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Jessica frowned. “My friend? What friend?”
Delilah didn’t meet her eyes. “You know, the guy you were sitting next to at the lunch counter.”
“He was so not my friend.” Jessica caught her eye and made sure she understood. “He was a total jerk.”
The waitress looked momentarily embarrassed, but finally nodded. “Oh. I thought you two were talking…but never mind. Yeah. He was sort of a jerk, wasn’t he? Lousy tipper, too.”
“You saw him steal my car?” Jessica asked.
“Well…he stood next to it for a minute or two before getting in. Then he sat there talking on his phone. It didn’t look like he was in a hurry or trying to make a getaway.”
Garrett turned to her. “Did someone else have a key to your car?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Absolutely.” Jessica didn’t like the look in his eyes at all.
“Not even your douchebag ex-fiancé?”
Jessica thought back. She would have given him one when they started getting serious, but he’d never asked her. He had his own car. One he’d considered better than hers. “No. I never gave him one. I swear it.” He didn’t want one.
Garrett leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. “I believe you.” To the waitress, he asked, “Did you see whether or not he had a key?”
She shook her head. “Honestly, I didn’t see him open the car door. Once he got inside, and was sitting in the driver’s seat, I only assumed he got in with a key. Maybe he was sitting there hot-wiring it as he chatted away on his cell phone. I’m sorry. I wish I’d known it was your car.”
“It’s not your fault.” Jessica was distraught, but it wasn’t Delilah’s responsibility to match diner customers with their vehicles.
Duke came into the diner in that moment. He strolled up to them. “You could have called me. You didn’t have to invent a stolen car to talk to me, Jessica.”
“You do have a death wish, don’t you, Duke?” Garrett asked, his smile wide.
“Nah. You’re just so fun to play with.”
Duke asked several questions. Scribbled lots of more notes in his small notebook as Jessica, Garrett, and Delilah each gave him a description of the man in question.
“Okay. I think that’s all I need. I’ll put out a notification for any and all law enforcement to keep an eye out for your car. Probably kids joyriding, but I’m sure it will turn up. If I hear anything I’ll let you know right away.”
He turned to leave as a very pretty young woman came from the back of the diner. They body slammed each other when Duke took a step, heading for the exit. Duke’s arms went around her, grasping her to his frame to keep them both on their feet.
Jessica took one look at the girl’s rapturous expression and realized it must be the woman they’d mentioned earlier who was in love with Duke. The blonde reached out, grabbing on to him with both arms like she never planned to let go. She gave Duke the most euphoric stare. It looked like she wanted to have her wicked way with him on the diner’s floor regardless of the sizable audience.
In fact, her expression seemed fairly blissful being held in his arms. The funny thing was, Duke also looked at her the same way. At least at first. Then he stiffened like he shouldn’t be doing what he was doing, releasing her with some effort, as she obviously didn’t want to be let go.
“What are you doing here, Victoria?” he asked as if his jaw was wired shut.
“I was dropping off a few goodies for the diner to sell. I have a candy business, you know.”
“Yes. I know.”
“Come in and visit me. You know I’d love to have you stop by, Duke,” the obviously love-sick woman said. “Any time at all. You’re always welcome.
“Thanks,” he whispered, still staring at her mouth. Victoria slowly licked her lips as Duke watched her. His eyes never left her face. The world seemed to still around them. Everyone in the room held their breath and watched the show.
Duke inched his face nearer to Victoria’s, dipping his lips ever closer to the kiss Jessica suspected they both wanted. Jessica held her breath along with everyone else, expecting to witness a decadent kiss at any second.
