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“No, we’re stuffed. Just our bill.”
I dug it out from my apron pocket and sent them a warm smile. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
“Any time. Let me know if you need anything else.”
I turned to head back to the kitchen, though I slowed when I saw the single person sitting on a stool at the counter, which was part of my section today. We were a couple hours after the lunch rush, so things had cleared out, that lull that always happened before shift change with the dinner staff.
Awareness flickered then tipped into trepidation as I took the man in from behind, wearing slacks and a long-sleeved button down, his tie loosened at the throat. Hayden Obermeyer looked a little more disheveled today, though, his impeccably styled hair a smidgeon off, like he’d been dragging his fingers through it then tried to pat it back down, and his jaw showed signs that he hadn’t taken the time to shave today.
I attempted to tamp down the anxiety that flared, my nerves rising in a discordance that clanged against my consciousness. I couldn’t believe he’d come in here after Ezra had chased him off yesterday evening.
The man had balls, that was for sure, or maybe a death wish.
Either way, he was in my section, and I cleared the knot from my thickened throat and pasted on one of those feigned smiles that used to be normal before my joy had become real.
“Welcome.” I wondered if he recognized there was zero welcome in my voice. I set a menu in front of him. “What can I get you to drink?”
I could see his smile was faked, too. Far too wide and showing off those straight, gleaming teeth. They might as well have been fangs.
“A mocha.”
I dipped my chin. “Sure thing.”
I went to work, watching him from out of the corner of my eye as I filled a tall mug with coffee then stirred in the chocolate and topped it with whipped cream. I was unable to stave off the shaking of my hand when I turned and set it in front of him.
“What else can I get you?” No question, he heard it tremble. Part of me wanted to run from the nausea that churned and the other wanted to throw myself over the counter and take him by the throat and demand what he knew about my sister.
He knew something.
He had to.
I might not have been able to check the journal, but I knew the tattoo he had hidden under his shirt sleeve was the same.
And that journal? It was gone. Was he the one who’d taken it?
Unease wound while I waited for his answer, half thinking I should call Ezra to come over here but also knowing it was ridiculous considering there were a hundred people around me.
“I made a mistake.” There was something about the way he said it that lifted the hairs at my nape.
“A mistake?”
“A huge, fucking mistake.”
Apprehension clawed at my spirit. “What do you mean, a mistake? Backing me into a corner at the Ranch?”
I said it as almost a challenge.
He scoffed. “No, Savannah…I made a mistake getting you involved. This all went…wrong. It wasn’t supposed to work out like this.”
He suddenly stood, and my hand shot to the counter to steady myself, caught off guard by the abrupt movement. I glanced around for a weapon. Anything to use if he came at me.
Instead, he casually dug into his pocket to get his wallet as he spoke, though his words were quieted so only I could hear. “You shouldn’t be here. You need to leave this town. Forget you ever came here. Forget what you think you know.” He tossed a twenty to the counter before he leaned my direction, voice held with the warning. “Before you find you can’t leave.”
He left without saying anything else, while I stood there gaping. Shock scalded me from the inside out. A sticky fear that clamored and pricked through my bloodstream.
My mind was a muddle of questions and confusion.
Truths and doubts and perplexities.
Because he knew. He knew. Of that, I was certain.
But why would he warn me? Why…why did it seem like he was the one who was suddenly afraid?
Everything was off.
So off.
But I knew he was the one who held all the answers.
Jessica. My sister. She needs me.
It was enough to snap me into action, and I fumbled to get the ties of my apron loosed as I hurried through the swinging door to the kitchen and to the employee lounge to get my purse. I slung it over my shoulder, and I barely took the time to poke my head into Dakota’s office. “I’m sorry to bail early, but I’ve got to go check on something.”
Worry jumped into her expression as she looked up from where she sat at her computer. “Are you okay?”
