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Chapter Eleven
Heather awoke to an empty bed, momentarily depressed to find her room empty. “Damn curfews.”
It was an ordinary room, much like what some might find in a college dormitory, with its standard bed, leather and somewhat masculine looking sofa and recliner. Then again, she couldn’t recall seeing leather in college dorms unless the students decked out the living space.
The large bay window with its window seat was nice, and the pine hardwood floors were pretty. More importantly, they were seemingly dirt-free. The Vance brothers hadn’t been big on cleanliness.
After a hot steam shower, she hurriedly dressed in low-riding jeans and a white tee. She tossed on a jacket, gathered her hair between two hands and thrust it atop her head, securing it in a quick, loose bun. Minutes later, she entered the somewhat vacant café and chose a corner booth. Her men would likely be along soon.
She grinned then as she thought of her boyfriends and reached for the menu, tucked between the napkin holder and condiments. She paused between the lengthy description of the “troubled and hungry man’s” breakfast and more nutritious selections.
Were Gabe, Justin, and Curt her boyfriends? The giddy feeling swam inside her and her nipples hardened as soon as she returned to recent memories.
She fanned her face with the menu and looked up in time to see Detective Brice walking toward her. “Must’ve been some kind of night if you’re grinning like that this morning.”
“Detective Brice.” Immediately on guard, she set aside her menu. “Isn’t that an inappropriate way to talk to a witness?”
“If so, I apologize,” he said, shrugging off his jacket. “May I join you?”
If he valued his life, it probably wasn’t a wise move. Gabe didn’t like him and he probably wouldn’t take too kindly to an interrogation without being there, too.
“Sure,” she muttered, noticing a young woman hurrying to the phone.
“See how this place works?” Detective Brice grinned. “I’ve never been here but I’ve heard about it from some of my coworkers. “Right now, the little blonde is calling one of your protectors. I’m guessing the obsessive one—Mr. Reynolds—will join us shortly. If not Reynolds, perhaps your brother.”
“If you haven’t visited Trouble in the past, I should consider myself lucky. You came all this way just for me.” She left the spunk out of her voice and noticed the blonde one again as she hung up the phone discreetly, avoided eye contact and then grabbed two coffee mugs and filled them.
“You look like coffee drinkers,” she said, approaching them with a smile. “I’m Serena. You must be Heather.”
“Did the person on the other end of the phone tell you that?” Detective Brice asked, frowning at the menu. “I’m Detective Brice.” He reached out his hand. She set down the mugs and accepted the handshake while blushing like crazy.
“Serena,” she said again, only this time she seemed shy and more reserved. “Have you d
ecided on breakfast yet?”
“I’ll take two eggs over easy and dry wheat toast with strawberry jam,” Heather said.
“And for you?” Serena asked, glancing up at the door as the jingle of bells announced a new arrival.
“Coffee is fine. I won’t be welcome for longer than a minute.”
“Oh.” Serena’s smile faded and she shrugged. “Okay. Let me know if I can get you anything.”
Draegan McCall sauntered forward. He was working that swagger for all it was worth and it only took Heather a moment to realize—Draegan had a thing for the cute waitress. After a short greeting, Draegan joined them, dragging a chair with him as he walked. “Detective Brice. Had I known we were expecting you this morning, I would’ve invited more of Trouble’s founding fathers.”
“Good morning, Mr. McCall. I take it you slept well last night.”
“Always do,” Draegan said, tilting his head at Heather. “You doin’ all right here, Heather?”
“Yes,” she replied, quickly adding, “Detective Brice just caught up with me.”
“I’ll get straight to it now that Draegan is here.” The detective took a quick sip of his coffee. “The Vance brothers are going away for a long time, but Rons made bail.”
“What?”
“We think he’ll run and we have our guys on him, but he made bail.”
“How does that happen?” Draegan asked.
