"That's a generous offer, but I'm going to pass."
"Is it because you have a jealous boyfriend?"
"No." The word came out a quarter second faster than she meant it to. "But I do have a date tonight, so there's that."
"Ah." The smile shifted, but it didn't fall. "New guy or an old one?"
Oh boy, this guy was full of it.
"Someone I've known a while," she said.
He raised his water glass. "Well, I'm here for a few days if it doesn't work out."
Manny hit the bell.
"That must be your lunch." Juniper turned and went right for the kitchen. She wasn’t sure what to do with the confidence oozing out of Doyle. It wasn't that she hadn't experienced men like him before, but it had been a rare occurrence.
She pulled the plate from the window and brought it to Doyle. "I hope you enjoy. This was caught fresh this morning."
"Thanks, sweetheart."
She didn't love being called sweetheart by a man she'd just met, but she let it pass—this time. Besides, she'd been called worse.
She turned to draw fresh soda for the road-crew foreman down the bar, and the bell over the front door chimed again.
She glanced up and smiled. "Hey Cullen."
"Hi Juniper," Cullen said. "Is the Aegis Network order ready?"
"Walk with me to the back."
"Sure." He strolled around to the side of the bar, paused, and stared out at the indoor dining area. His lips drew into a tight line.
She wiped her hands and opened the kitchen door.
Cullen turned and stepped inside.
The brown paper bag with AEGIS written across the side in Sharpie sat on the warming rack where Manny always left it. She took two steps.
"I'll get it." Cullen reached for the bag. "Mind if I just go out the kitchen door?"
"Not at all." She lifted the handle to the back door and opened it.
Cullen marched through it, raking his free hand through his hair. "I can't believe that asshole is still here."
"Who?" She followed him outside and sucked in a deep breath. When she'd first moved to Calusa Cove, the humidity stuck in her throat and suffocated her. Now it expanded her lungs and let her breathe easy. Odd how that happened.
"The guy at the window table." Cullen gripped the bag.
"You mean the guy with the way too shiny designer boat shoes and suit that probably costs more than my monthly payments on this place?" she asked.
"Fucking Royce Halloran."
"I don't know who that is. I only know I've never seen him before, but he acts like I should know him."
"Rich prick. Owns Halloran Maritime Group out of Port Manatee." Cullen set the bag on the recycling bin and leaned against the wall. "He showed up at the office this morning just as I was leaving to finish a job. Jerk didn't have an appointment. He thought because Sterling told him to reach out during business hours that meant he could just ambush him."
"What does he want?"
