Page 10 of Don't Call Me Sweetheart (Something Borrowed 1)

Rose tsked. “You shouldn’t drink too much. It will make you jittery.”

“It’s the only way I survive most days.”

Rose shook her head and turned her attention to Luke. The look she gave him was a little less friendly than yesterday. “You want some coffee too?”

“Yes, please.”

She nodded and took off for the pot.

“So, that’s your mom.”

“Yeah, sorry if she seemed a little miffed. She frowns on my caffeine intake. And dating tourists.”

“I could always tell her you’re my tour guide.”

Marley set her menu on the end of the booth with a snort. “She’d never believe you. You’re too handsome for this to be platonic.”

Luke choked back a laugh. “Thank you?”

“You’re welcome.”

Damn, he liked the way those gray eyes twinkled like diamonds when the light hit them just right. And he appreciated her lack of filter.

“So, I haven’t been shoved into the friend zone yet?”

She shrugged before crossing her arms on the table top. “We’ll see how this goes. Who knows, you might end up being in the no zone.”

“The no zone?” he asked.

“Yeah, no to everything including friends.”

“Ouch. That’s the last thing I want.”

“Me too.”

Her soft admission actually gave him butterflies, like a school girl with a crush.

Rose set down two cups and filled them with coffee. “What do you two want to eat? Not sure how our French Dip goes with coffee, but we can always give it a try.”

“You should get it. It’s amazing,” Marley said to him.

“Then I’m sold.”

“Hmm…a man who listens to a woman’s opinion and takes it…” Rose teased. “Might be a keeper.”

“Okay, that’s enough of that. I’m going to have the cobb salad,” Marley said.

“With no tomatoes. I’ll get you two some waters too.”

“Thanks, Rose,” Luke said.

Rose went away, and Luke leaned back in the booth. “I’m a little surprised you brought me here. Most women I know don’t want me to meet their moms until after date three.”

“What, they want to know you can keep up in the sack before they take you seriously?”

Luke almost sprayed coffee out of his nose and mouth. “Yeah, actually.”

“Maybe I wanted her to see what you looked like in case I disappear.”