harbored no prejudices against old people. They could drive at twenty kilometers an hour, forget to signal, take up two lanes at the same time if they wanted. She just wished they tipped better.
    "Hey, you."
    She turned. Nick was at the counter, an apologetic smile on his face. They hadn't seen each other since their dinner out the other night and clearly Nick didn't know how he'd be received.
    "I didn't realize it was this busy," he said. "Would it be easier if I went somewhere else for lunch? I don't want to create even more work for you."
    "Don't be ridiculous, there's room here at the counter. It's not as comfortable as a table, but it'll have to do. What can I get you?" She quickly amended her question when his gaze latched onto hers. "That's on the menu."
    "Since you're limiting my options, I'll have the special with chocolate milk. You don't happen to have any cinnamon buns?"
    "As a matter of fact, there's one left."
    By the time Nick's lunch was ready the seniors from the bus tour were starting to file out leaving many dirty, empty tables behind. Since Juliet's break was finished, Lauren ordered a clubhouse with side garden salad, poured herself a Pepsi and took the stool to the left of Nick.
    "I don't think my feet will ever forgive me," she muttered, wishing she could take her shoes off and rub at the sore arches.
    "I'd rub them for you. All you have to do is ask."
    Though the massage offer was tempting, it would only encourage Nick. "Thanks, but--"
    "Yeah. I know."
    "Is Kyle excited about coming over?" Lauren asked, hoping talking of his brother would shift Nick's focus from her.
    "I'm not sure, he didn't say much. It'll be good for him, though, to get away from the drama for a bit."
    "We'll make it a good weekend for him," she said. She'd met Kyle before and they'd hit it off. She'd come to think of him as her little brother and it broke her heart that the boy had to deal with his mom having cancer.
    "I appreciate your helping, Lauren.