The Zella Chronicles

Now, she thought, here I am making a new life for myself, again. She had her rented room, her job, and Gabe. Could he be the right one? When she married again, it would have to last.         Elly got off the bus a block from the restaurant and arrived just in time for the lunch hour rush. She tied her apron around her tiny waist, checked to see that she had her order pad and pencil, and went directly to her first customer, water and menu in hand. She hadn’t really noticed the young man much as he entered the restaurant, he was just another soldier.

Placing the water and menu on the table, Elly looked into those  incredible blue eyes and froze in place. Their eyes locked, sending a zing through her like never before. Breath caught in her throat and she struggled to speak. “I’ll give you a couple of minutes to look at the menu,” she croaked and cleared her throat, “unless you already know what you want.”

           His smooth voice was like hot fudge on top of ice cream, “Oh, I know what I want,” he said meaningfully as his gaze lingered appreciatively on her curves, “but I better look at the menu for lunch.” Wink.

           Elly hated how quickly her checks flushed and burned as she answered, “I’ll give you a couple of minutes then.” She turned and carefully walked to the kitchen on rubber legs, ignoring two other customers in her confused state. She had to get herself together. This guy really rattled her.