Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Shelby
For what feels like the tenth time in just as many minutes, I peer through the door to check the clock hanging above the counter.
Reaching left, I haphazardly wipe the table. Thirty minutes left.
My heart flutters at the idea of spending the rest of the day with Riley and Leo.
Heat spreads across my face. That man is something else. I’ve never wanted a shift to end so badly, but money is money, and despite what my neighbor says, he can’t pay for everything.
“Bye, Shelby.”
Lifting my head, I smile and wave to the couple leaving. Moving over to their table, I pocket the tip of three crumpled-up dollar bills and stack their empty cups.
“Nice to see you without that new family of yours. I didn’t think I’d ever get you alone.”
Startled, I drop the white cups and spin. My gasp is hidden by the clatter of porcelain.
Kyle Cooper, former employee of the Cromwell Police Department, stands behind me. Right, behind me.
“Jesus,” I curse, stepping back.
Items on the table clatter again.
“Ever heard of personal space?” I snark.
Cooper ignores my words. The way his eyes roam the front of me makes the space between us feel even smaller.
Creep.
“I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with that neighbor of yours.”
Why is he always in everyone’s business?
Breathing heavy, I stare blank-faced.
“Well?”
“Well, what?” I challenge, “You didn’t ask anything, just made a statement.” Raising a brow, I keep my tone steady even though I feel anything but.
“Ha.” He laughs loud and sharp, slapping my shoulder like we’re two friends.
Kaleb’s right, the man’s insane.
Cooper shakes his head. “I thought you were smarter than this, but then again, you’re all over the Cromwells too.”
I flush at his words.
“They’re family, and families spend time with each other, but from what I hear, you wouldn’t know much about that.”
I regret the words the minute they leave my mouth.
Rubbing in the fact that his nephew ran away last year is below me.
Cooper takes a step closer and snarls. “Fucking murderers. That’s who your family is. They killed him, and you know it.”
Irritation replaces regret.
I roll my eyes. “The feds said he ran away, and the Cromwells all had alibis. Let it go, Kyle.”
His hand grips my arm, his fingers peevish and painful. “I’ll let it go when they’re all in jail. Along with that angel of death boyfriend of yours.”
“Hey!”
We both turn at the sound of an angry man.
My angry man.
Leo ushers Riley into the doorway of the bakery next door before jogging over.
Kyle turns back toward me. “Do you even know what brought him to town?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I shrug, not taking my gaze off an alarmed-looking Leonard.
It matters where you end up, I silently add.
Visions of my attic flash through my mind, but I quickly push them away. My fingers find the locket under my shirt, the one I still haven’t opened, too scared of what I’ll find. Cooper’s eyes drop to the movement.
I still can’t believe Leonard is my mystery man. But I’m not unhappy about it. I feel a tinge as I step around Cooper, a reminder of just how close Leo and I have been the past few days.
The grip on my arm pulls me back against the table.
“He gave you a necklace? Gold locket by any chance?” he asks around a cruel sneer. “I hear his dead wife wore one, one which she was ordered never to take off, yet she wasn’t wearing it when she left, or so the police report says.”
My stomach drops. Cooper is full of shit. It was his mother’s. I saw the photo, I remind myself. But it doesn’t mean it wasn’t worn by someone else, a dark voice argues.
I let go of the locket, as if it burns me through my top.
Leo gets to us at the same time my boss, Mia, opens the coffee shop door.
I expect Leo to shove his way between us, but he doesn’t. Instead, his large hand wraps around the wrist of the hand holding me.
I watch as pain washes over Cooper’s face.
“Release her or I break every bone in your fucking hand and arm.” The threat is low and powerful.
“Hey, jackhole, let go of her!” Mia screeches, coming over.
Cooper makes a big deal of releasing me and stepping back. Leo immediately blocks my view of the former officer.
“I’ll see you around, Shelby.”
Leo stands taller at his words.
“Not here, you won’t, you’re barred.” Mia announces, “And don’t think I won’t throw hot milk over you if you touch my staff like that again.”
Best manager ever.
The threat from such a small woman cracks the tension, and as Cooper stomps away, I fight my smile.
“Really?” Doc asks, nodding to the metal cup of milk in her hand.
She must have been using the steamer.
“You’d be a character witness, right?” Mia jokes back, but I see the way that her hand shakes.
That makes two of us.
“Riley,” I whisper, trying to gather myself, but Cooper’s words run through my head. Angel of death.
Leo is a good man, a good dad, and a good doctor. He’s not a killer, right?
“Shelbs?”
The hand on my sore arm startles me.
“Sorry,” Mia rushes, “Why don’t you head on home. I’ll clock you out at the end of your shift.”
I open my mouth to protest, but my chin wobbles. Giving a weak smile, I nod.
Large hands frame my face. “You okay to collect your things?”
“Yeah,” I answer quietly.
“I’ll get Riley and meet you here in two minutes.” Leo raises a brow. “Two minutes,” he repeats, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
Biting my lip I turn to Mia.
“Not my business,” she holds up her empty hand. “But when you want to make it my business, we’ll get a coffee,” she smirks.
Small towns, I roll my eyes and smile as I push the coffee shop door open.