“It’s great. Thank you so much,” I tell her with a friendly smile.
“Something is off with this fettuccine, and I won’t be paying for it.” Samual tells her while still shoveling in a spoonful. I sigh, mouthing a sorry to her.
“I’m sorry, sir. But considering you’ve eaten more than half, I cannot take it off the bill and it must be paid for.”
Samual scoffs and continues eating. The waiter looks like she’s sorry for me, and once again I’m chugging down the remainder of my wine and wishing this date would end.
As we finish up in silence, my mind wanders to Sheriff Donovan. I bet he would be a perfect gentleman on a date.
After a long day of work, Ian and I make plans to have a beer and dinner over at Cedar and Sage. We just get seated when the back of a brunette head captures my attention. On the other side of the room, directly in my sight, is Jade.
And she’s on a date.
An irritated grumble leaves my chest, and my fists clench. The guy she’s with looks like he has a stick up his ass and doesn’t even have hair for God’s sake. Not to mention that stupid suit and fancy watch gleaming from his wrist. The guy looks like a tool.
Sensing my irritation, Ian swings around, trying to find the source of my mood. When he spots Jade, he gives a little chuckle and turns back around to face me.
“Looks like your girl’s on a date, big guy.” He watches me with a little smirk just as our waitress steps up to the table.
“Evening, Officers. What can I get for ya?”
“Hi, Maryanne. I’ll get whatever’s on tap.” Ian tells her, but I’m too busy watching Jade and her date to hear what else he orders.
“West?” she asks, trying to catch my attention, and Ian kicks my shin underneath the table.
I cringe, shooting him daggers. “Sorry, Maryanne. I’ll take an old fashioned please, and how about the steak and potatoes.” I smile apologetically, handing her back the menu.
“Sure thing. I’ll be back with your drinks shortly.”
“Dude. Quit staring,” Ian scolds, and I sigh.
“What do you think she sees in that guy?” I ask with annoyance.
“Beats me, but looks like he has money by the way he’s dressed.”
“Jade wouldn’t care about something like that,” I dismiss.
“You hardly know her, dude. Maybe she’s a gold digger.”
I swing my eyes back to Ian and glare. “Watch what you say.”
Maryanne returns with our drinks, and trying not to focus on Jade, Ian and I discuss the murder case. So far, we have no leads and nothing to go off.
“Hopefully whoever did it is behind bars soon enough,” Ian says as Maryanne sets down our plates.
“You know who I’d like behind bars?” she says joining our conversation. “That man over there with Jade.”
My ears perk up, and she has my attention. “Why? He causing you trouble?” I ask, glancing over to their table.
“Nah. Not to me. But the waitress I have bussing that table has said the man has no respect. Damn near ate his entire dish and then claimed he wasn’t going to be paying for it. She also overheard him tell Jade to order a salad.”
“What the fuck,” I grumble, pissed off. Who the fuck does this guy thinks he is?
Still watching their table, I can tell Jade seems a bit uncomfortable, and it’s taking all my strength not to go over there. A fucking salad. No man should ever tell a woman that. I watch as Jade shifts around her seat and picks up her empty glass three different times. This guy hasn’t smiled at her theentire time, and it’s ticking me off. If that was me, I wouldn’t be able to wipe the smile from my face.
“You good there?” Ian looks at me knowingly as he brings the neck of his bottle to his lips, hiding a smirk.
“I wanna punch that guy.” My eyes narrow, and I glare in their direction.
