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The person nearest to her, who’d just commanded her attention, was the reason Alan was here in Blue Haven.
And if he was right about who she was, Stan Grodon might in fact be the reason this attractive waitress was here, too. For similar reasons to his.
If so, she was endangering everything Alan stood for. Endangering herself—again—as well.
He would need to stop her. Oh, yeah.
But for now, he would ignore his deep-seated irritation—and her sexiness—and simply observe.
* * *
Could she do this?
She had to. Eli’s well-being was at stake.
Kelly quickly turned her back on the man who sent sparks of nervousness up her spine, whom she believed could ruin everything here for her—and for Eli.
But if she tried, she could ruin everything for him, too. Not that she wanted to.
The tables, all pushed together, seated four on each side and two along the end. A small bouquet of pink roses decorated the middle. The council group members were chatting amiably, although Kelly caught occasional brief eye rolls from some of them.
“Hello,” she said with a huge, contrived smile as she planted herself between Stan and another council member, one who looked familiar but whom she didn’t place. “What can I bring you gentlemen?”
“A tall mug of your strongest and best coffee,” said the short, older man.
“Me, too,” said Stan. “Get yourself one, as well. Then you can sit on my lap and drink it.”
It was all Kelly could do to prevent herself from gagging. Or, more preferable, grabbing the pitcher of water from the table and bashing Stan in the head with it.
His face was round, his hair thinning, his wide grin evil and unsexy, but he undoubtedly still considered himself the world’s greatest gift to women.
For now, Kelly had to go along with it. “Well, thank you, sir,” she said in the new soft and lower voice in which she’d been coached. “But I’m sure you’ll understand that I have to help your friends get their meals, too.”
She did it. She looked straight into his eyes and all but batted her lashes.
If he was going to recognize her, better that it happen now, with all these people around, than later.
“Oh, I understand, all right,” he responded, giving her a huge and ugly wink. “But I come here often. We’ll grab coffee—and more—another time. You’re new at the Haven, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir.” She made herself pause. “It’s such a wonderful place. Filled with wonderful people.” She didn’t glance away, despite how painful it was to watch him.
Did he know who she was?
Apparently not. A brief feeling of relief shot through her as he continued to treat her like a total stranger. A total female stranger he chose to flirt with.
“Sure is,” he said. “Like the rest of our Blue Haven. Welcome, and I hope you stay a long, long time. I’m Stan, by the way.”
“Me, too, sir,” she lied. “And I’m Kelly.”
She forced herself to continue to take his order—ham and eggs and all the makings of a big breakfast. The others also gave their orders, although a couple of additional waitstaff now joined Kelly to help.
When she was finally finished, she saw that Alan, the good-looking guy she didn’t dare trust, had seated himself with another man in a suit at a smaller table nearby.
He was watching her. And as she hurried into the kitchen to place the orders, she turned back. Alan’s gaze hadn’t left her. As sexy as she considered the man, she felt certain that physical attraction was far from his motive for observing her.
Alan might be the person who was supposed to be here, undercover, to bring Stan down.
But at the same time he might bring Kelly down, too.
