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scenario playing well for someone like Allison. Didn’t artists need to feel inspired, in one way or another?
    Grady steered them off the interstate and onto the rural road that housed the restaurant, thinking things were looking up. Though Allison had begun this excursion in a sour mood, her spirits had seemed to brighten throughout the trip. Who knew? A meat-stuffed omelet might push her right over the edge and clear into euphoria!
    “Thanks, Grady,” she said, when he pulled into one of the empty spots in front of the building.
    “Not a problem. I like this place too. Besides…” He studied her slyly. “I hear they make great omelets.”
    She gaped at him. “How did you know what I was in the mood for?”
    “I’ve seen you make that thing with eggs, sausage and bacon…” He raised an authoritative finger. “And ham! Can’t forget the ham!”
    Her cheeks went pink. “You remember all that?”
    Grady winked and her color deepened. “I pay attention.”

    Allison entered the restaurant ahead of Grady, feeling her face flame. She was wrong to think Grady had been flirting with her. He’d just made a simple statement. It wasn’t such a big deal that he knew how she liked her eggs—and took her coffee. Lots of people who’d hung around her might make similar observations. But, the truth of the matter was, none of them had. She’d dated Colin a full eight months and he’d still thought she was a tea fanatic. Turned out he hadn’t been able to get his former girlfriend, a yoga instructor who owned a juice bar, out of his mind. She’d let that be a lesson to her. Any man who repeatedly failed to note her beverage choices spelled trouble.  
    Allison didn’t know what to make of a guy who paid such great attention . If this were a normal dating situation and Allison was interested in Grady—which she absolutely, positively wasn’t—she might even be flattered that he’d taken care to note her preferences. As things stood, she’d do well to recall this entire arrangement was a farce and nothing like a real date. To top it off, Grady was dating Kate! Allison found herself puzzling over that. For a man who noticed so much, Grady seemed patently unaware of how shabbily Kate treated him.  
    Perhaps that was just from Allison’s perspective, as she had keener insight into her roommate’s behavior. Allison was sure Grady didn’t know how blatantly Kate flirted with other guys during their “girls’ nights” out, and Allison understood it wasn’t her place to tell him.
    A pleasant waitress greeted them and led them to a snug booth near a front window. “Would you like to hear our specials today?” she asked, handing each one a plastic-coated menu.
    “I think we know what we want,” Grady said confidently.
    Allison raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t he even going to give her a chance to order?
    “But I’ll defer to my lady friend,” he continued. “Just in case she surprises me.”
    The slight, middle-aged waitress with springy dark curls positioned her pen above her order pad and waited.
    Allison fixed her gaze on the menu, tempted to select something different just to show Grady he didn’t know everything. Though that ham and cheese omelet did look awfully good. If only they could throw in—
    “Say,” Grady asked, interrupting her thoughts. He pointed to an item on the menu and the waitress craned her neck to see. “Would it be possible to add bacon and sausage to that?”
    The woman appraised him wryly. “I guess you’re not worried about your cholesterol.” She winked conspiratorially at Allison. “These young guys never are.”
    “Oh, it’s not for me,” he said, beaming. “It’s for my girlfriend.”
    “What?” Allison practically croaked before she realized what he was doing. Of course, a dress rehearsal…and why not? It might help them to practice.
    “What’s the matter, dear?” the waitress asked her. “Not watching your figure, I hope. You seem very fit to me.”
    “Boy,