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Ruby sets my water down and wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Know what you want to order?”

I nod and choke on a laugh. “I’ll take the club sandwich with fries, and can I get a side of ranch, please?”

“Coming right up.” She scribbles my order down and heads over to the handsome man at the next booth. “Hey, can I get you a drink?”

“Water, please, ma’am.”

“Are you ready to order?”

“I’ll have what she’s having,” he says, nodding at me.

“You got it.”

Ruby heads off to place our orders. I sip my water and look around the diner. The trucker pays his bill and stands to leave. It looks like the older couple is wrapping things up, too. My eyes land on the hot guy across from me again.

He’s watching me.

I raise an eyebrow.

He raises his eyebrow, too.

“I thought military people always sat with their backs to the wall so they could see all the exits. Something about tactical awareness.”

His eyebrow rises higher. “How do you know I’m military?”

“Haircut. Posture. Overall vibe.”

He grins and ducks his head.

“Am I wrong?”

“Nope.”

“Which branch?”

“I was an Army Ranger.”

“Was?”

“I got out a few weeks ago.”

“Congrats?”

He shrugs.

I get the impression that he’s not thrilled to be out. “So, just passing through, or are you new in town?”

“New in town.”

Ruby comes back with his water and looks between us before returning to the kitchen.

The front door opens, and a few people come in, all laughing as they sit at a table on the other side of the restaurant.

The Ranger tenses when they walk in. I was right about him not liking to sit with his back to the door.

Why did he choose that spot if it stresses him out?

He looks over his shoulder at the newcomers before returning his gaze to me.