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Dax looked up, his hand buried in a bag of microwave popcorn. “That was you and Slick, wasn’t it? He taught you to use a rifle like a pro. You put that knowledge to good use and started hunting another kind of animal.”
Jim flinched. “I saved more lives than I took.”
“I know that, J.T.” Dax crammed a fistful of popcorn into his mouth. “Does that Scarlett feel the same way? She’s out here in Timberline trying to save a few turkeys from their final resting place on the Thanksgiving dinner table. And you were over there...”
Jim banged his fist on the wall and shut out the rest of Dax’s words by closing the bedroom door. As if he needed any more proof that Scarlett wouldn’t want to start something with him.
Even if she had saved his high school senior picture.
* * *
SCARLETT VENTURED ONTO the porch, looking from left to right. She’d been spooked enough without Jim driving it home for her that someone had her in his crosshairs—just like prey.
She crept to her car and then slammed the door and locked it, releasing a long breath. She hated that someone had made her fear her own shadow, on her own property.
Pulling the car in front of Jim’s cabin, she beeped the horn once. A rectangle of light appeared with the silhouette of Jim’s body framed in the center.
As he descended the steps, she held her breath but didn’t know why. His gait was more unsteady on steps, but he seemed to be able to navigate them with ease. He certainly didn’t need her worrying about him.
She popped the locks as he approached, grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and shoved it on the floor of the backseat. As he slid in next to her, she breathed in the scent of soap and leather. The smell would always remind her of Jim forever after.
She blinked and forced a smile to her lips. “Sutter’s? It’s the place to see and be seen in town.”
“That’s the purpose behind this date.”
“Date? Does that mean you’re picking up the tab?” She tried to keep her tone light. Was showing others they were more than just investigative partners really the only purpose behind their dinner?
“I will absolutely pick up the tab. How’d it look otherwise?” He snapped on his seat belt.
“Like you’re a cheapskate, so I’m glad we settled that.”
“How much can rabbit food possibly cost? I’m guessing you’re a cheap date.”
She snorted. “You’ve obviously never shopped at health food stores.”
She turned onto the main road to town and they drove in silence as Jim poked the radio buttons, never staying on a song for more than a few seconds. When they reached town, she parked in the public lot across from the restaurant.
Jim jumped from the car before she cut the engine and came around to the driver’s side and opened the door. “Just getting into character.”
She slid from the car and hooked her hand around his arm. “Me, too.”
He opened the door of the restaurant for her, and several heads turned their way. That was the thing about small towns—everybody got up in your business. Maybe word would get around that they were dating and not together because they were poking their noses into kidnappings.
The hostess tapped her pencil on her notebook. “There’s about a ten-minute wait right now unless you want to sit at the bar.”
“We’ll wait.” Jim steered Scarlett toward the wall across from the hostess stand and gestured to the paintings decorating it. “Do you ever display your work here? Too lowbrow?”
“Not at all. I’ll hang my landscapes of the area here occasionally. People like local art.”
“But you wouldn’t place your modern art here?”
“And scare everyone away? Nope.”
They studied the artwork together until the hostess called them over.
“Your table is ready. Do you mind? It’s kind of the center of the dining room. If you wait another ten minutes or so, I can probably seat you someplace more private.”
“That’s okay.” Scarlett charged ahead to the only empty table in the place.
Jim pulled out a chair for her, and they both thanked the hostess.
Leaning forward, Jim asked, “Is Jason’s girlfriend working tonight?”
