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Lex grimaced. “I guess I was.”
“So, what have you got in mind? I’ll put a rush on it since I know you’re going to be leaving again in a few weeks.”
After sorting through a few diagrams, Lex decided to go all out and have Dawn design Amy an engagement ring. It was the right thing to do, and he had a feeling that abstinence might not be an option if they were together every day and night for the next few weeks, especially with the excitement of the holidays at hand since they were both crazy about Christmas.
While he was at the gift shop, he thought about choosing something for Mom, Izzy and Arielle while he was at it, but decided against it. He’d bring Amy back this evening before dinner, since the family would be eating here at the Inn. Lex had a feeling that she would enjoy helping him pick everyone’s gifts out.
“You probably don’t know her ring size?” Dawn asked as she entered some information on a notepad.
“It’s got to be pretty small. I think I’ll bring Amy in here tonight to help me choose gifts for Mom and the girls since we’ll all be here for dinner, and while I’m at it, I’ll find a way to ask her size.”
Dawn grinned. “That sounds like a plan. I’ll let Suzanne in on it when she comes in later today since she’s working this evening. Between all of us, we should be able to figure it out.”
“I’d appreciate that,” he answered, leaving the shop a few minutes later.
Lex looked at his watch and realized he’d only been here about an hour. He might just as well have some coffee in the café before heading back home to give Amy a little more time to study.
He talked to a few old friends who were working in the café while he was sitting at the breakfast bar. Not everyone left town after high school graduation since the Inn offered lots of employment opportunities and incentives for Crystal Rock residents.
As he was strolling through the lobby toward the exit, he froze.
It couldn’t be.
Not even giving Lex a second glance, the man walked by, heading toward the elevator with a couple rough looking guys in tow.
Lex was shaking when he approached the receptionist in the lobby. “Is Jake Loughlin in his office this morning? I’m Lex Giordano. If he’s not busy, I’d like to talk with him if I could. Don’t worry, we’re friends.”
The woman smiled, picking up the phone. “He’s here. But I’ll see if he’s available.”
“Thanks.”
A moment later, she waved Lex toward Jake’s office upstairs. “He said to come on up.”
Lex walked through the hallway past the restaurant and café, heading into a breezeway and up three flights of stairs.
By the time he reached Jake’s apartment, Jake already had the door open, awaiting his arrival.
“I didn’t even know you were in town,” Jake said, obviously realizing that something was wrong.
“It was a surprise. I drove in last night and I’m here for a couple weeks,” Lex said quietly.
“What’s wrong, Lex? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Did you suddenly remember something?” Jake asked grimly.
“Not exactly,” he replied, staring Jake straight in the eyes. “But I’m pretty sure you’ve got a guy staying here at the Inn that I recognized from the past.”
“Come and sit down. How about some coffee?”
Lex nodded, taking a seat at the kitchen island as Jake grabbed a mug and poured coffee.
“This guy that you saw—he was one of the clients?” Jake asked, handing over Lex’s coffee before sitting beside him.
“I guess you could say that. As far as I know, I was the only one who…uh,servicedhim.”
There was a long silence, until Jake heaved a sigh. “So, we can view some surveillance and maybe you can identify the guy.”
“Sure,” Lex said, clearing his throat. “But that’s not why I’m here. I would have called you of course, and told you about it, if it was just some random client. But this guy that I saw?He’s supposed to be dead.”
“Okay, so I guess it’s a break for us that he’s not,” Jake said crisply.
