Elle tilted her head.
“Speaking of guys,” Molly continued, “have you been on any more dates since Art?”
“Nope. I deleted the app.” She started heating more milk. “Do you want a coffee?”
Molly frowned. “No, thanks. And let’s back up a step. You deleted the app? Why? You’ve only been on a few dates.”
“Five. I’ve been on five dates, and I am done.” Done with a capital D.
“Elle, you’re so hot. Get out there and let the worldseethat hotness!”
A laugh bubbled from her chest. “Let the world see my hotness?”
“Hell yeah! Maybe you and I should go out together.”
Ha. That was a big fat no. She was too old for Molly’s kind of evenings out. She was pretty sure the other woman’s nights didn’t finish until midmorning, at which point Elle would probably be asleep in the booth.
“Maybe.” That was as committal as she planned to get. “Do you mind if I go for a walk for my break? I could use the fresh air.”
“Go for it. Plus, it will give you time to think about where we could go for our night out.” Molly winked before stepping up to the counter to serve the next customer.
Elle shook her head as she walked out onto the deck. The second she breathed in the fresh mountain air, she was hit by that familiar sense of peace. Man, she loved this place. Everything about it just put her at ease, even on her hardest days. How often had she gotten lost out here after Jace left town, needing to be alone with her thoughts?
So many times.
She stepped off the deck and onto the path. A couple minutes into her walk, Kayden came around a bend up ahead, a small group behind him.
He dipped his head. “Hey, Elle.”
She smiled and said a quick hey. It must be nice for him to get to spend all day, every day, out here. She’d only been out for a few minutes, and already she felt like a new person. Since promising Eastern she’d drive everywhere, she hadn’t been getting nearly enough fresh air or exercise. The feeling of being cooped up was driving her crazy.
Her mind flickered to the missed call and text that had interrupted her kiss with Jace the other day. Both were from Eastern, telling her that the tattooed guy’s car was stolen. That meant they didn’t know his identity. They didn’t knowanythingabout him…except that he was a thief. Probably a criminal.
A shudder coursed down her spine.
She sipped her coffee, passing a couple more groups of people before hearing a small crack in the leaves somewhere in the woods beyond the path. She paused and frowned, glancing around her.
There was no one there. No one that she could see anyway.
She had to be going mad. Because this kept happening. These little sounds. This feeling of being watched. But there was never anyone around. So, what on earth was it?
Swallowing, she continued forward. She’d taken several steps when she heard it again, but this time behind her. She turned—only to yelp at the sight of a big chest. Jace’s big chest.
The air rushed out of her, and she put a hand over her heart. “Jace! You scared the crap out of me.”
He frowned. “Sorry, I thought you heard me coming. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just a jumpy mess.”
His gaze moved over the trees around her. “It’s probably not a good idea for you to be out here by yourself.”
“I can’t stay cooped up inside all the time.”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “Well, lucky for you, you have a big strong best friend.”
“Where?”
His grin widened. “Ha ha.”
