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“I’m still here for another hour.” Brynn smoothed one hand over her apron.
“I think we’re set. You can head out early, honey,” Betty-Lou said from behind the counter before she gave him a knowing smile.
“Are you sure? I haven’t rolled the silverware for tomorrow.” Brynn fidgeted with the bouquet in her hands.
“I’m positive. Fred and I have everything under control. We have a new girl starting in an hour anyways. It will give her something to do when we get slow after the dinner rush.” Betty-Lou waved before heading to one of the tables with customers.
“I’ll be right back.” Brynn turned and left through the double doors that Aaron assumed led to the kitchen.
He sat across from Dani as she packed her books into a backpack. “What’s your favorite subject?”
“Math.”
Aaron’s eyes widened. “Not too many kids would say that, I think. It’s good. Math will take you far.”
“Yeah. Hey, do you think you could help me with it sometime?”
“Sure, if your mom doesn’t mind.”
Dani’s attention darted to her foot toeing the ground nervously before she focused back on Aaron. “Well, she doesn’t really know how to do what I’m working on now. She looked it up online, but I don’t understand it the way she tried to teach me. I think she feels bad.”
“A lot of people forget what they learned in school when they don’t use it every day.”
Dani blinked up at him. “Yeah, but it’s probably because she didn’t go to school after she turned thirteen. Even then, it wasn’t like my schoolwork. The stuff we learned back at the compound was mostly spiritual stuff. I was on the building crew, so I learned some basic geometry. But they don’t let girls do that stuff.”
“Compound?” Aaron repeated, warning bells ringing in his head. Where the hell had these two come from? It sounded like a cult.
“Yeah, it’s where we lived with my dad and all his—”
“Ready?” Brynn stopped by the table, cutting her daughter a look.
Aaron got to his feet. He would get to the bottom of this and find out more, but it was just another thing he’d have to do in Brynn’s time as he earned her trust.
“My car is just down the street.” Aaron led the way, holding the front door for them while gently pressing his hand to Brynn’s lower back.
She tensed and turned her face to him.
Shit. I forgot to ask. But touching her felt so natural—almost right.
He shook the thought away. That was ridiculous. “Is this okay?” he whispered.
She gave him a curt nod, her pace increasing, as if she wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. She crossed her arms over the worn hoodie with frayed edges and a few holes. Did she not have a proper jacket? He’d have to fix that.
“It’s right down here.” He motioned across the street.
They walked to one side, Dani trailing slightly behind them as they passed a few people on the street who sent them friendly smiles and nods. Aaron returned them, but Brynn kept her focus on the ground.
Nancy Plotts—the town gossip—and a few of her older friends who were heading into the café stopped and pointed at them before whispering to each other.
“Seems we’ve got the bitties’ tongues a waggin’.” Aaron chuckled as they passed them.
Brynn’s cheeks turned rosy, from the chill in the air or from the extra attention he wasn’t sure.
“It’s just here.” Aaron pointed to his white Range Rover.
Brynn stopped, her shoulders deflating a tiny bit before an emotionless mask slipped over her features. He pulled out the key fob and unlocked the door.
“This is your car? Cool!” Dani reached for the back door and let herself in.
