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didn’t need amplification. Or moderating. It was full. Deep.
Melodic. They guy probably could sing bass notes. Nobody who looked
like him needed a voice that stopped traffic. Jeannette’s heart
skipped a beat. He frowned.
    They were garnering attention. Her waiter
was approaching at a clip that caught the corner of her eye. She
almost turned to him.
    “You have a voice?” the creature asked.
    She nodded.
    “Then tell me what’s wrong.”
    “Uh…you.”
    “Me?”
    His eyebrows lifted as if in surprise. That
gave her another heart flutter. The moment she felt it she got his
instant appraisal through narrowed eyes again.
    “Your heart. It’s racing. And missing beats.
Is that normal?”
    Her eyes widened.
    “And don’t ask how I know. I’m rather…new to
this.”
    A dark shade crept up his jaw, adding
unnecessary attractiveness where it wasn’t remotely needed.
Jeannette’s knees started knocking together beneath her
ankle-length skirt. It probably wasn’t pretty. And it wasn’t
controllable. Her knees were still tapping against each other in a
non-rhythmic fashion. She’d read about that affectation in romance
novels. She’d never felt it before.
    Her waiter reached them and cleared his
throat to get their attention, and then just stood holding onto a
couple of large menus. He barely reached the man’s shoulder level.
No, Jeannette. He’s not a man. He’s a creature.
Jeannette
moved her eyes to the waiter.
    “Madam didn’t tell me she was dining with a
companion tonight. I will see to another table setting immediately.
Would Monsieur care for a wine? Or perhaps a cocktail?”
    “Uh…”
    The man –
No, Jeannette…he’s a
creature
– looked as unsure as he sounded. Jeanette’s heart
reacted with a quick pulse. And his eyes narrowed again. As if he
somehow felt it.
    “We…should probably sit down?” Jeannette
offered.
    “Perhaps the gentleman is waiting for the
lady to be seated.”
    “Oh. Right.”
    Jeannette dropped onto the padded seat.
Actually, it was more like her legs had been waiting for permission
to cave in, and upon receiving it, acquiesced without a murmur. The
creature watched her for a bit, and then copied her motion, to the
extent that he bounced slightly upon reaching his own seat. That
was almost funny. Her lips twitched.
    “What?” the creature asked.
    “Uh…”
    “Would you care for the wine menu?”
    The waiter interrupted, holding the menu for
the creature to take from him. Jeannette counted to eight before
the waiter gave up and set it on the table.
    “Very well. Would you rather look at the
evening’s dinner selections?”
    He held out another menu. The creature
looked up at her with the strangest expression in his eyes. Unsure.
Worried. Helpless. It couldn’t be. He was acting as if he’d never
seen a menu before. That was patently ridiculous. And even if it
were true, she really didn’t need to assist him. But her mouth
opened and she spoke up anyway.
    “That won’t be necessary. He’ll have a
coffee. And…a bit of that special dessert you tried to entice me
with earlier. The pineapple thing. With coconut sherbet. Won’t
you?”
    The creature nodded. The waiter snapped the
menu shut, gave her an indecipherable look and left, each step
showing his disapproval. He obviously knew the stats that a woman
dining alone was the worst tipper, while a couple looking like it
was a first date was usually the best. That could explain his
alacrity at showing up and assisting the creature, and also his
disgust at her taking over the situation and ordering something
guaranteed to get him a pittance. Either that or he was gay. And
this fellow was something one didn’t see every night.
    Or ever.
    The pounding of her heart had slowed to
normal…that, or she was overcoming her fright. No. That was wishful
thinking
.
Jeannette had moved her spoon to stir her tea
and watched her hand tremble. Visibly.
    “Why are you shaking?”
    Jeannette stopped stirring. It was a