Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Claire
I watched closely as Vance questioned the women about Katelyn Brown.
Serena McGrath was hiding something. I hoped he would call her out on it in front of the others, but to my disappointment, he didn’t.
After her lie about never having seen the girl, he thanked Serena and Darla for their help, and then he told Leslie he would follow up with her later in order to protect Tony’s privacy.
Leslie smiled at that, for reasons that I was certain had nothing to do with her son.
The woman was practically throwing herself at Vance. Telling him to get the luscious, sensual peaches . Gag me. We all knew exactly what she was offering him.
Vance would never go for a woman like that. I knew that. Even so, the thought of his hands being on another woman’s body made me want to punch something.
Instead, I smiled politely and followed him to the counter, where we both decided to skip the peaches in favor of the vanilla bean creme br?lée and the chocolate croissants. He winked at me when he ordered, and I felt that annoying little flutter in my chest again.
He’s just a flirt.
Except he wasn’t. He flirted with Leslie because she responded to it.
Offered that deferential head tilt and compliment to Darla because she’d respond to that.
Was casual and easy with Pete, and acted like part of the boys’ club with Mayor Evans.
He seemed to have an innate ability to recognize what people needed from him and a willingness to become that in order to further his own agenda.
I wanted to convince myself that he did the same thing with me—that he’d seen my need for a friend and stepped up to be that just for the sake of the case. Believing that would have made it easier to keep my heart guarded from him.
But even without Cheyenne’s spooky intuition, I knew better.
He wore a mask with everyone else, but with me, the mask came down.
He’d opened up to me, sharing things that were real.
And the chemistry between us, the feelings that kept growing…
They were real, too. On his side and mine. I couldn’t deny it.
I just had no idea what to do about it.
While we waited for our desserts, I spied my friend Ben in the kitchen.
He and Marcia were brother and sister, and they couldn’t be more different from each other if they tried.
They were both still single, despite being in their forties, and had decided to open the business together.
Marcia was responsible for the ridiculous decor and theme of the place. Ben was the talent in the kitchen.
I’d been surprised they lasted a week without killing each other.
“I’m going to say hi to someone,” I told Vance before slipping behind the counter.
Ben looked up when I walked into the kitchen, his gentle face lighting up with a grin.
“Claire Hawkins. What’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?
” He gripped a giant stainless-steel mixing bowl in one hand and a whisk in the other.
His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, showing off his impressive muscles.
In another life, he’d been a boxer. Now, he used that strength to follow his true passion.
I grinned back. “Wasn’t my choice. I’m excited about trying one of your new desserts though.”
“Better be careful,” he warned. “You’ll get addicted, and next thing we know, you’ll start dressing like one of those women out there and coming here every day.”
“Doubt it.” I laughed.
“Yeah, me too.” He came over and threw an arm around my shoulders, squeezing tight before going back to the mixing bowl. Whatever he was concocting smelled like a heavenly mix of vanilla and sugar. My mouth started watering.
“What’s that?” I asked, walking over to get a look at it.
“Swiss buttercream. Guess what it’s for.”
“What?” I tried to dip a finger into the mix, but he swatted me away with a scolding look. Then he grabbed a spoon and scooped out a little for me to try.
“It’s for Cheyenne’s wedding cake.”
“Oh.” I stopped in my tracks. “Oh, that’s… That’s in five days.” I couldn’t believe it. Granted, their engagement had only been a month long. That was warp speed for wedding planning. But still. It had come so quickly.
“Right.” He cocked his head. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I shook myself. “I just can’t believe it’s almost here.”
“You and me both,” he said, shaking his head. “I think we all would have preferred a little more notice, but Rhett and Cheyenne…” He trailed off, realizing I was staring at the video screen in the corner. “What is it?”
The café had security cameras mounted in the restaurant, with monitors in the kitchen so Ben and Marcia could see the whole place.
I’d just watched Vance walk out with our bags.
As soon as he did, the three women at the table huddled their heads together and began whispering.
They were right underneath the camera in their alcove, and the image was so clear that I found myself wishing I could read lips and follow their conversation.
“I wish I could hear what they’re saying,” I muttered.
Ben picked up a remote and turned on the volume. “Strange request,” he said, shaking his head. “Most of the time, I try my hardest to not hear whatever nonsense they’re talking about. But your wish is my command.” He changed the view on the screen so that it only showed their table.
I moved forward and watched the conversation, shocked that I could actually hear most of it despite the ridiculous violin music Marcia kept playing in the restaurant.
Darla looked Serena in the eye. “Don’t let it get to you, Serena. You need to start acting like the queen you are.”
Serena buried her face in her hands and said something, but I couldn’t catch it.
Leslie squeezed Serena’s shoulder. “You’re the one with a ring on your finger, sweetie.”
Darla nodded. “Exactly. And like we’ve been trying to tell you, it’s not the end of the world. Men do these things”—she and Leslie exchanged knowing glances—“but he wouldn’t dare divorce you. He knows that my husband will take my side. My friends always win at court.”
Serena leaned her head back and groaned. “It feels like the end of the world, even if he doesn’t want to leave. Once was bad enough. I can’t believe it’s happening again.”
“You don’t even know that it is,” Leslie argued. “You thought he blew you off for her, but look—she’s not even with him! She’s with that sexy agent.”
I startled, realizing they were talking about me. Serena thought her husband had blown her off today for me ? I’d left the office right after he finished reprimanding me. If he had blown her off, he must have had another reason for it.
Leslie picked up her teacup in both hands, a dreamy look settling onto her face. “Wonder what I’d have to do to get Agent Weston to give me a full-body search. Do you think he carries handcuffs? I’ve never tried that before.”
Darla pursed her lips, but she was clearly fighting a smile. “Leslie! You have to stop flirting with every man you see.”
“Yes,” Serena agreed, frowning. “You really should.”
By the look she gave Leslie, I had to wonder if Leslie had flirted with Sheriff McGrath, too.
But Leslie ignored them, rolling her eyes. “Neither of you get to judge me. You’re both getting laid. God, I hope our plans to make something out of Wildwood really work. I need some gorgeous celebrity to start vacationing here and fall madly in love with me.”
“Love is overrated,” Darla said, her lips twitching.
Leslie grinned at what appeared to be an inside joke. “Fine. I need some gorgeous celebrity to start vacationing here and decide he wants to ravish me every time he’s in town. Does that meet your approval?”
“It’s certainly less complicated,” Darla said coyly.
She turned her attention to Serena. “You know, you might feel better if you followed our lead and let go of these old-fashioned ideas about love and monogamy. Someone new warming your bed would make you realize it’s not such a big deal if your husband wants a little variety every now and then. It’s natural.”
“No,” Serena said glumly. “I love him. Only him. I don’t think it’s natural at all. I just can’t believe I’m not enough for him.” Her voice cracked and tears filled her eyes.
Darla straightened and gave Serena a scolding look. “Oh, stop it. Self-pity isn’t going to get you anywhere. It’s not attractive, and more importantly, it doesn’t solve anything. What you need is to find your confidence again. You’re his wife. There’s no competition unless you allow there to be.”
Serena took a deep breath. “I guess you’re right. Maybe I’ve just been shaken up a bit lately, with everything—you know.”
“Of course you have been.” Darla cocked her head and gave her an empathetic look. “Anyone would be under the circumstances.”
Leslie opened her mouth like she was going to say something else, but the bells that hung over the door jingled and the women instantly stopped talking.
Two people wearing reporters’ badges settled at another table in the alcove, close enough to overhear anything said.
The women exchanged glances and began eating their lunch in silence.
Ben switched the monitor back to normal and gave me a perplexed look. “What was that about? Does Serena actually think you’d hook up with the sheriff?”
“Apparently,” I said, gritting my teeth.
“That’s ridiculous,” he said, shaking his head. “Don’t let it bother you, Claire.”
“I’ll try. But listen, can you get me a copy of this?” I couldn’t prove it, but if the first affair Serena mentioned was with Katelyn, this conversation might be important. And because it had happened in a public place, we could use it as evidence.
“I think so,” he said. “The recordings stay in the cloud for twenty-four hours.”
“Great.” I scribbled down my email address on a piece of paper and tucked it into the pocket of his apron. “Shoot a copy to me as soon as you get a chance. And don’t mention this to anyone, okay?”
“Okay,” he said, giving me a weird look.
“Is there a back way out of here? I don’t want them to know I heard any of that.”
“Yeah.” He nodded and pointed toward a door tucked into the corner. “Leads to the alley.”
“Thanks, Ben.” I gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “See you at the wedding!”
Then I slipped out to find Vance.
We had a lot to talk about.