The papers were a mess thanks to the jerk who wasn't looking where he was going. Thankfully none of them had to be in order and I had made extra copies. Some of them had been walked on.

"Is that the new menu?"

"Yeah."

Erica took one and perused it, checking for errors. It was rather late to be doing that but I wasn't going to stop her.

"All clean." she cooed.

"Great," I muttered, wrapping the apron around my waist.

The restaurant was barely full yet dozens of people walked past the shop. It wasn't dingy, it was incredibly clean yet I couldn't get the patrons to walk through the door.

I was down to Erica who helped me wait tables, Igor the chef and Leith the busboy.

"We're too far away from the square, you know."

Erica was muttering as she put the new menus into the folders.

"I can't afford it, this place is about to kill me as it is."

The inheritance was almost gone. Soon I will be living in the storeroom to cut costs.

"Oh dear lord would you look at that hunk of man meat."

I watched as he pushed through the door, the guy that had helped me pick up the papers on the crosswalk.

"Fight you for it," Erica said under her breath.

"Sorry darlin' but somehow I don't think he's here to eat."

She frowned at me as the guy found a seat against the far wall.

"Tell you later."

I grabbed one of the new menus and walked over to him.

You can do this my mind offered as its pitiful support.

"Hi." I squeaked.

Well done, voice. Idiot.

"Hello again."

He smiled at me and I felt the air in my lungs leave me, my brain ceased to function and my heart was about to pound its way through my chest. Okay so that might have been a little melodramatic but the smile was pretty damned good.

"Are you here to eat?" or something else my mind finished the sentence.

Ever hopeful as always.

"That is what you do here, isn't it? I haven't strolled into a movie theater, have I?"

I let out a pained laugh, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. The man smiled again as I passed the menu over.

"Sorry, I just thought that you might have come here because of before."

"Oh." he said simply.

Long narrow fingers gripped the edge of the menu, briefly sliding against mine. The spark of the touch sent a thrill through me, coursing through my veins.

He had the strangest eyes, they looked brown but they seemed so different to everyone else's. They had an almost rich redness to them, they looked incredible.

That smile beckoned me to him again, beyond the pale pink lips were teeth that were perfect. Straight and white, not a flaw to be found. In fact, the man seemed flawless all over.

"I'm Sarah. When you're ready to order just give me a shout."

"Sure thing... Sarah."

I turned around before the pink on my cheeks turned to red, Erica had been watching the whole time. Glued to us and looking rather stunned. Quickly I scurried through the tables and into the kitchen with Erica hot on my heels.

"Oh my god." she whispered rather confused "What was that about?"

"Someone clipped my shoulder on the crosswalk, sent the papers everywhere. He came and helped me pick them up."

My cold hand seared against my heated cheeks, I hadn't ever felt like this or reacted like this around a man before.

"Look at you." Igor grinned, leaning against the bench. "Trying to land a rich husband to inject some funds?"

"It's not like that." I hissed "And besides, how would I know how much money he has?"

"Oh puh-lease." Erica scoffed. "Armani boy is loaded."

I ignored them and returned to the front counter, watching the man as he perused the menu. Like he knew he was being watched, his head lifted and looked at me. Heat rose in my cheeks again, caught checking him out.

"Do you want me to do the order?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin, Erica had a sneak attack like no other.

"It's fine thanks."

Pen and paper in hand, I made my way through the tables.

"Ready to order?"

"Indeed I am."

The tone in his voice was soft and a little husky. I could feel my legs turning to jelly.

"Number three thank you."

"And to drink?"

"Something red will be sufficient, thank you, Sarah."

My insides quivered when he said my name. How could one person affect me so? This was bizarre, to say the least.

"Sure, won't be too long."

As I turned on my heels, I saw one of the couples had finished their meal and were at the front counter. Distracting Erica, how wonderful they were.

"Number three Igor and please make it perfect."

"That's going to cost you. Perfection takes time and skill, both of which I don't have."

"Please," I begged.

He rolled his eyes and wandered to the cold store.

"Where's Leith?"

"Out the back. Where else do you think he would be?"

I searched him out, smelling the familiar scent of treachery.

"Are you smoking again?"

"It's just cigarettes."

Sniffing the air I knew it wasn't.

"Last warning Leith, stop smoking pot at work."

As he stood and staggered closer, an empty beer can rolled across the ground.

"Drinking too? Go home Leith, you're no use to me drunk."

"I'm not drunk, I only had one."

"And it's one too many. Did you bring it with you or did you get it from the cellar?"

His lack of answer said it all. Maybe I should just give up on owning a shop and find a job, at least I wouldn't have people stealing from me.

"Go home and come back tomorrow, half an hour before you're due. We can discuss your continuing employment, that is if you still want to work."

I shut the door to the alley, sighing softly. Igor offered a sympathetic smile.

"Got to be cruel to be kind."

Wandering into the kitchen I leaned on the bench next to the flat stove.

"I hate being cruel."

"Be realistic Sarah, he was drunk and high. Do you want him out there cleaning up the dishes or in here washing things? Things that could get broken or worse, he could end up cutting himself."

I nodded and wandered out to clean the tables. Sure, he was safer away from the kitchen but it meant that I had to do his job now.

As I left the kitchen to collect the dirty dishes from the table, I casually looked over in mister handsome's direction. Mister no name, he was too good to be true. Strands of his brown hair fell over his eyes as he looked down at his phone. His eyes rose from the object as he lifted his head, finding my gaze in an instant. He smiled at me again and I fumbled, dropping the plates everywhere.

Life blurred as I stared down at the broken crockery, snapping back when Erica was calling my name.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

I squatted to the mess, dumping the bits into the tub that Erica had brought over.

"Jeez, mister hottie has got you in a spin."

"Order up," Igor yelled from the kitchen.

"I'll do this, you go and do your thang."

With a grin that was pressed out thin and narrow, I squinted at her. Unable to hide my amusement I stood from the mess and scurried into the kitchen.

"Try not to drop it. Red is corked and on the counter."

I took the plate and looked at the dusty bottle of wine.

"Could you not have found something from the storeroom? This will probably kill him."

"A good wine ages well Sarah."

"I can't afford good wine." I frowned as I turned the bottle to see the old, discolored label. "Igor, where did you find this?"

He leaned on the edge of the stove, his brow furrowing at me.

"You gonna deliver the meal sometime this century? It will go cold you know."

Taking a deep breath and exhaling hard, I found courage and picked up the bottle. I could do this. I could make it across the dining area and not make a complete mockery out of myself.