“The doubles?”
“I told you, I’m starving.” The look she gave him dared him to argue.
“Fine. I’m having the chicken-fried steak sandwich.”
“Steak?” She perked up at that. “That sounds good. Order me one of those, too.”
“Too? In place of one of the burgers?”
“No, in addition to.”
He placed the order, paid and pulled forward to the second window. Only once he’d accepted the grease-spotted bags and pulled away did he decide he needed a better plan.
“Let’s go by my place and eat,” he said, watching as she dropped the burger she’d been about to unwrap back into the sack. “You can borrow one of my shirts.”
“I’d rather you drop me off at home.”
This time, he didn’t answer.
When they turned into his drive, she made a sound, low in her throat. “It’s…beautiful.”
“Thanks.” He’d wanted to see her reaction, knowing how he’d felt the first time he’d seen the house. Set back among the pines and oaks, the weathered cedar house looked as if it would have been equally at home in remote Alaska. Floor-to-ceiling windows and several skylights completed the natural look, giving a feeling of openness.
He loved the place.
Grabbing one of his T-shirts and a pair of old, soft cotton shorts, he took them to Jewel. Shaking her head, she grabbed them, disappearing into the bathroom to change.
When she returned, she visibly inhaled the aroma of burgers and fries, eyeing the sack with an intent look on her face.
Handing her one of the sacks, he led the way into the kitchen. She went straight for the table, upending the bag and casting him an apologetic look as she ripped into a handful of fries.
He waited until she’d finished her third burger, barely chewing. He couldn’t help but watch, astonished as she scarfed down the meal as though she were starving.
“How long has it been since you ate?”
Regarding him warily, she lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Days?”
“Why?”
Because he’d slipped back into reporter mode. Because he was making small talk until he told her the truth. Since he couldn’t say any of that, he went for the most logical explanation.
“Your health. You’ve passed out at least once that I know of, and you had the episode in the grocery store.”
“You know about that?”
He crossed his arms. “Everyone knows about that. Anniversary’s a small town.”
“I’m okay,” she said. Her uncertain tone let them both know she was lying.
Since he could think of no easy way to break the bad news, he waited until she’d finished polishing off the last of his French fries. “I know who you are.”
She froze. The haunted look in her huge green eyes was replaced by a flash of terror. “What do you mean?”
“I kept thinking you looked familiar, like a celebrity or someone who’d been in the news. One of the guys also recognized you and reminded me of where I’d seen you.”
“But I changed my hair, my name…” Her entire body had gone on instant alert, radiating tension. The bruise on her cheek had faded, too rapidly to be normal.
