The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLiere Page B

piece of dry wheat toast, and a cup of English breakfast tea. I’d like to say that we vary from time to time but I’m afraid we’re old and set in our ways and this is what we order all the time.”
    I hurried to the computer so I could input their orders. It seemed like I was taking too long and I sensed someone standing behind me. Tasha was in college and I felt she was assured that she was far more brilliant than me and I’m sure she was. “I don’t think I’ve done this right,” I said, looking at her.
    She glanced at the screen. “Bacon, egg, and cheese on an onion bagel and a boiled egg, medium yolk, with dry wheat toast. Just send it through. If you take this long for each order you’ll never get to all your tables. You have a guy at number six.”
    I looked up and noticed the young man. He was tapping the corner of the menu on the table. He looked up as I approached and smiled. He had sandy brown hair, dark eyes, and solid, square shoulders.
    â€œHi,” he said, laying his menu on the table.
    He held my gaze and I felt self-conscious. I had thrown my hair into a quick ponytail and forgotten to put on eye shadow. “Do you know what you’d like or do you need a few minutes?”
    â€œIf I need a few minutes that means you’ll get to come back to my table again, right?”
    Was I blushing? “Right,” I said.
    â€œThen, yes, I will definitely need a few minutes.”
Was he flirting with me? No, couldn’t be. He’s younger than I am. He must have a girlfriend
. I turned to go but he stopped me. “What do you recommend?”
    Why would that question make me smile?
Get over yourself, Christine
. “People really like the bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel.”
    â€œDo you like it?” he asked. His smile turned up into a dimple on one side of his face.
    â€œI love bagel sandwiches, sure.” I sounded so stupid. Actually, I didn’t care for bagel sandwiches one way or the other. I walked toward the kitchen to check on my orders. What just happened back there? Did that guy flirt with me?
No, he didn’t. He didn’t
, I told myself. My track record with men had been rocky to say the least. I had a knack for attracting losers. Since Brad left I had dated two men who turned out to be more messed up and dysfunctional than me. I shook my head. There’s no way the guy at table six thought anything of me.
I look terrible. And even if he did flirt, he’d stop flirting the second he heard I have two children
. I put the food on a tray and placed a sprig of parsley and an orange slice on each plate before picking up a glass of water at the waitress station along with a coffeepot.
    When I turned the corner I could feel the guy at table six watching me as I walked to Gloria and Miriam’s table. “In case you’re wondering,” Gloria whispered, “yes, he’s still looking.”
    â€œHe’s too young,” I said, putting her bagel sandwich in front of her.
    â€œFor you maybe,” she said. “He’s fair game for me and Miriam.” Miriam laughed out loud.
    â€œShh,” I said. “He’s going to know we’re talking about him.”
    â€œLet’s use some sort of code,” Gloria said, watching as I poured her coffee. “Let’s just refer to him as TS for table six. Get it?” Miriam rolled her eyes.
    I filled the cups of the mechanics behind me one last time and left the bill on the table. When I turned around TS was smiling, his arm slung over the back of the bench. “Are you ready to order?” I asked, pushing loose hair behind my ear.
    â€œNot really, but as much as I’d like it I don’t think your boss would let you keep coming to my table empty-handed.” My face felt as red as Gloria’s sweatshirt. He
was
flirting with me. Somehow this guy thought I was pretty and I felt like a high schooler again. He smiled and my