Twenty minutes later, I exited the bakery balancing a bag and tray of drinks in one hand and car keys with the other. Fumbling them, the keys clattered to the ground just as I reached my car door. I bent to retrieve them, and something shiny beneath the tire caught my attention.
A silver chain. What was it doing underneath my car? My first thought was that it belonged to James, but as I reached down and tugged the links free, that thought quickly flew out the window. This chain was too dainty, almost feminine. Something was at the end of it too, stuck beneath the gravel, and as I brushed the debris away with my free hand, my blood went cold.
It was a silver cross. Exactly like the one Luke wore—the oneDaniwore. Or used to.
Putting the chain on the tray, I snatched my keys and shook off the chill before making the short drive back to the bar. We were open now, the neon sign blinking in the window. For a moment, I sat and watched the sign flash on and off, running that silver chain through my fingers.
Who did it belong to? I hadn’t seen one since the day Dani drugged me and set Liz’s ablaze. Luke didn’t wear his anymore. At least, I didn’t think so: He hadn’t been wearing it a while back, when I’d seen him at the hospital.
Taking a deep breath, I pocketed the jewelry and got out of the car before our coffee got any colder—and I didn’t need Shi having a sugar crash because they didn’t get their cake.
We didn’t have any customers yet, but James and Shi were all smiles when I entered the bar, Shi in particular when they saw the stuff in my hands. They snatched the bag away, instantly tearing into the chocolate-covered pastry inside.
“Take that in the back please,” James laughed. “I’ve seen how messy you get.” He tossed a handful of napkins at them as they garbled a full-mouthed agreement.
“Aw,” I pouted after them. “I was looking forward to cleaning Shi up. You know how much I enjoy that.”
“The customers never consented to witnessing that.” James gestured to a couple of men walking through the door, then lowered his voice to a pitch he likely thought I couldn’t hear. “Besides the fact thatIcan’t handle witnessing it. What’s wrong?”
“Hm?”
“You’re chewing on your lip. Which—unless you’re staring atmymouth—you only do when you’re stressed. What’s wrong?”
The necklace seemed to burn a hole in my pocket. After learning what those things meant and finding cursed diamonds scattered around our safe places, I was getting really tired of finding unwanted jewelry.
I waited until James had served the two customers, then dropped my voice to a whisper. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Though before I could say exactly what, the door opened and Hannah walked in.
I sighed. “Later.” James watched me warily, but I turned my attention to my daughter. “What’s up, kiddo?”
She set her tablet down on the bar. “My afternoon classes were canceled and Kian’s with Luke. I thought I’d come get some information for the wedding so I could start planning.”
I smiled at the sparkle in her eye. The thought of planning a wedding gavemeanxiety, but she seemed like she was going to enjoy it.
“She did ask me last night,” James offered, “but I thought it best to ask you, to make sure our vision lined up.”
“First things first,” Hannah said. “The date. James was thinking?—”
“What about Valentine’s Day? Or… somewhere close to that?”
Both Hannah and James fell silent, exchanging glances before a slow smile crept across his lips. “That’s exactly what I said.”
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
The grin he was trying to hold back broke free. “I thought you’d want a longer engagement.”.
“Have you known me to do anything other than dive in headfirst?”
James’s dark eyes softened, and with his back to the only customers, he let some red swirl in his irises before he reined it back. “No, I haven’t.”
“Okay,” Hannah interjected. “Can we keep the eye sex to a minimum until your daughter is out of the room, please?”
“Pause,” I said. “What are you doing here anyway? I snapped your fake ID.”
Hannah shrugged. “You snappedsomeone’sID.” She forged on. “That’s the date out of the way. We’ve already discussed the budget?—”
“We have?” I asked.
