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She set his plate down and refilled his water, refusing to meet his gaze.

“Hannah, I don’t know what I said last night, b

ut if any of it was offensive or made you uncomfortable—”

“Let’s just forget it, okay? It wasn’t a big deal. I just thought it was funny. I mean, the first time we talk on the phone, you’re drunk as a skunk and telling me you like the way my voice sounds . . . ”

She noticed his shoulders stiffen, and she cringed. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have told you that.”

“No, it’s okay. Just seems like I have more to apologize for than I thought.”

I don’t want your apology. I want you to swoop me in your arms and tell me you meant every word.

When he picked up his fork, she shifted her feet awkwardly and mumbled, “It’s fine.”

Wanting to get as far away from the conversation as possible, she turned and set the water pitcher down. She headed around the counter toward the back door, which she pushed open with a sigh. There were a couple of plastic chairs set up for the staff, who would often come out there to smoke. Hannah came out when she needed some quiet.

Right now, she was hoping for a quick, painless lightning bolt to come from above.

She glanced up at the clear sky and sighed in disappointment. She sat down in one of the chairs and pulled out her phone, sliding her thumb across the screen. Hannah was almost tempted to call Nicki and tell her what an idiot she was, but as much as she loved her best friend, she’d never understood Hannah’s romantic notions about love and dating. She’d just tell her to get over it and be off to set her up with someone else.

The problem was that very few men had ever given her that warm fluttering in the pit of her stomach. Not the way being near Blake did.

The sound of footsteps on pavement startled her, and she turned to look down the narrow alleyway behind the diner.

A figure in a dark blue hoodie stood several feet from her, a gun held shakily in his outstretched hand.

“If you keep quiet, I won’t hurt you.”

Hannah’s heart slammed against her breastbone in rapid succession as she stared down the black barrel that inched toward her. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. When she’d thought about being struck by a lightning bolt, she hadn’t been serious.

She definitely didn’t want to be shot.

As he drew closer, she got a better look at him; deep hollows in his cheeks gave him an almost skeletal appearance, as did his pale blue eyes sunk back in his skull.

“I . . . I . . . ” God, she couldn’t even get a sentence out, she was so terrified.

“Come on, we’re going to go inside, and I want you to lock the front door. If you scream or try to signal anyone for help, I will shoot you and everyone inside. All right?”

She nodded and climbed up the steps into the diner. She didn’t look back over her shoulder or acknowledge Kenny as she passed by the kitchen. Hannah just stared straight ahead, quickening her steps toward the door.

Just as she reached the glass, Blake stood up and tossed down several bills onto the table. Sweat trickled down her forehead and neck, and she held the door, hoping he’d hurry. The last thing she wanted was to have him caught in here. Somehow she doubted he’d sit back and follow the gunman’s orders quietly.

“Have a nice day, Blake,” she said, glancing back to see if the man had moved up front yet.

Blake shot her a look as he approached, placing his wallet into the pocket of his running pants.

“You okay, Hannah? You’re really pale.”

“I told you to lock that door!”

Hannah’s stomach dropped as she recognized the hooded man’s high nasally voice, and she shut the door, locking it with a click.

Blake’s gaze met hers, but despite the slight widening of his eyes, he remained passive, calm. Why wouldn’t he be? He’d probably faced off against men with guns for years, while besides her dad’s, she’d never even seen anyone holding a gun, let alone pointing it at her.

“I’m sorry.” She turned away from Blake to face the man’s wrath, but he was addressing the rest of the diner, his gun pressed against the side of Kenny’s head. He was visibly shaking, and Hannah was afraid he might pull the trigger, he trembled so badly. Was he just pumped up with adrenaline or on something?

“Everyone set your cell phones and wallets on the counter in front of me. If anyone gets any ideas about being a hero, I will blow this man’s brains out.”