No Place Like Home: The Coming Home Series, Book 1 Read Online Free Page B

could run your plates and figure it out within five minutes. I could show you my ID if that would help.”
    “You wouldn’t.”
    “Ha. If you could see your face right now.” He chuckled and she tried to wipe the panic off her face and probably didn’t do a very good job. “I won’t. I’d much rather figure it out on my own. I love solving puzzles.”
    She took another drink and tried not to freak out. He’d find out eventually who she was but she didn’t want it to be right now. Being that girl again wasn’t something she wanted to deal with. Not now.
    Well.
    Replace now with ever and it would be a true statement.
    Clearing her throat, she picked up the menu and stared at it. “What’s good here?”
    “Everything. I think I’ve tried just about everything on the menu. It’s just good. Homemade and cooked to order. Perfecto.”
    “I think I might just have a salad.”
    “No way. That’s, like, not even legal here. I suggest the…” Tugging the menu down, he scooted his chair a bit closer and pointed to something on the menu. “The lasagna. It’s fantastic. As long as you like meat, because it’s full of it. It’ll come with a salad too if you really want some of the green stuff. Their house vinaigrette is awesome. But seriously, a good Italian meal sure isn’t going to hurt you any. You’re so tiny.”
    Too bad her ability to read fritzed out with the first whiff of his cologne. Woodsy, clean, all male. She leaned a tiny bit closer and inhaled with a purpose.
    “You are making this really hard, you know that?”
    She flipped her eyelids open, not knowing when she had closed them, and moved away from him. “Huh? What? What’s really hard?” Oh my gawd . His dark blue eyes snared her and she tilted her chin down, eyeing his lips.
    “Well, I am for one. Since you walked into the bureau this afternoon I can’t seem to get it under control. And you’re making it hard for me to be a gentleman and keep my hands to myself. You’re so damn soft.”
    “Oh?” It came out breathy and inquisitive.
    “You really have no idea what you look like, do you?”
    “I can see myself in a mirror. I know what I look like.”
    “But you just rolled your eyes.”
    “Did I?” A blush heated her cheeks too. “I’m not used to getting compliments from…”
    He waited and she didn’t want to continue.
    “From? You know you can’t stop now.”
    “I was going to say people like you, but I didn’t want to offend you.”
    His eyebrows scrunched down. “How could you offend—”
    “Hi. I’m Greg and I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get you to drink?”
    Cole continued to stare at her for a second and then focused on the waiter. “I’d like Coke Zero if you have it. Charlie?” He looked at her again and she had to concentrate.
    “Just the water for me, please.”
    “Perfect. And an appetizer for you two? We have a crab fondue that’s incredible and the best calamari you’ve ever tasted. Not too much breading and our house marinara comes with it to dip in.”
    “Ever had calamari before?” Cole drew circles on the back of her hand and she nibbled her bottom lip.
    “No, but I like seafood.”
    Without lifting his hand he nodded at Greg. “An order of calamari.”
    “I’ll have it out in just a few minutes. Would you care to place the rest of your food order now or when the appetizer is ready?”
    Cole pegged her with those midnight blue eyes again, kicking up her heart rate. He glanced at her throat and she wondered if he could see her pulse thumping away. “You ready to order now or you need a few minutes?”
    She pulled her hand away with the excuse of folding her menu and handing it up to the waiter. “I’d love to try the lasagna.”
    “Would you like a house salad?”
    “Yes. With the house dressing please.”
    He made notes on his pad, tucking the menu beneath his arm. “And for you, sir?”
    “Same. And I need an order of spaghetti and meatballs to go for