Fear

Chapter Two

Several days have passed since the opening of Mairi's Diner and business is going great. A couple of websites have posted some glowing reports on the diner which only help to boost business. Today was a quiet day, which was a nice change of pace. It was just Mairi and Justin in as Sharon and Lizzy both had the day off. Mairi was steaming a jug of milk to make a cappuccino for one of her new regular customers.

The door opened causing a chime to sound signalling to Mairi that a new customer had just entered the diner. "Just a second and I'll be with you," Mairi called out as she poured the steamed milk into the coffee. She turned around with the coffee in hand before placing onto the counter in front of the customer who ordered it. "Enjoy." Mairi smiled at them as she moved around the counter to stand in front of the new customer. Mairi looked in front of her to see a very tall man standing before two foot away from her. 

"Hi," Mairi muttered softly in surprise at how tall this man was standing next to her. But it was when she looked up at his face that her word caught in her throat. His earthy brown eyes with a hint of amber stared down at her. His head was adorned by thick black hair about one and a half inches thick and leaning slightly to the right with short back and side. It faded into a three-day-old stubble along her strong squared jawline. His high cheekbones were just the icing on the cake. He was by far the most handsome man that had ever grace Mairi's eyes. 

Quickly clearing her throat and bringing herself back down to earth unwillingly. "Welcome to Mairi's diner. How many will be dining with you?" 

"Two please." The man smiled a wide smile at her. His voice vibrated at such a level that sent goosebumps over Mairi's skin. The hairs on the back of her neck stood causing a shiver to ripped mercilessly down her spin, which she struggled to hide. "Follow me," Mairi instructed him as she led him to a small window booth and place two menus onto the table. The man gracefully moved to take his seat to Mairi's left-hand side. 

"The special today is beef and ale pie with the beef sourced at our local farms. I will give you a couple of minutes before I take your drink order. My name is Mairi so just shout if you need anything." Mairi told him as he continued to meet her gaze. It took all of her will power to rip her eyes away from his tight grip. She walked over to the counter before straight to the office. She closed the door and leaned back against it before exhaling a breath that she didn't even know she had been holding in. "Oh my god." She muttered to herself.

"Come on, pull yourself together." She muttered to herself before straightening her back and lifted her chin. She turned around and made her way back out to the shop front. A new strong smile on her lips, she walked gracefully over to the man's table and took his drinks order. He ordered a simple black coffee, with two sugars. Mairi quickly made up his order and dropped it off at the table. 

"I've heard many good reviews of your new diner." The man said just as she was about to leave the table. "So far they seem to be right." He complimented her. 

"Thank you," Mairi said softly with a warming heart. 

"I think this is what the town really needed. A fresh face." The man said looking around and taking in the diner's new look. It hadn't changed much, just had the paint freshened up. "I'm sorry, how ignorant of me. I'm Elijah, I own the cattle ranch on the outskirts of town." 

"Well Elijah, it's nice to meet you. I'm sure this is the first of many visits." 

"You can count on that." He muttered with a half-smile to her as the diner door opened again. Mairi looked to see who it was as they made their way to the main counter. Mairi glanced at Elijah, "Excuse me," She muttered to him before floating off to help the customer. Just as she finished taking the order Justin rang the bell signally food was ready to be taken out. Mairi grabbed two plates and turned around. 

She gently walked over to were the couple who ordered the food had sat. All of a sudden, the door's to the diner flung open at speed and in walked a businessman dressed in an expensive-looking suit. The man was talking loudly down the phone to some poor soul. But he wasn't paying any attention to those around him and crashed into Mairi. The two plates of food landed directly onto Mairi staining her white shirt. But not before she had hit the ground with a heavy thud. 

"Jesus, would you watch where the hell you are going?" The man yelled angrily down at Mairi who was clearly in a bit of pain. By this point, Justin had heard the loud clattering from the kitchen and rushed out. "No not you, just this blind idiotic waitress walked right into me."

"Mairi, are you alright?" Elijah called as he swiftly made his way to lend her a hand up. She gladly took it and as he pulled her to her feet gently, bits of food fell off her chest and onto the floor.

"I'm fine, just a little shocked," Mairi told him as he held her hand tightly still. The electric sparks that Mairi could feel from every millimetre of their skin that touched sent her mind into overdrive. 

"I believe you own Mairi an apology," Elijah told the man with a deep commanding voice. The sound of his voice and the tone it held sent Mairi's head into a spin. 

"I don't own anyone an apology." The man scoffed and went back to his phone call. Elijah's jaw clenched in anger as he reached up and grabbed the phone off of the man.

"What the- do you have any idea who I am?" The man called back clearly pissed off at what Elijah had just done. 

"No, I don't believe we have had the unfortunate pleasure." 

"I am the representative of Herald's Meat distribution. One call from me can have this run down diner shut down." 

"Really, Well my name is Elijah. Mayor of this town. And as mayor of this town, this run-down diner as you so call fall under my protection. I just so happened to be the man you are here to do business with. The owner of William's cattle ranch." Elijah continued on as he still held a tight grip to Mairi's hand. "Now, you can go back to your bosses at Herald's Meat distributions and explain to them how your vulgar attitude to the owner of a diner cause them to lose out on the biggest deal they would have had yet."

"I-I" The man stuttered unable to regain his thoughts in time to respond to Elijah. 

"I suggested that you leave," Elijah told him with no room for arguments. The man dipped his head and quickly left the diner. Elijah turned around to face Mairi who was now inspecting the damage to her clothes. She then looked to the clock to see it was now nearing four o clock in the afternoon. She looked to Justin to who watched the scene unfold. 

"Can you please make the couple new dishes? After that shut down the diner. I need to go home and clean up." Mairi told him with a deflated heart. She looked to Elijah with a sad yet soft smile. "Thank you for your help."

"Don't mention it," He muttered to her.

"I'm gonna grab my stuff and go. Why don't you come back tomorrow. Lunch is on the house." She told him as he smiled.

"That sounds great." 

"Alright," She muttered as she turned around. "See you tomorrow."