Maybe I’d be even more of a gentleman and get the clasp fixed for her. If there were any decent jewelers in town.
At least it would be a decent opportunity to see if the Prince name still held the kind of effect my brother had mentioned.
As I shoved the necklace into my pocket, an even stranger thought lingered in the back of my mind. What if karma was offering an opportunity I shouldn’t pass by?
Like a little gris-gris sprinkled by my grandmother.
CHAPTER 14
Fleur
Trial and effort.
That’s what driving out to Montgomery’s house had felt like. His car hadn’t been in the driveway. I’d knocked on the door in case he’d parked in the garage, even walking around the house to try to see any sign of life.
All that had accomplished was chilling me to the bone, not only from the frosty air, but also because I’d had the strangest feeling I was being watched. I’d experienced that for weeks after moving to Stowe. I’d had very good reason at the time and it had nothing to do with the unusual attributes I’d had since I was a child.
However, as with most innate fears, the ugly sensations had slowly faded with no evidence I’d been right. This time, the sensations were different. The reasons were impossible to explain. I’d studied the surrounding forest, insistent a pair of eyes were watching me. That’s where the bravery had ceased.
Some experts had called me an empath, capable of strongly feeling the emotions of others. The closer I was to someone, the more gripping the connection. However, my abilities were stronger than that. Not quite a telling of the future but something akin to reconnaissance. In the case of being at his house, I’d experienced encroaching danger.
But there’d been no sign of anyone else, certainly no tracks for other vehicles. While I’d chalked it up to the text from my brother, the effects remained, even as I climbed from my vehicle heading to Tilly’s.
As usual, Bekka had blown up my phone, demanding I stop by and have a drink with her. I had no intention of heading to the bar, perhaps ever again. Who hadn’t seen me leaving with the gruff man? I might as well get the public humiliation over with. After the weird day, nothing would faze me at this point.
Once inside the warm diner, I felt all eyes on me, only instead of scrutinizing my every move, everyone sitting at the counter was grinning. Really? This was how it was going to be? Perfect.
Bekka was on her feet, beckoning me toward the booth she’d grabbed near the back. Even before I settled in, I had a margarita placed on the table.
When Tilly winked, I gave her the evil eye. “Don’t say it, Tilly. Not a word.”
“I’m not saying anything, honey. Except that you deserve to be happy. You got yourself a good catch.”
“Yeah, well, he threatened poor Randy last night, a perfect gentleman.”
The glare I threw toward Bart was tainted with harshness. Maybe not so perfect.
I was beginning to wonder if Bart’s wife knew he was keeping regular hours at the diner instead of being home helping his wife keep her feet propped up.
“Poor Randy my ass, Bart,” Tilly spit out. “He said how much he wanted to go down on our sweet girl here. That’s not tendencies of a gentleman. More like a lecherous old man.”
There was no chance of running out the door. I concentrated on my drink, waiting as they argued about the basic requirements of being labeled a nice guy.
Tilly patted me on the shoulder. “I’m glad you enjoyed your long night.”
“Tilly. Did you know Baptiste Prince was murdered over a year ago?” I wasn’t certain why I’d blurted out the question. What I did was garner the attention of about five people sitting in close proximity.
“No,” she said, her face falling, her hand on her heart. She even made the sign of the cross. “That’s terrible. Did they ever catch who did it?”
“I don’t know.” The fact his death hadn’t made a big enough impression to create a dozen articles was surprising.
“I adored Baptiste. If he hadn’t fallen for my best girlfriend I would have married him. I’ll need to give Analise a call. Poor woman. All those kids to handle on her own.”
“Tilly. Those kids are pretty much all in their thirties.”
“But you know boys aren’t considered all grown up until they get married.” Tilly was serious.
Something I didn’t want or need to discover.
