“I don’t know if she’ll ever come back while the White family is here,” Indie said quietly, referring to Bonnie’s deceased boyfriend’s family. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
She slid out of the booth and crossed the café to step into the restroom. On her way back, she spotted Ivory Hanks, who was one of her regular photography clients.
“Ivory.”
The middle-aged woman straightened and turned, eyes widening slightly. “Indie. Hi.”
“Hey. I haven’t seen you in a while. How’s Penelope?” Ivory had the most adorable Shih Tzu named Penelope, who was in all her annual photos.
“Penelope’s good.” The woman nodded, maybe too vigorously. “She’s at doggy daycare right now.”
“I’ve heard great things about Sky’s place. We’re getting close to your annual photos if you want to book them in soon.”
Another widening of Ivory’s eyes. “Um…I’m not sure we’ll get any photos this year.”
“Oh…is everything all right?” Ivory had been her longest-running client. In fact, a lot of her business in the early days had been through Ivory’s recommendations.
Another vigorous nod. “Yes. It’s fine. Everything’s fine. I just don’t know if we’ll have time. We’re going away.”
“We can always plan the shoot around your trip.”
“Maybe. I’ll call you. I’ve got to go. It was nice seeing you.”
“You too.”
Indie was still frowning as she slid back into the booth.
“What’s wrong?” Noah asked.
“Ivory’s a client and she was acting…strange. She said she won’t be booking her annual shoot. She’s not the first regular to say that.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is everything okay with the business?”
“It’s been…slow. But I’m sure it’ll bounce back.” At least, she prayed it would. Her photography business was her entire income. “Itwillbounce back. Now tell me about your last few months as a Marine.”
Over the next hour, she listened to her brother’s military stories and filled her belly with pie and chai spiced latte. She smiled and laughed more in that hour than she had in a long time.
When it was time to go, she stood, only to step straight into a wide chest. She gasped and stumbled back. “I’m sorry, I…”
She stopped at the sight of the older man’s face. He had to be in his sixties. Maybe older. But it was his eyes that she couldn’t look away from. Dark eyes, almost black. They were so familiar.
Had she met him before?
The man had a scar on the right side of his jaw, and he was tall. Really tall.
Annoyance flared through those dark eyes. “You make a habit of walking into people?”
Her brows rose. “No.”
“Is there a problem here?” Noah asked, voice hard as he came to stand beside her.
“No problem,” the man said, not taking his eyes off her. “Next time, watch where you’re going.” Then he left The Tea House.
If someone could give off a bad vibe in one conversation, then that man did exactly that.
