Page 46 of Evidence of Secrets

“Yes, but I’d love it if you would describe what you’ve done with it and what it looked like when you bought it.” He hesitated. “That is, if you have time.”

She looked at her watch. “Sure, I have a little time before I need to start dessert.” She turned to walk into the dining room.

Ryan had one more thing to do. He pulled Jaimie close and whispered in her ear. “I’ll only be here a short time. Why don’t you go home, and I’ll bring dinner. Then we have the evening to relax.”

He wasn’t sure if Jaimie would leave, but he wanted to talk to Laura without Jaimie being there.

Jaimie balked, but he whispered in her ear that they would start with dessert. He winked; she blushed but got the hint. Jaimie said goodbye to Laura and hurried out.

“Sorry about that. Jaimie had an appointment and had to leave.” He glanced around the room. “Tell me what it looked like when you bought it and the changes you made.”

* * *

Hank and Logangot back from Georgia on Friday night. Then Hank had an all-day job that ran late into Saturday night and couldn’t contact Laura. He wanted to see her, make things right, but she wasn’t answering his calls.

After having time to reflect, he realized he knew that Laura wasn’t a gold digger. She took matters into her own hands to make them work. He was in the wrong.

He was the one who invited her to stay at his building, and he was the one who told her that the rent was paid for three months.

She was the one who left when her apartment was ready and didn’t take advantage of the fact that she could have stayed later. Fuck. Heather had really done a job on him.

When he got up Sunday morning, he knew he wanted to talk to Laura; a phone call wouldn’t do. He needed to see her in person. The best time would probably be mid-afternoon when she’d be at the bistro.

Hank headed over about two o’clock and parked behind the bistro.

He saw Laura’s car there—good. Now he wished he had brought flowers or something. Too late now.

The kitchen door was unlocked. He walked in and heard voices coming from the main dining room. Were diners still there? Damn. There went any way to get personal time with her. Usually, there was a lull between services.

He opened the door between the kitchen and dining room and peered out. Laura was talking to a good-looking man about rugs and furniture. What the hell? Was she selling the bistro?

“So I replaced the original furniture with consignment finds.” They were walking towards the kitchen and Hank stepped back to let them in.

“Laura, I’ve gotta say, what you’ve done is really nice.”

“Thanks.”

Hank cleared his throat.

“Hank?”

She excused herself and walked over to him with a frown on her face.

“Why are you here?”

“I wanted to talk to you. Do you have time?”

Laura looked at the man and Hank and sighed heavily. “I’m really busy right now.”

He could see that. Who was that man? She didn’t say. It didn’t take a detective to tell him Laura was annoyed with him.

“Can we talk later?”

She folded her arms across her chest and tsked. “I’m really busy. I’ll call you.”

Talk about a dismissal. She didn’t say when she’d call.

He didn’t need anyone telling him that Laura was pissed.

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