Marie nodded as Karen put a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. The loud diner fell silent as the door swung open with the force of a hurricane gust. A large, burly man stood in the entrance carrying an impossibly huge bouquet of roses.

Marie blushed. He shouldn't have. Detective Muller was a wonderful, kind, caring man who'd saved her butt for sure. He was so sweet, and she felt a tinge of guilt for knowing that she would have to turn him down. He looked like a shy teenager scared of rejection. Her heart broke. She would have to let him down as gently as possible.

Detective Muller didn't look at Marie once. She blinked, and then realized his eyes were trained on the woman behind the counter.

Marie glanced back at her friend. Karen's robust, no-nonsense demeanor melted into a childish giggle.

Well, what do you know? Marie smiled and sat back to watch the show. Muller walked over, and thrust the flowers across the counter.

"It's been a week, and you still haven't given me an answer," he said, still ignoring Marie.

Marie raised her brow, and looked at Karen. Answer? What was the question? Karen's sly smile in Marie's direction lit the light. Ohhhh, the question.

"Come on, Karen. I know I can't give you what other men may have."

Karen rolled her eyes. Marie understood that very well. Who needed that kind of stuff?