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She’s finally on her way out the door when she stops and comes back.
“Rosie will stop by with the books toward the end of the week just leave them in the office out back. Maybe she’ll bring her man with her. Brody’s a world champion racing driver you know.” She leans forward, lowering her voice. “He’s gorgeous.”
“Oh really,” I say, laughing at her, then I laugh even more when Ash growls from his stool at the counter. Mom’s eyes widen and a wide smile lights her face.
She pats Ash on the shoulder as she passes. “Don’t worry, Ash, Kennedy has only ever had eyes for you.”
“Mom!” I exclaim a little too loudly gaining the attention of an older couple enjoying a coffee in the booth opposite me. She lets out a laugh as she exits. It brings a smile to my own face to see my mom so happy.
Ash gets a call not long after that and leaves me here with Lily and the older couple who are still nursing their coffees—the same coffees they had an hour ago.
Things pick up after Ash leaves and Lily and I are busy for the next hour or so, then there’s a bit of a lull, so I send Lily to go for a break.
I look up as the bell over the door chimes, and the smile I’ve been wearing all morning is wiped out in a second when I see who it is.
“Way to ruin—Morning, deputy. What can I get for you?” I greet him cutting off my grumble of annoyance and plastering on a fake smile.
“A flat white to take out. Have to admit, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
I begin making his order, ignoring the fact he seems to have forgotten his manners. “Yeah, and why’s that then?” I ask, attempting to be polite even though I know what he’s doing.
“After what happened here and with you leaving town and all.” He waves a hand, dismissing the conversation and not waiting for my response. Instead, he moves on to another topic I’d rather avoid. “I heard you had some trouble yesterday.”
I place his flat white in front of him, holding out my hand for the ten he’s holding. “Just a disagreement.”
“Seems to be a bit of trend since you’ve returned,” he says, tapping his fingers on the top while he waits for his change.
I hand it to him with another smile, one that’s so forced it makes my cheeks hurt. “Enjoy your coffee, Deputy Peters,” I say, dismissing him. As he turns to walk away, I mutter, “Don’t fucking choke on it.”
He gives me a sly look over his shoulder as he reaches the door. As it closes behind him, I release a huge sigh. The man creeps me out, and I still haven’t figured out why he seems so familiar to me.
It’s something I plan to correct later because I have a definite feeling there’s something we’re missing with him.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
When Lily returns from her break, the lunch rush begins, meaning we don’t get a second to even take a breath. By the time things settle down again, it’s almost three o’clock.
Wiping down the last table, I say, “How’s your grandfather doing?”
“He’s doing okay for now,” she replies quietly.
Stepping up to the counter, I lean over, resting my elbows on the top. “Lily, I’m sorry about the other day. It was just a bit of—”
“It’s fine. I understand how hard that must have been for you. And I don’t want you to think for a second that I agree with what my grandfather did, but you of all people should understand what he went through.”
“I do. More than you know, and I appreciate him giving me the information.” I fiddle with the corner of the cloth in my hand. “Have you been living in Silverbell long?” I ask conversationally, but of course I’m curious to know more about this woman.
She finishes stacking the cups, almost knocking one off the side in her rush to do so. It appears my question has put her on edge, but I can’t understand why.
“I moved here a few years ago after my mom died.” She begins to walk away, mumbling something about needing to go to the bathroom just as the bell chimes above the door.
By the time closing rolls around, my mom has returned to help, but there’s still no sign of Ash.
Mom lets Lily go putting an end to any further quizzing, so I turn my questions to Mom instead.
“Lily seems nice,” I say, and it’s not untrue.
“She’s lovely. Such a terrible shame what happened to her mom.”
