Quint woke early and checked his email. He realized it was too soon to get analysis back on the images he’d been sending over to Grappell, but he hoped. There was nothing.
He did, however, have an email from his boss. How’s the case?
Not yet ready to respond, he drained his coffee cup and closed his laptop. There was a problem with the two of them sleeping in separate beds now that they’d picked up a snoop. He remade the couch and slid his pillow onto Ree’s bed.
Her steady, even breathing said she was still in a deep sleep. The urge to climb under the covers next to her and draw her close caught him off guard. He couldn’t walk away fast enough. Outside, the temperature was already warm, the sun hot, as he locked the door and crossed the parking lot.
A question from last night bugged him. How did Zoey get inside their cabin? Then again, security wasn’t exactly tight here. Thankfully, he’d hid the tackle box behind the washer/dryer combo in the hall closet. His next step would be to find out her last name and have Grappell run a background check. Of course, Zoey might not even be her real first name. So many questions with that one. Could he get a fingerprint and have Grappell run it through the database? It would work if she had a driver’s license or even a criminal record.
Moving on from Zoey, he was still chewing on the disagreement between Adrian and Fender last night. Since Quint was coming in mornings, he hadn’t had a chance to work the relationship he’d started developing with Stevie the bartender.
Then, there was the fight between Charley and his cousin. Tensions seemed to be running high at Greenlight. Where there was smoke, there usually was fire. There was enough to indicate a forest fire around here. Smoke everywhere. No flame.
The door to the restaurant was unlocked, so Quint walked inside. Rather than call out, he headed to the back and to the small office. No one was around, which was surprising. There was an SUV parked out front alongside Charley’s truck. Quint had memorized the license plate. He pulled out his cell and sent the plate information to Grappell.
A loud banging noise caught his attention as he moved the mouse to wake up the desktop computer. Instinct and adrenaline had Quint on his feet in two seconds. He reminded himself about the boot he was wearing so he wouldn’t give himself away in the heat of the moment.
More noise came from the opposite hallway leading toward the bathroom.
“Everything okay out there?” he shouted from the office. In times like these, he also had to remind himself that he was supposed to be a regular Joe Schmo, and not a highly trained agent with a black belt in kung fu.
There was a loud grunt, followed by the sound of someone being thrown against the wall. The noise got Quint moving in its direction. It appeared as if someone was being killed and he couldn’t stand by and listen without trying to do something about it.
As he rounded the corner of the hallway, he saw Charley straightening his shirt. The metal side door was closing.
“Everything okay?” Quint asked.
“Me? I’m fine. Just had a skirmish with someone I kicked out last night. He thought he left his wallet here and didn’t believe me when I said no one had turned it in.” Charley kept his face down but when it turned toward Quint, it was easy to see the man’s nose was bleeding.
“Your nose,” Quint said, but Charley waved him off.
“It’s okay. All over now,” Charley said.
“Are you sure about that?” Quint needed to push back a little. “I’m here to help. I can call the deputy or—”
“No. No. Slight misunderstanding is all. No crime has been committed here.” Charley gave a forced smile. “Why don’t you go on back to the office and finish whatever it is that you were working on. There’s no trouble.”
“You sure about that?” Quint asked.
“One hundred percent,” Charley assured him. “Chef is going to be here in a few minutes. I need to make room for a delivery.”
Quint made a show of being reluctant about leaving. Charley made eyes that told Quint to retreat. So he did. The camera back at home would be recording the SUV and driver as they exited. Quint had a plate. Before he could forget any important details and while Charley was still in the hallway, Quint shot a quick note to Grappell with everything he could remember about the exchange and the mystery guest.
Tensions at Greenlight were most definitely a boiling pot on a hot stove.
An hour later, Quint came home and updated Ree on the morning’s events before letting her know that he’d planted an app on the desktop that would give him remote access without anyone being the wiser. Before he could get into much else with her, she walked out the door for work.
“I THOUGHT YOU might want to use this next time.” Ree walked over to Zoey’s station before their shift began and set a key down on the table.
Zoey blanched, her skin paled, and then she quickly covered by clearing her throat. She shrugged, trying to look casual and failing miserably. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It’s okay. I’m not mad and neither is Quint,” she said in the same tone of voice she would use if she was talking about picking up the mail. Consistency was key. Calmness was key. Understanding was key.
“Why should you be?” she quipped, finding some of her usual sass.
“I’m not.” Ree pulled a piece of paper and pen out of her apron. She set those on the same table, moving the key on top. “In fact, why don’t you just write down a few of your favorites from the grocery store so I can make sure they’re stocked in the house next time.”
“There won’t be a next time because there wasn’t a first.” Zoey’s tone was defiant and she came off more than a little embarrassed.
Ree was convinced more than ever that Zoey was in some kind of abusive relationship. Since pushing the issue would be a whole lot like cornering a wounded animal, Ree turned around and walked off. To do otherwise could prove dangerous and naive. Besides, Ree had put it out there. Zoey now knew they were on to her and she had to be wondering how they knew. There’d been no judgment about the incident. Only understanding and a not-so-subtle offer of help.
The other incident from last night could be nothing more than a lovers’ fight. In fact, what else could it be?
Besides, how many eligible men and women were there in a small town? It was exactly the reason Ree had dated friends of her brothers growing up, and look where that had gotten her. She’d learned real quickly that her brothers were way too in the know about her personal life when it all became intertwined. Shane’s call last night still struck a raw nerve.
Adrian blew through without saying a whole lot. Fine by Ree. She wasn’t in the mood to speak to someone who lied to her. Betrayed her? At the very least kept secrets from her.
Adrian and Ree weren’t friends in real life. Why did the relationship with Fender rub her the wrong way? Adrian could date anyone she wanted.
Sure, the woman was secretive. She didn’t gossip at work. Those were probably signs that she was up to something. The fact she knew Zoey might be young and in a relationship that could hurt her but was unwilling to do anything about it also didn’t sit well with Ree.
Then again, maybe she woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. She closed her eyes with her mind churning and woke in the same spin cycle. She still couldn’t pinpoint what it was about Adrian and Fender’s relationship that bugged her so much. Was it that the relationship was happening right underneath her nose and she hadn’t caught onto it? Had she made another critical mistake?
Although with all of Quint’s experience, he hadn’t caught on to it, either. Then again, he wasn’t the one working with Adrian. He probably would have been able to handle waiting tables, working the other waitstaff, the kitchen, all while gathering intel. He would probably be on top of everything.
Ree needed a nap. She was cranky as all get-out. Exhaustion wore her thin after tossing and turning most of the night. She’d finally fallen asleep as the sun came up. Ree needed her sleep, too. Maybe another cup of coffee would do the trick.
She walked into the kitchen as the first customer walked through the front door. From behind her, she heard Zoey greet them and ask if they preferred a table or booth. At least Ree was back to working one shift a day. She could get through a lunch rush.
“What’s wrong with you today?” Adrian asked, surprising Ree from behind.
She jumped and clutched at her heart. She should probably be acting at this point but Adrian had actually caught Ree off guard.
“Guy trouble?” Adrian asked, taking a cup from the counter.
“Tired,” Ree admitted. At least she could be honest about that one aspect of her life.
“Perk up,” Adrian teased with an elbow jab to the rib cage. “It’s gonna be a busy one today.”
“What about you? Any guy problems lately?” Ree asked Adrian.
“Isn’t there always?” Adrian shrugged, trying a little too hard to be nonchalant.
After finishing the first cup of coffee, Ree didn’t have five seconds to catch her breath for the next few hours. The nice part was the day zipped by and she got into a decent rhythm waiting on customers. If this whole law enforcement thing didn’t work out, she could waitress for a living. Lack of sleep was really getting to her now. She was making corny jokes. Worse yet, they were to herself.
Zoey passed by Ree and stuffed something in Ree’s pocket.
“Don’t look at it now,” Zoey demanded.
As she was on her way out, one of the barmaids checked in. She was here early. Ree took note of the bleached blonde with a tan and legs for days.
“Hey,” Ree said as they passed each other.
The blonde didn’t give her the time of day as she rushed past, heading toward the kitchen door where Charley waited with a scowl on his face. Ree thought about Adrian and Fender’s argument last night. She made a mental note to watch their interactions over the next couple of days.
Middle of July in Texas meant walking back to the cabin in pavement-melting heat. Quint waited at the door, as usual, and Adrian winked at Ree as she left. What was Adrian so happy about? Based on her fight with Fender last night, she was a screaming mess. Had Ree misjudged the situation? Had Adrian brought him outside to reem Fender out for something work-related? He was the expeditor, after all. It was his job to keep the work flowing and meals delivered fresh and hot.
Ree filed the information in the back of her mind and moved on.
“I need a cool shower and ice packs for my tired feet,” Ree stated as she walked in the door. She reached in her apron to empty her pocket when she realized Zoey’s note was inside.
Ree walked to the table after toeing off her boots. She smoothed out the crinkled-up piece of paper and read the list: Cap’n Crunch Berries, apples, cheese swirls, bread, lunch meat and milk. The word lettuce had been hastily scribbled at the bottom.
A tear welled in Ree’s eyes. This wasn’t the grocery list of a grown adult. This was the grocery list of a college-age kid.
Quint walked over, stopping beside her. Ree ducked her head, chin to chest, to hide the rogue tear that fell, staining the slip of paper.
He didn’t speak. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her. She turned into his muscled chest and cried.
“It’s okay,” he said, whispering other reassurances in her ear. “We’ll get help for her. She’s not alone any longer. She has us.”
As crazy as Ree’s childhood might have been after she lost her father at a young age, Ree wouldn’t change a thing except for maybe bringing him back. She had few memories of the man before he died. Her grandfather and brothers had provided more than enough male influences in her life. She couldn’t imagine her life without them despite needing breathing room.
Were they annoying at times? Yes. Did they cross boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed? Yes. Did they also have hearts of gold and ultimately want what was best for her? Absolutely yes.
She made a mental note to circle back after this case was over and tell Shane that he still needed to stay out of her business, but she loved him anyway.
As for Quint? It was difficult not to start falling for a guy who seemed to know when to pull her into a hug and when to give her space. This assignment, this “act” of being married to this amazing man was getting inside her head. Was that part of what had kept her awake last night?
To be honest, yes. She’d drifted in and out of sleep alternating between thinking about the case, and how incredible it had felt to be in Quint’s arms. One thing was clear: she couldn’t fall for a coworker. Not only would that be unprofessional, but it could distract her at a critical moment as well. She needed to get her head back in the arena. She needed to face reality. Quint was temporary. Once this assignment was over, the two of them would be saying goodbye.
It was a harsh truth. One she needed to accept in order to move on with her life.