Page 8 of Baited

She dug her fingers into the stainless-steel carafe. Her eyes scanned around the restaurant, hoping someone would request her assistance. No one did.

She met his gaze. “I’m great, thanks.” She cleared her throat. “Look, I don’t have time to chat, Jenny had to run out. Do you need anything else?” She kept her voice low.

Ethan’s blue eyes flickered. Her breath caught in her throat. His eyes were too sharp, too knowing. When Ethan came around, she wasn’t herself. Something about him set her off. It was that look of his, that calculative, scrutinizing way about him that made her nerves sizzle. He was a distraction…one she couldn’t afford. Even if he had been her saving grace the other night. More than anything, that was reason enough for her to stay away.

Slowly, he nodded. His face was freshly shaven, yet the dark hair showed beneath his skin. It matched the thick brown hair on his head. He picked up the small carafe of creamer andfixed his coffee. “I’ll tell you what. You give me five minutes of your time and I won’t come here anymore on the days you’re working.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. Well darn it. She hadn’t meant for him to need to avoid the diner to please her. But she couldn’t think when he was around. A little less Ethan might do her some good. And Hanna…

“Do we have a deal?”

Curiosity piqued her interest. As much as she disliked his confident demeanor that bordered on cockiness, something pulled her to him. “And if I say no?”

He smiled then. The slow, lazy smirk made her stomach twist. “I think you want to say yes.”

She pursed her lips. “You’re not very good at reading people, are you?”

“Actually, I’m an expert.”

Her eyebrows rose. He leaned closer, and his warm, heady aftershave surrounded her. “Please?” His tone was soft and low, the gentle timber of his voice met her on a vibrational level.

She exhaled sharply. “Fine. Five minutes. Meet me outside in an hour. That’s when I’ll be on break.”

His eyes sparkled with satisfaction. She started away and then stopped. “Is that all you need?”

He sipped his coffee. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll see you in an hour.” He winked and flashed a half-smile, giving her a glimpse of his bright, white teeth.

She combed a few loose strands that had fallen from her ponytail. What the hell did he want to talk to her about? They’d hashed everything out the other night. She’d bitten his head off after the bar and maybe, just maybe, she’d been a little hasty.

But he’d been pushy and egotistical. Thankfully, the lunch rush started a few minutes later and she didn’t have time toworry about Ethan. By the time she got the chance to look up, he was gone.

Jenny hustled in as Riley cleared some dishes from the table nearest the door. “Sorry,” she mouthed as she slipped past her to get her apron from the back. They carried meals out quickly and before long the lunch rush died down.

Riley met Jenny in the back room and glanced at the clock over Josh, the cook’s, head. What were the chances Ethan had given up and gone home? “Ethan was outside when I came in. Did he stay long?”

Shit. Riley grimaced. “No, just came in for coffee. I’m going to take my break now.” She pulled her apron over her head and hung it on the hook, then snagged her purse.

Jenny was right behind her. “Wait a minute. Is he waiting for you?”

Riley tightened her hold on her purse. She’d avoided going into great detail about her encounter with Ethan the other night. As much as she loved Jenny, she was observant and would press her. If Jenny found out what she was up to, she’d never hear the end of it.

She turned to face her. “It’s a long story, okay?”

She gasped. “Oh my god.” Her hand covered her mouth. “Oh my god,” she hissed again, more dramatically. “You lucky little brat I knew you two had a thing for each other.” Then, in a whisper, “Did something happen after he was at your house the other night?”

Riley dropped her head back to stare at the ceiling. She brought her eyes back down to her friend. “No. He just wants to see me for a minute. He probably wants to talk about the break-in. I’ll tell you more after work.” She turned on her heel and made her way through the restaurant.

She pushed open the door and walked into the wall of heat. She plucked her black T-shirt away from her chest. Sweat hadalready collected beneath the material from the busy lunch hour, but now with the scorching sun on her it stuck to her like glue.

Ethan waited, his hands shoved in his pockets, his eyes on the dirt beneath his feet. He looked cool and comfortable despite the raging temperatures. Why couldn’t he look like a bag of shit? That would make this so much easier.

Her fingers curled into the strap of her purse. She stopped in front of him. “Can we make this quick? It’s disgustingly hot out here.”

“Why don’t we chat in my truck? I have the AC running and it’s nice and cool.” He gestured to the truck idling in the parking lot. Her body temperature rose a degree from his presence. He led her to his vehicle, and then opened the passenger door.

She planted her hand on her hip. “Don’t try to impress me. It won’t work.”

He slapped his hand to his chest. “Ouch. You have a sharp tongue, do you know that?”

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