Chapter 28
It’s officially been a week and one day since someone has last seen Natalie, and the entire town is on edge waiting for news
I haven’t seen a lot of West this week. He has been so busy working this case, but he has given me a ride every morning and twice in the evenings. Nothing more has happened since the barn, but we have made out a couple times in his car. My blood warms at the memory of us against the barn.
Speaking of West, I’m busy stocking the display case when the door chimes and he enters with his brother, Cade.
“Morning, beautiful,” he leans across the counter, giving me a quick kiss.
“Good morning.” I smile, warmly.
“Morning, Jade.”
“Good morning, Cade. What can I get you fellas this morning?” I turn back to West. “We have more of the horns.”
“Definitely those.” Both men nod.
“Sounds good.” I giggle at their excitement. “And your usual black coffee?” I ask West.
Cade’s brow furrows. “Usual coffee?” he questions West.
Sensing there’s some kind of secret brother communication going on when West glares back, I wait for one of them to say something.
Cade finally peels his gaze away from his brother and gives me what I can only describe as a cheeky smirk then says, “I’ll take one medium coffee, and West here will take an extra-large today.
” He pats West’s shoulder, and I’m feeling like I’m missing something here as he rolls his lips into his mouth, stifling a laugh.
I look to West, but he doesn’t refute his brother’s order. “Sure. Coming right up.” I eye them warily.
I get their orders and hand them over with a smile. “On me today.”
They say their thanks, and then Cade walks over to one of the empty tables and gestures towards it. “What do you say, brother? How about we take a seat and enjoy these delicious treats and coffees right here in the bakery.”
West narrows his eyes, and again I feel like I’m missing something. What the heck is going on? Cade let’s out a full-belly laugh as West pulls out a seat with a grumble.
I watch the two with interest before I go back to doing things around the shop.
I just happen to glance their way when I catch West grimacing as he takes a sip of his coffee.
I notice Cade has his phone out and looks to be recording West, who flips him off.
Puzzled, I decide to go over there and make sure everything is alright.
“Is something wrong with the coffee?” I ask West, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Cade doubles forward and completely loses it. My eyes dart between the two, and I’m wondering if I somehow did something wrong with the coffee this morning.
“Jade.” Cade gasps, trying to catch his breath through the laughter. “How long has my dear older brother been ordering coffee for?”
Okay, something is really not right. I look to West, who ducks his head and kicks his brother under the table.
“Um...” I say, confused about what’s happening. “Since the grand opening.”
“Oh. This is too good.” Cade howls. “Jade, have you ever actually seen West drink the coffee?” he asks, smirking at his brother.
I think about it, and realize that no, I haven’t actually seen him drink it, but I’m not sure why that matters or why it’s important. “No,” I say. “I don’t think I have. How come?”
West groans and gives me a sheepish look while Cade’s laugh turns to a light chuckle. “Well, the thing is, Jade, our boy West here hates coffee.”
My forehead scrunches, and I’m so confused. West has been ordering a large coffee almost every day since we opened. Surely Cade is mistaken. “I’m sorry?” I say, looking between the two men.
“Jade, I’m sorry. But Cade is right. I truly hate coffee.”
I choke on a laugh because, what? Why has he been ordering it then?
He must see the confusion on my face because he explains.
“That very first day? I was so distracted by how beautiful you were that I was just saying yes to whatever you were saying. It was like a trance was put over me.” He shakes his head and smiles at the memory.
“And then when you handed me a coffee and pastry, I just took it.”
“Okay,” I say, still not understanding. “But that doesn’t explain why you kept ordering one?”
Cade leans back in his chair, crossing his arms and enjoying the show.
“Well, the next day when I came back, you asked if I wanted the same as yesterday or something else, and I just said the same. Honestly, I’m not sure why I did.” He shrugs. “And then every day that I came in since, it was just routine.”
My mouth drops open. “West! You’re telling me you’ve been ordering something you don’t even like for almost two years!?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Didn’t really care about the coffee, Jade. I just came in here to see you.”
“But you paid for those!”
“Meh. I always give them to Beatrice, or sometimes whatever deputy is in the station.”
I shake my head, not believing this, and West reaches out, tugging me down onto his lap.
“So, what do you like to drink then?”
“I’m a tea guy. Coffee is too bitter for me.”
I shake my head in disbelief and laugh. “I can’t believe you.”
“Anything for a gorgeous woman,” he says, kissing the side of my head.
My phone pings from my pocket, and pulling it out, I see Nick’s name flash across the screen in an incoming call. I feel my face pale and breathing pick up as I quickly decline and put the phone away.
“Who’s Nick?” West asks, curiosity coating his handsome face.
“No one,” I say. “Just an old friend.” I shrug and smile, but I know West can see through it. He watches me for a beat before Cade interrupts, and the guilt of my omission sets in.
“Well, we should probably get back to the station now. I just wanted to call West out. Thanks for the delicious stuff, Jade.”
I get off West’s lap and nod. “Of course. Please come back any time.”
“You okay?” West asks softly, noticing I’m a little fidgety since the phone call.
“Mhm.” I lean up on my toes and give him a soft peck. “Have a good day. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. See you later.”
After the men leave, I go to the back and pull out my phone. Tuesday night after kissing West goodbye when he dropped me off, I got another text, so I forwarded it to Nick right away but haven’t heard from him yet.
Hitting call back, I wait with a bated breath as the phone rings.
“Jade,” Nick greets me.
“Hi, Nick. Have you found anything?” I ask, hopeful.
“I wish I had better news for you, Jade, but the truth is, whoever is sending these texts knows their stuff. It’s a burner, and I can’t get a cell tower ping from it. It’s like they have a blocker or something.”
My shoulders deflate. “It’s okay. Thank you for trying.”
“I won’t give up, Jade, okay? If you get anything more, just keep forwarding them.”
“I will.”
“Take care.”
“You too.” I end the call, scrolling to the text message on my phone, and feel the nausea roll through me as I read it once again
Unknown: Does he know that you’re lying to him?
I sigh, swiping the message away and tucking the phone back into the pocket of my jeans.