Chapter 8 Lex
LEX
My fingers drummed against my thighs as West drove my truck to the other side of downtown. We could’ve easily walked, but when I suggested that, he just grunted and said, “Don’t want you exposed.” He’d barely said a word since.
Each moment of silence only ratcheted my nerves up more. “Can you stop the silent treatment?”
West’s gaze flicked to me for a fraction of a second and then returned to the road. “I don’t have anything to say.”
I let out a little growl. “Fine.”
He swung into a parking space in front of the coffee shop, and I was out of the vehicle before he could cut off the engine. But West was quick on my heels. “You need to wait for me,” he gritted out.
I turned, pinning him with a stare. “Then you should use your words to ask for what you want.”
It was a challenge, and he knew it. A muscle in West’s jaw began ticking wildly. “Just get inside.”
“Coward,” I muttered as I pulled open the door.
It was still early, and there were only two patrons at the moment. I fought a groan when I saw who was behind the counter. Jana and I had never gotten along. Not since the first grade when I got picked for the kickball team she wanted. The girl could hold a grudge.
I forced a smile as I greeted her. “I thought you weren’t on until this afternoon.”
She glared at me. “Colin called in sick.”
“Is he okay?”
Jana scoffed. “Probably hungover.”
I didn’t say anything to that. Colin wasn’t exactly the hard-partying type. Instead, I just nodded and headed for the break room. It was tiny but housed a table for us to eat at, a small fridge, a sink, and a few lockers. I opened mine, hanging my purse inside and grabbing my apron.
Tying it on, I headed back out to the café. My steps faltered as I took in Jana, leaning against a chair and giving West a sultry smile.
“We missed you around here.”
West simply grunted as he scanned the space and the street.
A hint of annoyance flicked over Jana’s expression. “So, what can I get you? It’s on the house. A little welcome back gift.”
This wasn’t a waitress establishment. People came to the counter. But, of course, she’d make an exception for a hot guy. Whatever.
I tried to ignore them and made my way behind the counter just as the bell over the door jingled. Pressure behind my eyes began to pulse as I took in the man. Today would be one of those days: the horrible, no good, very bad ones.
Bill grinned a too-white smile as he strode to the counter. His shirt was pressed to within an inch of its life, and his tie looked as if it were strangling him. “Morning, Lex. How’s my favorite barista?”
I forced a polite smile. “Good. You?”
“Doing great. Just sold the McCullough ranch up on Pinehurst.”
I nodded. “Congratulations.”
“Got a damn good commission. How about I take you out to dinner to celebrate?”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “I’m pretty busy these days.”
Annoyance flashed in his eyes, but he kept the smile pasted on. “You just let me know when your schedule opens up.”
I made a noncommittal sound. “What can I get for you this morning?”
Bill’s smile widened as if I were asking him to marry me. “I’ll take a vanilla latte and one of those lemon poppyseed muffins.”
“For here or to go?” Please say to go.
“For here. I can be a little late this morning.”
“Of course.” I took his credit card as Jana reappeared behind me. “Vanilla latte for here,” I told her.
“You’re not the manager. You know that, right?”
My teeth ground together. “I can make the drinks if you’d rather work the register.” She wasn’t worth the argument.
Bill cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to him. He grinned at me and stuck a twenty in the tip jar. “For you,” he said with a wink.
I swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
He strode toward a table in the back corner, but I felt his eyes on me the moment he sat. I fought the urge to shiver and instead turned to Jana. “Do you want register or drinks?”
Her eyes narrowed on me. “Register.”
“Have at it.” I lost myself in making drinks. Things picked up quickly with people coming in before work and school, but I could feel Bill’s eyes on me the entire time.
“Who’s the guy in the back?”
My gaze snapped up to West’s at the sound of his husky voice. “His name’s Bill. He moved to town a couple of years ago. He’s a realtor.”
“He keeps staring at you. He do that a lot?”
I poured frothed almond milk over the latte. “Pretty much every time he comes in here.”
West let out a low growl. “Last name?”
“Harrison.”
He jerked his head in a nod and headed back to his table, but I didn’t miss the glare Bill sent in our direction. It only made my headache worse.
I tried to ignore everyone and get lost in the morning rush, but it was over soon, and there wasn’t much else for me to do. I moved to wipe down the tables that had emptied. Thankfully, Bill’s was one of them.
The bell on the door jingled, and for the first time today, a smile spread across my face. I crossed to the guy who’d entered, throwing my arms around him and falling into him. Pete chuckled as he lifted me in a hug, kissing the top of my head. “Quite the greeting.”
I released him, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. Pete’s comforting linebacker form and easy grin were everything I needed right then. “Long morning.”
He frowned at me. “I heard you got another note. Why didn’t you call?”
“Cara has a big mouth,” I grumbled.
“Hey, I want to know what’s going on with my best friend.”
“Sorry. I just want to pretend none of it is happening.”
Pete rested his hands on my shoulders, massaging the tension there. “I get that. But you can’t. You need to be safe. I really wish you’d move in with me until they figure out what’s going on.”
“I’m not kicking you out of your bedroom.”
“I don’t mind sleeping on the couch. Really.”
I smiled at him but knew it was strained. He really was the best kind of friend. “I’ll think about it, okay?” It might be better than forcing West into the same space as me.
Something passed over Pete’s expression. “Uh, Lex?”
“Yeah?”
“Who’s the big dude who looks like he wants to snap my neck?”