“Here you go.” The gentleman laid the menus on the table and then turned to Caden, ignoring Mallory completely. “Your waitress will be with you in just a minute.”

“Humph!” Mallory huffed as she pulled out her seat herself, sat down, and started perusing the menu.

Caden smirked. “Thank you.”

From the smile that he was concealing, the gentleman knew that Caden was thanking him for much more than seating them. He nodded and then walked away, heading back up front to help another couple.

When Caden took his seat, Mallory looked up at him with a smile plastered across her face. “So, what are you going to have?”

“I’m...