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Jake noticed. Keeping his voice low, he asked, “Is everything okay, Raven?”
She smiled at him and said, “Yes, fine. I don’t know what it is about that guy. He’s been in here every day this past week. At least the days I’ve worked. The first day he had a woman with him, but he’s come in alone ever since. He’s been nothing but polite, but there’s just something… off about him.”
Jake laughed. “I know a lot of people that can be said of.”
Raven laughed too. “I guess you’re right,” she said. “What are you doing in town today, anyway?”
“I did a fire safety class over at the high school. The chief usually does it, but he was sick with the flu today, so I volunteered. It was kind of fun. I don’t remember being quite that squirrelly when I was in high school, though.”
Raven nodded. “Yeah, sometimes I wonder how working with teenagers every day didn’t make Maggie swear off kids.”
“It’s so quiet in here,” Jake said. “Where’s Cheryl today?”
Raven tried not to laugh at Jake’s insinuation, but Cheryl really was loud and chatty. “She took off early for an appointment. The bakery’s usually pretty quiet this late in the afternoon.”
“What time is it?” he asked.
“Almost four,” she told him. “Closing time,” she added with a smile.
“Well, good for you. I guess I better get back to town.”
“How’s your girlfriend?” Raven asked him.
“Hayley? She’s not my girlfriend. That was our first, and only, date. I’m just not really feeling the chemistry thing. As a matter of fact, she’s one of those polite but a little off people we were talking about.”
“So no other prospects?” she probed.
“Nah, unless that cute little lawyer is still available. What was her name? Naomi!”
“Maybe, but you’ll have to fight Flynn for her,” Raven teased.
Jake cracked up at that and said, “On that note, have a good day, Raven.”
“Thanks, Jake. You too.”
Raven looked at her final customer. He was still sitting with his back to her, but she could see he was writing something in a small journal. She sighed, not excited about being alone with him, but she picked up the coffee pot and headed over anyway. “Last call,” she said with a smile.
Her customer turned towards her and smiled back. “I think I’ve had my fill, young lady. I should be on my way so you can go on yours.”
He handed Raven a twenty-dollar bill, and when he did, his fingers slid along the side of hers and lingered a bit too long. She involuntarily shuddered with revulsion. She really didn’t like this guy.
“Keep the change for you,” he commanded.
As Vincent walked out the front door of the bakery, he was smiling. He had noticed her shiver in desire at his touch. He strolled down the pleasant street on his way back to his budget hotel room, humming and thinking about giving her pleasure in so many other ways.
San Antonio, Texas
Courthouse
Late Tuesday Afternoon
“I can’t believeyou think I might be capable of this, Joe!” Naomi stared at her boss with the disbelief of someone who had been wrongly accused. She was surrounded by men. Joe was here as her representative to witness her defense against the group that had summoned her into the chambers—the Bexar County Sheriff, a DEA agent, the ADA, and the judge. But he wasn’t doing much representation.
“I don’t want to believe it, Naomi,” he said nervously.
“Then don’t. This is serious, Joe. They’re probably going to arrest me. I could lose my license to practice, and even if I don’t, my reputation will be ruined.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Naomi.”
