Jay shrugged. “Very well. I got a promotion. I’m a VP now. Technology and software development.”
“Good for you. Dressing the part finally paid off, I imagine. You were always suited to management. And by suited, I mean the bespoke men’s wear and Hermès belts and ties.” He was easily the best dressed man in Eat’n Park this morning, which was not a high bar to hurdle, but he could be transported into any law firm or the administrative offices of an industrial park complex and still be a standout for his impeccable taste. In contrast, she was a schlub.
“Hey, Ramsey!”
Ramsey looked up as Buddy Conglose rapped his knuckles on the edge of her table. He was in uniform. She smiled widely. “Good morning, Buddy. Are you here for business or breakfast?”
“Breakfast. Just finishing my shift.” He inclined his head sideways at Jay and cast a questioning look at Ramsey.
“Oh. Sorry. Buddy, this is Jay Carpenter. Jay. Officer Buddy Conglose.” She purposely did not define relationships and waited to see if they would.
Buddy nodded once in Jay’s direction but did not extend a hand. Jay smiled thinly in return. Buddy said, “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“No. I’m not.”
Ramsey held her breath while she waited to see if Jay would add information. When he didn’t, she exhaled softly. Buddy, bless his heart, did not begin an interview.
“You working today?” he asked Ramsey.
She nodded. “Running behind, but yes, I’ll be there.”
“Then I guess there’ll be no rest for us.”
Ramsey chuckled. “None at all.”
He winked her. “You take care. Have a good one.”
“You too.”
He tapped the table again before he hurried off to catch up to the hostess who had been showing him to a table.
Ramsey smiled, shaking her head as she followed his hasty exit to the point where he nearly bowled over the hostess. Her smile faded when she met Jay’s gaze. His startling blue eyes were iced over; his disapproval was palpable. His expression thawed a little when their waitress came to the table with their orders and freshened their coffee. He had a minimally pleasant smile for her. Ramsey thanked her and she left them alone.
“So, you did call the police,” Jay said, picking up his fork.
Ramsey had a moment when she wondered whether a lie or the truth served her better. She settled for the truth and left it to him to believe her or not. “No, I didn’t. That was just what it seemed. A chance encounter.”
“He’s a friend.”
“A professional acquaintance.”
“Professional? What is it you’re doing with your degree these days?”
Ramsey shook her head. She’d wondered if he knew where she was working. “We were talking about you and your job. Let’s get back to that.” She picked up a triangle of buttered toast and dipped one corner into the sunny side of her egg. The yolk broke beautifully and she leaned in to take a bite of toast.
Jay cut into his egg and used his knife and fork to lift a small portion of it onto his toast before he sliced off that section of toast and raised it to his mouth.
Watching the ritual—Jay didn’t touch food with his fingers, not even canapes—Ramsey was reminded that some things didn’t change. She would do well to keep that foremost in her mind. Early in their relationship, she became convinced his manners were the embodiment of what was proper, and it required little encouragement on his part for her to follow his example. She didn’t know when it happened, but at some point, she realized that his disdain for using his fingers was just peculiar, maybe even germophobic, and now she didn’t let the lack of a plastic party pick keep her from snatching an hors d’oeuvre from a serving tray and plopping its savory goodness into her mouth. She did resist the temptation, though, to lick her fingers.
“Well?” she prompted, dipping her toast again.
Jay made a face as droplets of yolk fell back onto Ramsey’s plate. “At least you didn’t get any on yourself.”
“There’s time yet, but not so much that you can avoid why we’re here. Start talking.”
He set his knife and fork down and sat back. “Very well. You were correct last night. I need money.”
Ramsey took a careful breath. “All right. And?”
