She blinked and quickly turned her head to look around. Just normal people eating greasy diner food. “How did you find this place?” she whispered, her body tensing to flee. If she could even get past him.
His eyebrows went down, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Hey. Are you all right?”
No. Hell no. This didn’t make sense. “Why are you here?” she asked, looking at Trixie and then back at him.
Trixie had tensed and paled, and her hand was already on the table to shove herself up and start running.
Mal took a step back. He looked different in dress slacks and a blazer over a crisp white shirt. Unbuttoned at the top, however. “I have a meeting here in ten minutes. It’s the only place outside of Minuteville to eat lunch this early. I told you I was heading here for an interview. Remember?” He studied her, concern in his tone.
“I remember,” she said, looking around again.
He cocked his head to the side. “Did you dye your hair darker?”
God. That had to seem weird. She licked her lips. “I was just trying something new. But I didn’t like it, so I tossed on the hat.” She gave the last excuse before he could ask. Hopefully, he wouldn’t notice her different eye color behind the thick glasses and under the brim of the hat. “It was a mistake.”
“Hmm.” In the suit, he looked like a government agent. One she’d been taught to fear so long ago. “Why didn’t you tell me your meeting was here? I mean, after I said I was heading to Minuteville?”
She swallowed and plastered on her practiced smile. A quick glance at Trixie showed an identical expression. “This was a last-minute change.”
Trixie nodded dutifully. “Right. We usually meet closer to DC. Better restaurants, you know. But I had a date out here last night and ended up staying the night. So this was better.”
Pippa barely kept from shooting her a pathetically grateful look. Great cover. They had to get out of there before Mal asked more questions. But she’d seem rude and suspicious if she didn’t introduce them. “Sally Peterson, please meet my new neighbor, Malcolm West.”
Trixie held out a hand. “It’s so very nice to meet you.”
Mal took her hand. “You too, Sally.” He glanced toward the door and nodded. “My guy is here.”
Pippa reached for her purse to leave just as the waitress brought their lunches. Damn.
Mal moved out of the way. “Oh, good. You’re just starting to eat.” He moved back in and tugged her ponytail almost playfully. “I’d love to see the darker hair. How about you and I grab dessert after our lunches? I have a couple of things I’d like to run past you.”
Trixie’s eyebrows rose, and amusement danced in her eyes. “You were saying you’d like to try the apple pie.”
Pippa barely tightened her lips. Now her friend was trying to matchmake? Pippa was a baker—she didn’t try diner pie. Ever. For Pete’s sake. “Oh, I’m not sure.”
“Please?” Mal said, his voice low and coaxing. “It’d be nice to share a piece of that pie.”
She was stuck. There was no way to refuse without creating more suspicion. She looked over her shoulder at a man who’d just slid into a booth. “All right.” She jerked her head. “Is that the person you’re meeting?”
“Yes.” Mal’s jaw visibly tightened. “That’s him.”
“The paper pusher?” she asked. The guy had a snazzy suit and a power tie, smoothed-back dark hair, dark eyes, and a nicely trimmed beard. He looked more like a stockbroker than an office drone.
Mal shook his head. “No. I met with him already, earlier. This guy’s a DA from New York who has a cabin nearby for fishing. Jerk probably wants to combine his vacation with work, so he can write it off.”
She stiffened.
Mal chuckled. “Don’t like lawyers? Me either.” He released her hair. “Or are you worried about the law?” His voice was teasing, but his eyes were alert. Like always.
She coughed out a laugh. “Funny. No, it’s the suit. Never liked a guy in a suit.” Her gaze went pointedly to Mal’s blazer.
He winked. “I’ll take off the jacket for dessert, then. Sally, it was nice to meet you.” He grinned at Trixie. “And Miss Smith? I’m greatly looking forward to our dessert date. If you’re really good, I’ll spring for ice cream, too.” With that, he turned and loped gracefully toward the booth closer to the door.
Pippa let out air she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Trixie mouthed the wordwow.
Pippa tried to control her breathing and prevent herself from running out of the diner like a crazy woman.
