Anya accepted a plate and took a seat on one of the two barstools. “None of them can cook?”
Zara munched on a piece of bacon, her blue eyes thoughtful. “Well, Denver can cook. In fact, he’s a pretty good cook. But he’s just fine with somebody else taking control in the kitchen.”
Anya took a bite of the eggs, and wonderful tastes exploded in her mouth. She swallowed. “I see why. These are delicious.”
“It’s my grandma’s recipe.” Zara grinned.
Anya faltered. “Oh. Where does she live?”
Zara sampled her eggs. “She’s in Montana with family right now.” Her gaze remained on her plate.
Ah, the mysterious Montana contingent. “I’m so tired of secrets,” Anya murmured.
“I totally understand. I really do.”
“But you won’t tell me what Heath is hiding, now, will you?” Anya asked, digging into her pancakes.
“Nope.” Zara swallowed and turned to grin. “What fun would that be? You need to get Heath to give you all the dirt. Wouldn’t you rather he told you everything anyway?”
Anya tried to keep her expression stoic and then gave up. “I would really like that.” She scrunched up her nose. “But we’re just working together for this case. After that, he’s back on the run. You know. You’re all running?”
Zara opened her mouth and then shut it again. After several seconds, her smile returned. “Says who?”
Anya couldn’t help it. She smiled back. Here was a woman she could befriend. She had many acquaintances and a few friends, but it had been easy to go on sabbatical for a year. Or it would’ve been, anyway. Zara would be hard to leave. “You’re not a very good liar.”
“I know, right?” Zara chuckled and then ate more of her pancakes. “It sure is nice having another woman around, though.”
“What about Denver? Is he dating anybody?” Anya considered the quiet brother. “He seems so sad.” Big, broad, dark, and sad.
“I think he is sad. He was in love with a woman and he left for his own reasons. But if you ask me, I don’t think he’s over her,” Zara said.
“Please don’t tell me he left for her own good.” Anya shook her head.
Zara grimaced. “I think something like that may have happened.”
“Moron,” Anya murmured, anger for the abandoned woman filtering through her. “They’re all kind of like morons.”
“Most men are, honey.” Zara threw back her head and laughed, the sound tinkly and full of humor.
Anya joined in for a moment. Then she sobered. “What’s so different about you?” Yeah, her mouth was ahead of her brain again, but she didn’t care. There had to be a good explanation.
“What do you mean?” Zara asked, finishing off her eggs.
“Well, Ryker didn’t leave you behind. Heath won’t take a chance, and that’s fine, because I’m not sure what I want right now anyway. But Denver left some woman, and he’s sad. So what is it about you? Why are you on the run with these men and not safely hidden away somewhere?” It probably wasn’t fair to ask the woman such intimate questions, but Anya couldn’t help it. She was so curious about this too-good-looking, dangerous band of men. What would it be like to be included with them? “I’m sorry to be so nosy.”
“Don’t worry about nosy—that’s the name of the game here. We’re few, but you’re in the fold, Anya.”
Anya jolted. She was in the fold? Her body warmed, and tears pricked her eyes. From simple words. “Now I’m the dork.”
Zara snorted. “I get it. These guys have a strong bond, and being included within such a bond means something. It can mean everything.” She leaned close, her gaze soft. “Heath cares about you, and that makes you family, like it or not.”
Anya cleared her throat. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Thank you.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Again . . . how are you here on the run?”
Zara thoughtfully put her napkin on her plate. “Well, I guess I didn’t give Ryker a choice.” She hopped off her stool and strode around the island again. “Once I knew the full truth, I had a decision to make, and I made it. Wherever this life takes us, I’m with him. No matter what.”
Anya polished off her pancakes. How amazing would it be to be so sure about where you fit in life? Zara knew she fit with Ryker. “You’re in love.”
“Yep.” Zara waved a wooden spoon in the air. “Did you and Heath get busy last night?” Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
