Into the Shadows (The Lost Letters #2)

1. Lottie

Lottie

Eighteen years old

T he bell chimes, signaling another customer during the busy lunch hour. I’ve been running around like a crazy person all day. One of the other waitresses called in sick, which left me to deal with the rush by myself.

“I’ve got this order. You go seat them,” Mabel says, scooping up the plates that just landed under the warmer.

She’s at least seventy, though she’s never officially confirmed her age.

Jones’s Diner has been in her family for generations and has been a staple in Sonoma from the moment it opened.

Mabel’s managed the diner since her dad handed over the reins to her thirty-some years ago.

A smile stretches across my face when I see my next customers. “How’s my favorite family doing?”

Noah reaches out for a side hug. “We’re just fine, although I feel like we should come back later.”

“I told you it would be crazy,” his wife, Lilly, snarks at him.

Nellie reaches out to give me a hug after her dad. “Hi, Lottie! We’re getting milkshakes. I finished third grade today!”

My eyebrows shoot up my forehead. “Third grade? What are you going to do when your brain gets too big for your skull?”

Nellie giggles. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail today, and her blue eyes have the same sparkle her dad’s always have. “That’s not possible. You’re so silly.”

I grin at her. “Come on, a table just opened up in the corner. Should be a little quieter on this side.” I set the menus down once the three of them sit and double-check if they want anything else to eat besides milkshakes.

Buzzing around the diner, I work on autopilot. I’ve been doing this job for two and a half years and have loved every minute.

I’ll be moving to UNC in a couple of weeks for college.

I’d never admit it out loud, but I’m terrified.

If my best friend, Gia, wasn’t going with me, I’m not sure I’d have the guts to go.

Unlike most people I graduated with, I love living in my hometown.

If everything works out, I want to move back home when I’m done with college.

The heavy white plates sit comfortably in my arms as I carry them over to Noah, Lilly, and Nellie.

Since Noah and Lilly’s wedding a month ago, I’ve spent a lot of time babysitting Nellie.

I’m going to miss the heck out of her when I go to college, so I’m trying to soak up as much time as I can.

Plus, Noah and Lilly deserve to have a few hours to themselves.

“Pick a spot anywhere, handsome,” Mabel calls from behind the counter. I glance up at the newcomer and freeze where I’m standing.

His dark eyes catch mine, and for a second, the entire world disappears.

I’ve never seen a man embody the phrase tall, dark, and handsome the way he does.

His black hair is cut short on the sides and a little longer on the top, his tan skin looks as if it’s been kissed by the sun, and then you throw the white T-shirt and black jeans on top and you’ve got the epitome of a bad boy .

Who the heck is he?

“Earth to Lottieeeee,” Noah singsongs, pulling me out of my stupor. I shake my head to focus back on handing out their food. My cheeks heat at the smirks Noah and Lilly send my way. I can’t believe I just got caught checking out a cute boy.

“Sorry, guys. Here you go.” I put their meals in front of them. “Can I get you anything else?”

“You can get your cute butt over to that table and get your flirt on,” Lilly teases.

“Lilly,” Noah groans.

“What?”

“If Uncle Cooper heard you encouraging this, he’d kill me.”

I roll my eyes at the mention of my dad. “I’m allowed to date. I am eighteen, after all.”

“No, you aren’t. You’re still ten and unable to pronounce my name right,” Noah whines. I giggle when he winks at me.

“You better go before Mabel makes a move.” Lilly gestures over to where Mabel is grabbing a menu.

I dash away from the table, with Lilly’s and Noah’s laughs floating behind me. “I got this one, Mabel.” I snatch the menu from her hand.

“Dammit, Lottie. You always get the cute ones,” she teases. Then she hip-checks me toward his table. “Go get ‘em.”

My heart starts to race as I walk over to Mister Broody. His dark eyebrows are furrowed while he stares at his clasped hands. I have the strangest urge to pull him into a hug. For some reason, he looks as if he’s the loneliest man in the world.

“Hi there.” I pull out my widest smile. “Welcome to Jones’s Diner. I’m Lottie. What can I get you to drink?”

I almost gasp when his midnight blue eyes meet mine. I’ve never seen a color like that before.

“Coffee. And I’ll take a cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. ”

“Sure,” I whisper. All the confidence I’d had walking over here is gone. I’m no match for the intensity this man is putting off. I’m just an inexperienced little girl standing next to a man I’d never have a chance with.

He nods, sending a very clear signal that it’s time for me to move on. I try not to let the disappointment get to me. I have no business going after a guy like that.

But every time I look at him, I catch him staring right back at me. At first, I’d drop my gaze, embarrassed at being caught checking him out. After the third time it happened, though, I found myself holding his stare a little longer each time.

A boldness I didn’t know I possessed made me write my number on his receipt along with a note.

My shift ends in an hour. Message me if you want to do something.

“What did you have in mind?”

I screech, my entire body jolting with fear. Mister Broody is leaning against the back wall of the diner, a cigarette dangling from his fingers.

“You scared the crap out of me.”

He smirks.

Exhaling, I try to gather my bearings. When I didn’t see a text from him at the end of my shift, I figured he’d moved on. I was disappointed but not surprised. I wasn’t expecting him to be lurking around the corner, waiting for me.

“You could’ve warned me,” I huff.

“But this was more fun.”

I roll my eyes. “For you.”

“So?”

“So, what?”

“What did you have in mind? I’ve got time to kill and nothing to do.”

“I should probably shower.” I look down at my jeans and cropped tee. “I smell like a french fry.”

He shrugs. “I don’t mind.”

I study him for a minute. Why would he want to hang out with me? It’s not like I give off easy vibes. I don’t scream sex when you look at me. In fact, I’ve been told I’m as locked down as a safe. They’re not wrong. I have no experience besides a bit of kissing.

“Don’t get your panties all twisted up—I’m not about to throw you on the ground and fuck you. I’m just bored and don’t know anyone else in town.”

Rejection should not be the first emotion I feel after his statement.

I should be relieved he doesn’t have any nefarious plans.

Although… How much can you trust a complete stranger?

As na?ve and stupid as it may sound, this man makes me feel safer than any of the guys I hung out with in school. Don’t ask me why. I have no clue.

An idea hits me. “You got a ride? I know a place we can go.”

“It’s not like…fucking bowling or something, right?”

I roll my eyes again. “No. It’s not bowling.”

He nods before stubbing out his cigarette and putting it in the trash can. The crunch of his motorcycle boots on the gravel leads us to a shiny black motorbike.

I immediately shake my head. “Nuh-uh. Not happening.”

“It’s either this or we’re walking. Unless you have a car.”

I don’t have my car. My best friend, Gia, is supposed to pick me up in an hour when she finishes her shift at the Café. “Do you have an extra helmet?”

“You can wear mine. It’ll probably be a little big, but it’s better than nothing. ”

“What will you wear?”

“I’ll be fine without one. This town’s not big enough to worry about it.”

I twist my lips to the side, indecision warring inside me. Do I do the safe thing and stay here to wait on Gia, or do I do the reckless thing and get on the back of this stranger’s bike?

“Come on, Sparkles. Live a little.” He holds out the helmet to me, and before I can change my mind, I’m sliding it over my head.

The bow holding half my hair back gets squished, but I don’t try to fix it.

Mister Broody is already tightening the strap under my chin.

Then he holds out a leather jacket for me to put on.

The scent of cigarette smoke and cologne fills my senses.

I want to bury my nose in the collar, but he’s watching me too closely to get away with it.

He swings a leg over the bike, his powerful thighs holding it upright.

He gives me a quick rundown of what to do once I’m on the bike, and then I less-than-gracefully climb onto the back seat.

I fist the side of Mister Broody’s white T-shirt as he kickstarts the bike.

The motor rumbles beneath me, shaking my insides in a way that feels indecent.

Rough hands grab mine, pulling my arms tighter around his stomach.

Holy moly, this is happening.

I’m on the back of a stranger’s bike, going somewhere completely isolated, without telling a single soul.

My dad is going to kill me.