He swung his leg over with that easy confidence and ran a hand through his hair like he didn’t have a care in the world.Dark jeans, black T-shirt stretched across his shoulders, cut hanging open.
My head told me to run.
My heart?
My heart was practically begging me to run straighttohim.
I stayed exactly where I was because I had some self-control.
Barely.
I grabbed the rag again and pretended like I was deeply invested in the cleanliness of the counter as the door opened.
The bell chimed.
I didn’t look up right away.
I could feel him, though.
That shift in the room.
That awareness.
“Hello, Ever,” he drawled.
I looked up.“Hello, Jude,” I replied, and thank God my voice didn’t crack.
He leaned against the counter like he had all the time in the world, his eyes drifting around the shop before landing back on me.
“Slow night?”
I smiled slightly.“We close in two minutes, Jude.”
“I’m sure you and Lark are ready for the night to be over.”
“It’s Lark’s night off.”
His gaze flicked around again, sharper this time.“Bay here?”
I shook my head, confused.Why did it matter?
“Then who is working with you?”he asked.
I pointed a finger at my chest.“Just me, myself, and I.One of the perks of being the owner’s daughter.I get to close all by myself.”
He didn’t like that.His jaw tightened just a fraction and his eyes narrowed slightly like he was running through something in his head.“You shouldn’t be here alone,” he said, not harsh, not demanding.Just… firm.
I wrinkled my nose.“This is Weston, Jude.The worst thing that happens is the Social Club getting a little rowdy when Alice and the girls go out for the night.”
He huffed out a quiet chuckle and dragged a hand through his hair.“You’re not wrong about that,” he said.“But there’s more going on in this town than you know about.”
I rolled my eyes.“Please, Jude.”
“I’m serious, Ever.You didn’t hear about Clove?”
I blinked.“I saw her the other day.”
He shook his head, muttering something under his breath.“Damn, you are innocent, baby.”
