Chapter 2
WEBB
“Can I get you anything else, or just the check?”
I look up from my phone to meet my server’s questioning gaze, automatically flashing her a smile in response. “I’m done,” I reply, “but could I get a dozen muffins to go? Just a variety of flavors. Then I think I’m ready for the check.”
Glenda—or at least, that’s what her nametag says—nods.
“A dozen muffins. Got it.” As she slides her notebook back into her apron, she gives me a lightning-quick once-over.
Appreciation lights her eyes, and she edges closer to me.
She flicks her hair. “I could throw in some cinnamon buns, too, if you’d like.
And some of our homemade chocolate chip cookies. ”
“Thanks for the offer,” I tell her, “but I think I’ll stick with the muffins. I promised my friends I’d bring some back for them.”
Glenda bites her lip. “Just your friends? Not… a girlfriend?”
Before I can respond, she moves even closer. Then she flips her ponytail over her shoulder. “I’ve seen you in here a few times,” she continues. “And I’ve been wondering—”
I know where this is going. Which is why I need to put an end to it right away.
“I’m really busy with work,” I interrupt, couching my imminent rejection with an apologetic smile. “And I travel a lot. So I don’t have time to date right now.”
Glenda’s cheeks go pink. Then she steps back. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
Guilt niggles at me. I don’t like hurting her feelings, but I’m not interested in dating her, either.
Not because she’s unattractive—she’s pretty in a girl-next-door kind of way, with dirty blonde hair and freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks—but there’s only one woman in town I’d want to go out with, and it isn’t her.
A few years ago, I wouldn’t have been as discriminating.
I’d have taken Glenda up on her offer, making sure to let her know during the first date that I wasn’t looking for anything serious.
If she was, we’d part ways with no hard feelings.
If she was okay with something more casual, we’d spend a couple of enjoyable no-strings-attached nights together before moving on.
I know that’s how it would go, because I’ve been through it plenty of times before.
“Why won’t you settle down with a nice woman?” my mother bemoans almost every time I see her. “I understood wanting to play the field when you were younger. But you’re closing in on forty, Webb. Isn’t it time to think about a wife and family?”
A few years ago, I would have said no. The idea of marriage and kids seemed fine for other people, but not for me.
It wasn’t that I came from a broken home, or experienced a crushing breakup that ruined me for all relationships.
I just liked being single. I liked the freedom of it, never having to be accountable for where I was going or how long I’d be gone.
I enjoyed the thrill of meeting women, but not the parts after.
Then, about two years ago, my perspective started to shift.
My friends would come to visit with their wives or fiancées, and I’d feel a pang of envy at how happy they looked.
I’d take a family on one of our easier hiking tours, back when I worked for Peak Adventures, an outdoor adventure company in the Adirondack Mountains, and I’d find myself smiling at how excited the kids would get.
I’d see a dad carrying his son on his shoulders and wonder, What would it be like if that were me?
I moved to Portland for a new job, one where I see my teammates and their partners every day, and I began to think that it might not be so bad to be part of a couple. Not if I found the right person, just as Rafe and Indy had.
I’m not ready to jump into online dating, like Rafe’s wife, Eden, suggested.
There’s nothing wrong with meeting someone online, and I know people who have, but it’s not for me.
I want to meet a woman in person. I want to hear her laugh.
I want to know if her touch makes my skin tingle or her scent brings a rush of desire.
Glenda doesn’t make me feel that way, which is why I don’t want to give her hope of us dating. In fact, since my recent revelation about relationships, there’s only been one person who has.
“I’ll just grab those muffins,” Glenda mutters, ducking her head. “I’ll be right back with them and the check.”
Shit. I hurt her feelings. But would it have been better to let her think there was potential for more when there isn’t?
How can I fix this? Not by walking back my rejection, but there has to be…
I cast a quick look around Doug’s Diner, cataloguing the twenty or so people in various stages of eating.
And there.
The thirty-something guy who owns the hardware store in town. Randy. I’ve been in a few times, and he seems decent enough. Polite. Hard working. And I’m pretty sure he’s not married. Or at least, I hope he’s not, considering the way he’s eyeing Glenda from across the room.
He’s interested in her for sure.
So I touch Glenda lightly on the arm—nope, no tingles there—and ask, “Do you know Randy? He owns Williston Hardware?”
Her forehead creases in confusion. “Yes. Randy comes in every morning for breakfast. Why?”
I lower my voice as I try to imagine how my friends’ matchmaking wives would do it. “Well, I’m just asking because he keeps looking at you. And speaking as a guy, he looks… interested.”
“Oh?” Glenda perks up. She glances over her shoulder at Randy, then turns back to me. “Do you really think so? I just figured he was being polite.”
“I don’t know for sure,” I reply, not wanting to get her hopes completely up only to have them let down. “But if I were going to bet on it, I would.”
She steals another glance at Randy. “He’s not in my section, but maybe I should stop over to say hi.”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Before I can encourage her further, my phone buzzes with an incoming text. Rafe’s name appears on the screen, so I slide the phone towards me and tap to read his message. “I’m just going to check this,” I add. “Take your time with the muffins.”
Glenda nods more enthusiastically this time. “Okay. Do you mind if I talk to Randy first?”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “I don’t mind at all.”
As I turn my attention to Rafe’s message, out of the corner of my eye, I notice Glenda making a beeline towards Randy’s table.
Randy lights up when he sees her, straightening in his seat and fixing his collar.
When she reaches him, he beams at her, making me even more certain I was right about his intentions.
Good. Now I don’t feel so bad about turning her down.
I tuck my successful attempt at matchmaking away to share with Eden and Indy’s wife, Bea. They’re always trying to set the single members of the team up, so they’ll be amused that I’m the one doing it for a change.
And speaking of the team, I need to find out what our de facto leader, Rafe, wants.
There are five of us on the team—me, Rafe, Indy, Ace, and Tyler—and we all have equal input when it comes to making big decisions, like which cases to take on and which pro bono clients to accept.
But when we need someone to take point or make a tough call, he’s the one who steps in.
Realizing the screen’s already darkened while I’ve been watching Glenda and Randy, I tap it again to read the waiting message.
Sorry to interrupt while you’re getting your flight time in.
But we have a last-minute job that came up.
Can you go to Seattle tomorrow to do a security consult?
It’s for a CEO who’s been getting some threatening emails.
You’d be there for two days, just to give recommendations and meet with security. Are you in?
I take a sip of my lukewarm coffee before responding.
No worries, I’m already on my way home. Just stopped in Williston to grab breakfast. Two days in Seattle sounds fine. Who else is going?
A few seconds pass before Rafe responds.
Just you and Tyler for this one. Should be pretty simple. Depending on what the CEO wants, we may schedule another visit in a week or two to do more extensive training and install more security.
I work for a company called Blade and Arrow Security, originally based out of New York, and more recently expanded to San Antonio and my branch just outside Portland.
While my branch—the Shadow team—focuses more on specialized protective and investigative services, there are times when we’ll do more traditional security jobs like consults and trainings.
With that in mind, I send Rafe my response.
Is this a special request? Since we don’t usually do this kind of job?
Three dots blink as he types.
Yeah, Cole knows the guy. He used to be based out of Manhattan and hired the Alpha team to help out a few years ago. So Cole asked if we’d step in since we’re so much closer.
I nod in understanding. Cole Mitchell is the founder of Blade and Arrow Security, and if he’s already worked with a client, it’s no surprise he’d want to maintain the relationship.
And with us only a couple of hours away, it makes sense that we’d handle it instead of having Cole send his team members across the country.
Before I can reply, Rafe sends another message.
By the way, Eden wants to know if you’re bringing muffins home. She’s making me ask.
A small laugh escapes. Eden has Rafe wrapped around her finger. If I said I wasn’t, he’d drop everything and drive the ten minutes to Williston to get them himself.
But almost as if he summoned them, a bulging paper bag appears beside me.
And along with them, a glowing Glenda, who looks much happier than when I last saw her a few minutes ago.
She sets the checkbook on the worn Formica counter and smiles at me.
“I threw some extra muffins in for your friends. No charge.” A beat passes before she adds, “You were right. Randy said he’s been interested for months.
But he didn’t think I was interested. Can you believe that?
We’re going out on a date this weekend.”