Page 17 of Baited

“Hi Ethan,” Lana’s cheery voice sounded next to the phone.

Ethan grinned. “Say hi to your beautiful wife-to-be. Tell her I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” Cal’s voice was playful, undoubtedly because Lana was distracting him.

“I’m sorry if her kid comes out looking like you.”

“Ha, ha. You’re so funny.”

“I mean it. You’d better pray that little baby takes after his or her mother. How is she feeling?”

“She’s great. Just got done doing yoga and is dragging me out of bed to finish decorating the nursery.”

“I can’t believe you guys aren’t going to find out the gender. The suspense would kill me.”

“Hell, I want to know. But Lana refuses. A little more than three months until the due date, I hope you’re home in time to meet baby Hart.”

“He’d better be,” Lana growled in the background.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, and I sure as hell don’t want to piss Lana off.”

“You and me both, dude.” Cal said something to Lana, and then came back on the phone. “Where are you now?”

“Beaufort, North Carolina. When are you going to stop checking up on me like you’re my damn mother?” Cal had been worse than his mother, or his sisters for that matter. If Cal was this watchful of a friend, Ethan felt damn sorry for his kid on the way. The coffee maker beeped, appeasing his caffeine withdrawals. He took a mug from the cupboard and filled it.

They finished chatting, and Cal finally let him go with a loud grumble about painting the nursery. Ethan wasn’t fooled. Since Cal and Lana had announced their engagement and pregnancy, Cal had changed. Well, he’d changed the moment he’d met Lana, but this was more substantial. He was happy and at ease, and Ethan was really jealous of that.

Happy for them—but really jealous.

He shook all thoughts of marriage and kids from his mind, downed the rest of the coffee, and got in the shower. It was Saturday, and Riley would be working. He was going to get some answers.

The second he walked into the diner, disappointment sank through him.

She wasn’t here. His body sensed her absence without a doubt.

“Morning, Ethan.” Jenny’s warm welcoming smile lit her crisp blue eyes.

“I have fresh coffee on for you; have a seat and I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Thanks, Jen.”

Where the hell was she? Her car was gone and she was scheduled to work. Distaste settled in the pit of his stomach. The closer he got to Riley, the more his suspicion grew. She was as complex as a riddle and, unfortunately for her, he had the time and stamina to figure her out. He couldn’t get past the events surrounding her. None of it made sense, and he hadn’t forgotten her bizarre behavior at the bar last week. He was going out of his mind with questions.

Jenny slid a steaming mug under his nose and set out a fresh creamer and sugar. She poised her pen to the pad in her hand. “What can I get you this morning?”

He scanned around the restaurant. It was still early, not even nine a.m. Only a few elderly people filled a couple of tables. “Can you sit for a minute? I’d like to talk to you about something.”

She glanced around the restaurant, then lowered the pad and slid into the booth. “I don’t want to get involved.”

His brow furrowed. “With what?”

“You and Riley.”

He took a deep swig of his coffee before zeroing in on her. “What makes you think there’s anything to get involved in?”

“You two are like oil and a match, waiting to combust. And I don’t want to be anywhere near when it happens.” She folded her arms across her chest. She was slight, but several inches taller than Riley.

His fingers toyed with the paper napkin. “I can assure you any combusting won’t happen in a public place.”

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