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smelled like breakfast bliss. The breeze was heavy with the scent of molasses and homemade syrup, bacon, and freshly made waffles.
    Ole’s Waffle House was bustling, and Duncan and Michelle got the last open table. He pulled out the chair for her to sit.
    “You’re still not convincing me you’re a gentleman. But nice try.”
    “You know, I think I liked you better the first time I bought you coffee. Awfully more polite back then.” Duncan looked sinfully happy as he teased her.
    “That was before you chained me to your bed naked.”
    “That’s not fair. I didn’t think a black jaguar would turn into a gorgeous woman.”
    “Quit trying to butter me up.” But she was ashamed to admit he nearly elicited a smile.
    Then the gross memory of Duncan leaving the bar with the girl just the night before popped into her mind.
He gets plenty of company, quite often, probably depending on when he needs to feed.
Part of her was jealous, not just that he was with other women, but that women were so drawn to him. She wished it were so easy for her to make friends.
    “A penny for your thoughts.” He leaned across the table, every inch of his face seductive as could be in the old-fashioned diner.
    A laugh escaped Michelle as she recognized the same line Duncan used the first night they encountered each other. “You are going to be broke if you keep asking me that question.”
    “I do okay,” he said simply.
    “You do okay? You mean you actually have a job?” Michelle lifted a brow.
    “Well, I’ve had this house in Alameda for quite some time and that has accrued some value. And obviously I can’t stay in one place for too long, so I have another house up north in Seattle. I have many houses I go back and forth between, and in the meantime I rent them out. And to be honest, I don’t spend much money because I don’t eat or drive a car — ”
    “You don’t drive a car?” She cut him off.
    “Why would I?”
    “And how old are you?”
    A warm voice approached the table and exclaimed heartily, “Probably too young for me. What a shame.” The big, round waitress displayed the sincerest of smiles and looked at both of them cordially, lingering especially on Duncan. “What can I get for you two this fine morning?”
    Duncan motioned to Michelle to order. She nibbled on her lip, realizing she was very hungry indeed. “Um, I haven’t really looked at the menu, but waffles sound pretty good. Can I get whipped cream and stuff?”
    “And stuff?” The waitress asked questioningly. “By stuff, I hope you mean all the sugary goodness of strawberries and bananas cuz those come highly recommended, yes they do.”
    Michelle smiled, “Exactly.”
    “Alright, sugar and extra whipped cream, no problem. And what do you want, hot cakes?” The waitress turned to Duncan with her pen and paper ready for his order.
    “Just a coffee would be great, thank you very much.”
    When the waitress turned to leave, Michelle returned to the previous conversation. “Back to the money thing. So you’re rich? And how old are you? You don’t look too much older than me.”
    “Yeah, I wasn’t.” That was all he said and she wondered if she had been insensitive. After all, she was inquiring about the anniversary of his death.
    “And I wouldn’t say I’m rich, I just have what I need and I don’t spend much. When you don’t spend it, it’s easy to have.”
    “And the driving thing?” She prodded in a different direction.
    “I’ll tell you if you promise to answer some of my questions.” When she nodded, he continued in a hushed tone, “I can turn to mist, undo and transport the molecules of my body, however you want to describe it. But basically, it’s a pretty quick and convenient method of travel.”
    “Mist? Really? That’s how you got the drop on me that night under the pier.” He nodded. “And you definitely have superhuman night vision because nobody else could’ve seen me. I was way hidden.”
    “Well you