Chapter Ten #2
The brooding man across from him either didn’t buy the explanation, didn’t care, or both. He lifted a menu tucked behind the condiment caddy and extended it across the table.
“I already know what I want.” Finley’s voice sounded husky and low, probably giving Kieran the wrong idea. “I have the menu memorized, but I already worked out what I was going to order the moment I planned the trip into town.” Finley hoped that set the record straight.
Merri returned with Kieran’s silverware before he could respond. “Do you guys need more time, or do you know what you want?”
Kieran returned the menu to its spot and said, “I’ll have what he’s having.”
Merri smiled at Finley. “Which is?”
“Open face roast beef sandwich with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, honey glazed carrots, and rolls instead of biscuits. Sweet tea to drink, please. Oh, I’ll also want cherry crisp and vanilla ice cream for dessert. And I’ll take a piece of coconut cream to go.”
Merri finished writing the order, then looked at Kieran. “Still want what he’s having?”
“Yes, except for the coconut cream pie,” he replied without looking away from Finley.
“I’ll have your orders out in a jiffy,” she told them.
Once alone, Kieran shifted his gaze out the big window.
Was he people-watching or avoiding him? Finley couldn’t be sure, but he was content to observe Kieran watching everyone else.
Merri returned with their drinks a few moments later, but Kieran continued gazing out the window.
Just when Finley was prepared to be on the receiving end of the silent treatment, Kieran met his gaze.
“Tell me about Last Chance Creek.”
“It was a thriving mining town in the mid-eighteen hundreds but abandoned after the Gold Rush ended. In the early nineteen hundreds, Ezekiel Chance and his extended family stumbled onto the empty town on their way to California and planted their roots here instead of moving on.”
“Why Last Chance Creek and not just Chance Creek?”
Finley shrugged. “Some historians said he was an odd man, looking to create a utopia and thought this town would be his last chance to realize his dream.” Kieran scowled like he didn’t buy it.
The jury was out for Finley too, but it was a good story.
“The businesses you see today aren’t the original buildings, but historians preserved the Chance homestead and turned it into a museum if you ever want to kill some time.
Everything on Main Street was built to look like structures from that era, though. Gives it a quaint vibe.”
“Except for that tacky-ass casino,” Kieran said, tipping his head toward the monstrosity with the neon lights.
Finley agreed, but he couldn’t resist leaning across the table. “Keep your voice down or people from Salvation Anew will try to recruit you.”
Kieran snorted. “When I first saw them last week, I thought they were period actors running through a scene for the tourists. I thought the guy at the podium was portraying a snake-oil salesman until he started shouting through a bullhorn. And tonight…” Kieran’s voice trailed off as he turned his attention back out the window.
“Nothing you say leaves this booth,” Finley said. “Or anywhere else you confide in me…if you confide in me.”
Kieran met his gaze again, and his battered soul was right there in his beautiful brown eyes.
The need to soothe Kieran’s hurt caught Finley by surprise.
Need, not want. Of course he wanted to help Kieran, but this feeling went much deeper, and Finley didn’t understand why.
Kieran looked on the verge of saying something but shook his head instead.
The intimacy of the moment shattered when Merri arrived with their food.
Kieran looked from his plate to Finley’s. “You’re actually going to eat all this plus dessert?”
Finley nodded enthusiastically as he unrolled his silverware from the napkin.
He draped the cloth over his lap and tucked into his meal.
He scooped up a big bite of beef, potatoes, and gravy, then paused with the fork near his mouth.
“Hell yeah. I’ll eat mine and whatever you don’t finish.
My mama calls me a human garbage disposal. ”
Kieran’s lips ticked up slightly on the right. It wasn’t a smile, not even a smirk, but it was progress. “Where do you put it?”
“Goes straight to my ass,” Finley replied before shoving a forkful of food into his mouth.
“Explains the jeans,” Kieran mumbled.
Finley pretended not to hear him and said, “What was that?”
Kieran shoved a bite into his mouth and pointed to it with his empty fork.
Finley snickered and let it go. He was just grateful he hadn’t scared Kieran off, though he was desperate to learn something about the man.
He’d offered to talk about his crime the day before, but Finley had waved him off.
Had that been a mistake? He broached the subject midway through their meal.
Kieran’s posture tensed briefly, but he took a drink of tea and said, “A jury convicted me of stealing a luxury car.”
Finley studied him closely as he chewed, wondering about Kieran’s phrasing. “But you didn’t do it?”
Kieran cocked his head to the side. “That isn’t what I said.”
“I heard what you didn’t say,” Finley replied. “You didn’t say you stole it. You said they convicted you of stealing it.”
“Same difference.”
Kieran set his fork down and gave Kieran his full attention.
“I’ve worked with a dozen guys who’ve served time at either Arrowhead or Four Mile.
None of them talk about their convictions, just the crimes they committed.
You didn’t steal the car.” Kieran clenched his jaw tight enough to crack his teeth.
“Did you go to jail to protect someone else? Maybe one of those guys playing tonsil hockey on Main Street.” That comment earned a sneer.
Okay. Not that. He recalled Kieran’s reaction to seeing the men, and said, “One of them set you up.”
Kieran blinked twice but otherwise didn’t react. “What makes you say that?”
Finley tapped his temple with two fingers. “Intuition. You have the look of someone who’s been let down by others more than a few times in their life.” Kieran’s gaze shimmered with moisture, but no tears fell. Finley expected him to break eye contact, but he held on. “Am I right?”
Kieran’s nostrils flared as he inhaled. “Everyone I’ve known has let me down, including my parents and the system that was supposed to protect me. And especially Ritchie Alvarez.” Kieran’s breath hitched and his cheeks heated. Still, he held on.
“And you saw him just now?”
Kieran nodded. “He was the taller guy with dark hair.”
Finley had so many questions but wasn’t sure what he should ask.
Then he noticed Kieran looked a little more at ease.
His back was still ramrod straight, but his shoulders were more relaxed.
His color was back to normal, and his breathing had evened out.
He decided to press for a little more information.
If Kieran didn’t want to answer, he wouldn’t.
“Was Ritchie your friend or a romantic interest?”
“My boyfriend.”
“And he betrayed you.”
Kieran nodded. “Ritchie cut me deeper than anyone ever has.”
Finley saw red but kept his emotions in check. “And what does this asshole do?”
“Owns a body shop and detailing business in Colorado Springs. He’s very successful.”
“Let me guess,” Finley said dryly. “He specializes in high-end luxury cars.”
“Yep.”
“And boosts them as a side hustle, probably accounting for his real wealth.” Kieran said nothing, but he didn’t have to.
“One of those natural conclusions,” Finley said.
“Which is why it’s odd the police didn’t look into Ritchie after your arrest.” He tilted his head to the side and ran through the scenario out loud.
“You got caught driving a stolen car, and the cops settled for the little fish instead of going after the big one. I bet you have an idea why that is.”
“I do.”
“But you’re not ready to tell me,” Finley said. Who could blame him? “Is he here to make trouble for you?”
“Doubtful,” Kieran replied. “He’s always had a thing for gambling. Blackjack is his poison. I only knew him to play at Black Hawk, though.”
“The casino here is newer and closer to Colorado Springs.” So his presence could be a coincidence, at least it had better be.
Finley dropped his gaze to the tote bag and recalled the book it contained.
“I hope I’m around to see you go all Edmond Dantès on his ass.
” Kieran’s eyes widened just enough for Finley to know he’d guessed right.
“You don’t trust me now, but you will. I’m going to be the one person who doesn’t let you down. The Jacopo to your Edmond.”
Kieran’s mouth formed a real smirk, and Finley fought the urge to fist-pump the air.
This was more a cause for alarm than celebration because getting Kieran to let his guard down just the tiniest amount made Finley thirstier for more peeks behind the curtain.
He nearly snorted out loud. Yeah, information was what he was after.
Not more kisses and definitely not an up close and personal introduction to the Beast. Finley tried to summon the discipline he’d found the past few months, but it eluded him.
All he heard and felt was the howling coyote.