You Belong to Me – 60

 

Corey was relieved when they finally entered the restaurant. Not that he’d expected the stalker to take potshots at Scott—or him—but that hadn’t kept him from tensing his shoulders in anticipation.

 

Being a Sunday evening, the place was only half-full, so when Scott requested a table along one wall, they got it. Once they were seated—opposite each other—Corey realized that between them they had a good view of everyone in the room.

 

Scott looked at the menu the waitress handed him. When she left to get their coffees, he leaned forward, pointing to an item. “Is this as good as it sounds?”

 

Leaning in to see which one, Corey nodded. He wasn’t really surprised when Scott used their closeness to say, “If you see anyone who seems a mite too interested in us, nudge my foot.”

 

“And then what? Point at them?” Corey joked, his tension ramping up again with the idea that very well might happen.

 

Scott snorted. “No. Just tell me what colors they’re wearing, but quietly.”

 

“That works.” Corey straightened again and studied his own menu. “Do you want to share one of the antipasto appetizer platters?”

 

“Sure. As long as there’s no calamari. I don’t like chewing on rubber.”

 

Corey laughed. “Me neither. How about the bruschetta?”

 

After Scott nodded, Corey went back to deciding what he wanted for the main course. When the waitress returned, he ordered the eggplant parmesan. Scott told her the appetizer they’d settled on and that he’d have the proscitto-stuffed chicken.

 

They were halfway through their meal when Scott paused, forked up some chicken, and said, “You have to try this.”

 

Corey cocked his head in question then bent forward when Scott held it out to him. As he took the offering off the fork, Scott said to him, quietly, “There’s a man standing just inside the front door. I saw him last night at The Corner. Do you recognize him?”

 

Corey turned slightly, trying not to be conspicuous. “What man?” he murmured.

 

“Damn it. He’s gone. That was fast.”

 

“You’re sure it’s the same person?”

 

         “Dead sure.”