“What’s good tonight?” asked Titus.
“The grouper bites,” she answered. “Owen swears he caught it fresh, but he lies.”
She chuckled. “They’re still great. We also have a smoked brisket sandwich in addition to what’s on the menu.”
Ford grinned. “Well, I’m game for the grouper.”
Caleb nodded. “Grouper sounds good.”
She clicked her pen and took their orders and the menus. “Refills on the drinks?”
After she left, Caleb couldn’t help noticing Nate kept his gaze on her back for a moment longer than necessary.
“Friend of yours?” he asked.
“Nah.” Nate shrugged. “I’ve seen her here before. Norah Holt. She works a lot of shifts.”
“Thinking of asking her out?” asked Titus. “She’s a good-looking woman.”
Nate shook his head. “Just because some of you are pussy-whipped doesn’t mean the rest of us are looking to get hitched.”
Titus snorted. “If by pussy-whipped you mean I have to put up with a confident woman who knows the way to my heart, then yeah, guilty.”
“Same,” said Ford.
“Ditto,” said Finn.
A moment later, Owen came barreling out of the kitchen with a tray of food. He looked to be in his late forties, solid build. Blond hair was going gray at the temples, and a trimmed beard covered his tanned face. His forearms were strong, and his eyes were sharp. He planted the food on a nearby table, nodded their way and hollered. “Kinney! You bring half the damn county with you tonight?”
“Tried,” Nate shot back.
Owen chuckled and disappeared again.
Norah returned with their drinks, setting them on the table. “Food’ll be up soon.”
“Thanks,” Caleb replied.
She nodded, gave them a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes and headed for another table.
Ford watched her go. “She seems nice.”
“Yeah,” Titus agreed. “But she’s got that look.”
Caleb cocked his head. “What look?”
“Like she’s waiting for something to go wrong,” Titus said quietly. “Or someone she doesn’t want to see walking in that door.”
Caleb didn’t want to admit he’d seen it too.
Nate didn’t say a word.
Ford took a swallow of beer and then nodded toward the now dark window. “Hard to believe this used to be a marina.”
Owen passed with a tray and snorted. “Weston family donated half the funding for it back in the day. County let it rot when they built the new one.” He shook his head. “Typical government bureaucracy.” He was gone before anyone could ask more.
Caleb frowned. “Weston?”
Nate lifted his beer. “Yeah. Ran across the name when I was researching training routes. They’re an old Haywood Lake family with more money than God.”
