Addy knew Remington was staring at her.

She tried to concentrate on the menu and not the romantic atmosphere of the quiet restaurant and the private booth.

A waitress spotted them and headed over. She was curvy and put together, and she walked like she knew the power of her own sensuality.

“Hey there,” the waitress said to Remington with a wide smile. “What can I bring you to drink? You look thirsty.”

The waitress was unabashedly looking him up and down, her smile getting even wider.

He’s not the only one that looks thirsty.

Addy scowled at her, but she didn’t notice.

“Coke, please,” Addy said.

“Sure, honey,” the waitress replied without looking at her. “And for you, big fella?”

“I will have the same please,” he said politely.

“Are you from around here?” The waitress leaned on the back of his bench shamelessly showing off her cleavage.

“We work at Maxwell’s,” Addy said before Remington had a chance to respond.

“What do you do there?” the woman asked, leaning down even further.

But Remington was paying no attention to her.

“Excuse me,” he said, ignoring her completely, and sliding out of the booth.

Only then did Addy notice a child wandering among the tables. She looked to be about six or seven years old. A worried expression hung on her small features.

“Hello,” Remington said to the child, kneeling before her. “Do you need help?”

She nodded and tears began to roll down her round cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” she said. “My mommy said it was back here, but I can’t find it.”

“I see,” Remington nodded. “I know how distressing it can be to need a bathroom and not know where one is. Luckily, I can easily see the sign because I am taller than you.”

“You can?” The girl brightened enough to give him a little smile.

“Yes,” he said. “Go between these tables here and at the end of the row, you will see the bathrooms.”

“Thank you,” the girl said.

“You’re welcome,” he replied. “You will know which bathroom is for female humans because the drawing of the person on the sign is wearing a cape.”

She giggled and took off between the tables to the bathroom.

Addy couldn’t help smiling.

Remington was a nice person.

And although every woman he met might be flirting with him because he was so hot, that wasn’t how he saw himself. Remington was kind and considerate. He was humble.

And he really wanted to help.

Not because he thought he might get something in return, but because he truly felt it was the right thing to do. Addy wasn’t sure she had ever met anyone like that before. Even the volunteer work she did was at least in part to look good on her college applications.

“I beg your pardon,” he said politely to the waitress as he slid back into his seat.

“No worries,” she said. “Be back with your drinks.”

“That was nice,” Addy said. “I can’t believe she wasn’t afraid of you.”

“The waitress?” Remington sounded mystified.

“No, the little girl,” Addy laughed.

“Oh,” he said, sounding confused.

“You’re so big and your voice is so deep,” she said.

“That is why I made myself small by getting down,” he explained. “But she had no reason to be afraid. I would never harm her.”

Addy smiled. “Of course you wouldn’t.”

“Thank you,” a little voice said.

They looked over and the girl was skipping past again, looking decidedly happier than before.

“You’re welcome,” Remington told her.

She didn’t stop to chat and they watched her go all the way outside to one of the café tables where her mother was waiting.

“You’re good with kids,” Addy mused, trying desperately not to think about tiny blond haired children running around a backyard with a white picket fence.

“I have never met one before,” Remington said. “But I liked her.”

“Two Cokes,” the waitress said, placing them on the table. She seemed to have given up on flirting, which relieved Addy more than she cared to admit.

“Thanks,” she said to the waitress.

“Don’t mention it,” the woman replied. “You guys know what you want?”

“Yes,” Remington said, looking directly into Addy’s eyes. “I know exactly what I want.”

Gah.

Deep down though, Addy knew what she wanted too.

So often, though, wants were silly things that interfered with goals.

A person in her position had to be satisfied with filling her needs and holding off on everything else.

But maybe… maybe she could go ahead and get to know him. No relationships, no mating or bonding or whatever he had in mind - but a chance to build a friendship, maybe even a strong one.

Because whatever else he might be, Addy was beginning to see that Remington was a person of character. And it never hurt to have another friend.