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After another minute of deliberating with himself, he changed his shirt, grabbed his wallet, and climbed the steps to Dale’s door.

He entered the diner, and Hannah glanced up from the coffee she was pouring, a definite frown on her face.

Nope, it wasn’t just his imagination. He was the problem.

“Good morning, Hannah.” He walked over to his booth and slid in without waiting for her answer.

Not that she bothered to. Nope, she didn’t say a word, just came over with the pot of coffee and a cup.

She set the cup in front of him with a clank and poured the coffee. “What can I get you?”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. Now she was being downright hostile.

“Did I do something to piss you off?” he asked.

“Nope. Just real busy.”

Blake turned his head to look around the empty diner. “Really?”

“Yes, so give me your order so I can get back to it.”

Anger pricked along Blake’s skin. “Just my usual.”

“Fine, I’ll put that in for you.”

She spun on her heels away from him and sashayed behind the counter, that yellow skirt twitching with a definite attitude.

“Kenny, I’m taking a break,” she said.

He watched as she stuck his ticket up in the window and disappeared toward the back.

Blake’s eyes narrowed as he stood up from the table. She wanted to give him attitude with no provocation and walk away, no explanation? Fuck that.

It was time for Hannah and him to have a talk.

HANNAH ESCAPED OUT the back door, taking a deep, calming breath.

Damn, why couldn’t she keep a handle on her emotions? What was it about him and his casual “Good morning, Hannah” that had set her off?

Last night, she’d let her imagination get the best of her and, unable to sleep, had written a pretty violent fight scene for her midgrade book. She knew she was going to have to tone it down when she did her final read through, but it had been therapeutic. Okay, so she didn’t actually know if Blake had been talking about her negatively, but the way Megan had said “I’ve heard so much about you” had flown through her mind so much, she was convinced there had been a sneer to it.

She climbed down the stairs and sat in one of the plastic chairs, cupping her face in her hands. She should go back in and apologize. Taking the imagined insult out on Blake wasn’t right, especially when there was nothing to be mad at him for. He’d tried to be a good guy and spare her feelings when he said he wasn’t ready to date. There was no proof that he was mocking her behind her back.

Except that he’s been avoiding me like I am the crazy stalker girl he’d make fun of with his friends.

“Hannah?”

She groaned as she heard his voice behind her on the step. “Usually, when someone takes a break outside, away from people, it means she wants to be alone.”

“Well, tough. ’Cause I want to know what is wrong with you.”

Hannah heard his steps approach, and she lifted her face to look up at him. As he stood over her, she noticed his arms were crossed and his face was locked in a scowl. He wasn’t going anywhere.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it,” she said.

“There’s something going on. You act as if you suddenly can’t stand me.”

Just the opposite, I’m afraid.