“No.And I didn’t ask.”
“Well, I guess we’ll find out in roughly two minutes.”
That was about how long it took to drive to the diner.It took just as much time to find a parking place because it was packed, the lot filled with trucks, many of them carting trailers behind them.
“Ranch hands get breakfast early,” Archer said as they were walking to the restaurant doors.“It clears out closer to nine.”
Atticus laughed.“I take it you spend a lot of time here?”
“I like the food.”
Smiling, Atticus opened the door and walked inside, Archer right behind him.He wanted to pat himself on the back for managing to pretend he wasn’t still thinking about that kiss, or the conversation they’d had afterward.His only reprieve from his wandering thoughts had been sleep, andonlybecause he was exhausted.Now, in the light of day, he was going to abide by the rule that partners are off limits.
“Did you know Travis was gonna be here?”Archer asked as they started toward the table.
He shook his head and kept a smile on his face, praying that Travis’s presence wasn’t going to add unnecessary stress to the morning.
They made their way to the table, greetings being tossed around as they approached.Before their asses hit the seats, Brantley was signaling the waitress over.
“Give ’em a second,” Reese told Brantley.“Maybe they need to look at the menu.”
“You need to look at the menu?”Brantley asked, glancing between them.
“Nope,” Archer said with a grin.
“I’m sure I can wing it,” Atticus replied.
And that was just what he did when the waitress finished taking Archer’s order.
“If there’s anything left when you’re done makin’ that, I’ll take exactly half of what he’s gettin’,” Atticus told her.
“Just give him the same,” Brantley told her.“He can take the leftovers to go.”
“Done,” she said with a smile before walking off.
He could feel Travis watching the interaction while he ate pancakes.
As soon as she was gone, Brantley’s expression went stern, his gaze sliding between him and Archer.“What did you find last night?”
A man who could kiss like a god.
He managed not to say that aloud, choosing instead to go with, “The house is set back from the road, but we were able to see people moving around.”
“What house?”Travis asked, wiping his mouth.
“He’s up to speed,” Brantley added.
“Terry Berry.He’s—”
“Martin Calloway’s right hand,” Travis filled in.“I’ve done my homework.”
Brantley ignored Travis, asking, “Security?”
Archer nodded.“Looked to be.We stayed out there for a couple of hours.From what we could tell, they make a pass every forty-five minutes.”
“One guard each time,” Atticus added.
“I think it’s safe to say they’re worried about somethin’,” Brantley mused, his attention on Reese.
