Best Friends (New Species #15)
Laurann Dohner
Snow
Chapter One
“Your day is about to get better, Mel. One of those NSO SUVs just parked outside. Your hunky-scary guy is with them.”
Melinda stopped wiping the counter and peered through the large windows toward the parking lot. Sure enough, a group of New Species headed toward the front doors. She’d expected it at some point, but the days and times varied when they would eat at the diner. Usually they would stop in for lunch if they were having a meeting with the sheriff, but other times, a few weeks could go by before they returned.
She scanned their faces and locked onto one in particular. The sun seemed to make his very pale blond hair nearly glow. The sky blue of his eyes, combined with those sharp, strong cheekbones, made him absurdly gorgeous. His mouth, though, was pure sin. The upper lip gave him kind of an arrogant look but the lower one was fuller, a little pouty. She always felt the urge to nibble on it.
“Thanks, Mary,” she said. “Tell grumpy cook to be prepared for them. I hate when Joel slams stuff around. Remind him that the customers can hear it.”
The other waitress chuckled. “I’m going in there now to do just that. I think Joel’s mood is improving. He actually smiled at me a few minutes ago.”
“It’s about time. Maybe he made up with his wife. He’s only this moody when they have a fight.”
The New Species featured in all of Mel’s fantasies turned his head, saying something to the feline Species beside him. Mel straightened from the counter and turned away, grabbing menus in exchange for the rag. She counted out eight and went to the door to wait.
A beefy blond canine reached the diner first and pulled the glass door open to allow his fellow New Species inside.
Mel smiled. “The right side is completely open. Sit wherever you want.” She passed out menus as they walked past her. Each man flashed her a smile, some gave a word of thanks…but when he came in second to last, he didn’t just grab the corner of the menu, but made sure to brush his fingers against hers as he accepted it.
They locked gazes, and she forgot how to breathe. He always had that effect on her. His eyes were the prettiest color of blue she’d ever seen, so light and gorgeous. Long, thick white eyelashes framed them, a stark contrast to his tan skin.
“Hello.”
His deep voice always made her nipples harden. The tone was kind of gruff but husky at the same time. Sexy.
She glanced down, hoping her bra hid that pesky fact. It would be embarrassing if he saw headlights. Her girls were good, the bra under her thin work shirt hiding the stiff tips. She sucked in air and blew it out. “Hi.”
He passed by, and the last man took a menu as he released the door. Mel spun away and grabbed her tablet that she’d set on the counter. Taking a few deep breaths helped calm her before she followed the New Species across the room. They were shoving three tables together to make a long one. She waited until they were settled before plastering her smile back on.
“What would you like to drink?”
She addressed the one nearest her. She didn’t dare glance at Mr. Blue Eyes again, as she called him. It would make her mind freeze up and her hands shake. She’d experienced that reaction before. She just kept her head down and wrote on the tablet since they knew the drill. Each man answered one after the other, stating their preference of sodas.
She finally looked up. “Do you know what you want to eat or should I give you a few minutes?”
The blond canine at the head of the table answered, “We’d all like steak sandwiches. Rare, please. Everyone wants fries with that.”
She nodded. “You want the steaks bloody. Got it.” She glanced around the table and had to skim past Mr. Blue Eyes. He seemed to be staring at her. “Does everyone like lettuce, mayo, and the steak sauce on theirs? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
That gained her a few chuckles. A feline spoke. “Can I have tomatoes on mine?”
She wrote it down. “Sure thing. Anyone else?” She glanced around. They all shook their heads, Mr. Blue Eyes still watching her. “Okay. I’ll put in the order and return in a few minutes with your drinks. I’ll tell the cook to add extra fries.”
She fled. There was no other way to describe it.
Mr. Blue Eyes had canine blood. With his sensual mouth and those penetrating eyes, he always made her feel as if she had done something she should blush and apologize over. It might have had something to do with the thoughts running through her head. They tended to revolve around getting him naked, or at least picturing him that way.
Joel looked up from the grill when she entered his kitchen. “Let me guess. Burgers all around?”
“Eight steak sandwiches this time. Keep them bloody.”
He muttered under his breath. “Code violations.”
“They’re good customers and you know it. Just sear those babies, and I won’t tell if you don’t.”
He sighed. “I know. Do you see me turning up the grill? They like ’em almost raw on the inside but a little brown on the exterior.”
“All standard sandwiches but make one with tomatoes. Give them double fries on those plates, too.”
“When don’t I?”
She spun away to fill the drink orders. Mary ended up next to her and glanced at the pad. She grabbed tall glasses and filled them with ice, passing them to Mel. “No shakes this time?”