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“Maybe don’t say it like that,” Declan muttered. I tossed him a grin. He was fucking lucky Mom was here. If she wasn’t, I would’ve added my own commentary just to poke at him with innuendos.
“Count me in,” I continued. “I have to find a job—”
“You have an interview with Sebastian Monroe Jr. next week,” Declan interrupted.
“I do?”
“Yeah.” He nodded slowly. Jesus fucking Christ. I didn’t need my big brother setting up my job interviews. “I let him know you were back in town and looking for a job—asked if he had anything for you. He said to come in next week either Monday or Wednesday. He’ll be there all day. If you can’t, just give him a call.”
“You didn’t have to do that. I could’ve done it.”
“Just say thank you and go to the interview,” he said, effectively ending the conversation. I still fucking hated it. Appreciated it but hated it. I could do these damn things on my own.
“Fine,” I muttered under my breath. Stupid shit fucking smiled.
“Oh, look at her hair!” Raven exclaimed in a complete squirrel moment. We all fucking looked—we had to. A woman I didn’t recognize weaved her way through the diner, but her hair drew attention her way with its shades of purple. Something sparked deep in my mind that I couldn’t quite grasp. Pale eyes caught me staring, and she offered a wide smile. I didn’t return the gesture, merely looking away as an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. My wolf mirrored the sentiment, squirming uncomfortably against my control.
Did I know her? It felt like I knew her and not in a good way.
“Know her?” Cade asked, his gaze flicking in my direction.
“Don’t think so.” I shook my head. But fuck if I couldn’t get rid of that nagging feeling that I did somehow.
That feeling sat with me all through breakfast. I picked at my food and tuned out the conversation. That hair. Those eyes. There was something unpleasantly familiar about her. I couldn’t get her out of my fucking head—and I didn’t have a bad memory. So why the fuck couldn’t I place her?
“Excuse me.” We all looked up to see the woman with the purple hair standing, her fingers wrung together and a hesitant smile on her face. When she had our attention, she let out a nervous laugh. “Okay, I know it’s weird, but your tattoo… it’s gorgeous. Seriously, it’s the best floral sleeve I’ve ever seen, which I know! I’m weird! Staring at a tattoo from across the room, but what can I say? I just love it.”
“Thank you!” Raven beamed. “Here! Have a closer look.”
She scooted out of the booth and offered her arm to the woman. The tattoo in question was gorgeous—Bea’s work always was—but the secret it held was far more important than its pretty appearance. The pack insignias for the Byrnes, Ironwoods, Stones, and Bakers were hidden in that tattoo—something humans couldn’t see. So, why the fuck did it look like this woman could see right through the pretty facade? It didn’t sit right with me.
“Oh my gosh.” The woman’s smile couldn’t get any bigger as she ran her fingers over Raven’s tattoo. “Are you sure? This is weird, isn’t it?”
“Not at all. More people should compliment strangers,” she said. “The world would be happier.”
“Absolutely,” the woman agreed. The level of awe in her voice was unmistakable as she traced the twists and turns of every flower in the tattoo. Raven genuinely didn’t seem to mind. “It’s exquisite. Who did it?”
“Bea Stone of Stone Gallery. It’s in Colorado.”
“I just can’t get over it,” the woman said. Reluctantly, she let Raven go and shoved her hands in her back pockets. Her practiced smile didn’t reach her eyes. The look was damn near predatory. My stomach knotted, my wolf attempted to intimidate her, and I sat a little taller as my control was tested. I swore to fuck I knew this woman. “Well, thank you.”
“Anytime,” Raven replied. “If you ever make it out that way, tell Bea that Raven Woods sent you.”
“Raven Woods, that’s a pretty name. I’m Sadie. And I’ll definitely do that.”
Fuck me, I didn’t like how those words sounded.
Chapter 43
Killian
As soon as breakfast was over, I was out of there. Declan and Raven were right behind me while Mom and Cade lingered. Me? I didn’t give a fuck about any of that. I was hoping to catch sight of Sadie again since she’d left right before us.
Instead, I ran right into Esther and Vera—my two favorite ladies of Cedar Harbor besides my wife and my mom. Esther Mason and Vera Zimmerman were the wildest old ladies. For two women in their eighties with matching tracksuits and hairstyles, they were into everything. Literally everything. And they may have had everyone else convinced that they were friends, but I was convinced they’d been dating for years.
“Ladies!” I exclaimed.
“Killian Byrne!” they said in perfect unison. Even their fucking pitch was the same.
