“We’ll tell people we are setting you up with him.” I grinned.
“Please. Like I’d need help from two workaholics like yourselves.”
“Are you seeing anyone, Rhonda?” Greg asked as he turned our SUV down the street with the diner.
“No. Are either of you?”
“No.”
***
Bryan got out of his car and walked over to ours, sliding into the back next to me. I’d let Rhonda have the shotgun seat.
“Detective,” he said, after I introduced them.
I’d been joking before, but I noticed they held each other’s gaze for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Rhonda was a basketball star in high school, but was also on the Homecoming court. She’d always had dates for dances but had been friendly with everyone. I couldn’t remember her ever having a serious relationship. But then again, neither had we.Like Rhonda, we’d been busy with college, then our careers, moving up in our professions.
“I was thinking I’d establish some of the police academy students as interns for the next few months,” she told him.
“That’s a great plan,” he said. “I’d like to also be there as a potential buyer for a large chain on the west coast. My cousin works for that chain and can back up my story.”
She nodded. “This is all coming together.”
“Now we can’t talk about this plan in the diner, but we can talk as old friends.”
“We’ll pretend we are setting you two up,” I said, unable to resist.
Rhonda shot me a look, but kept a smile on her face.
“That would certainly do my new reputation in town a lot of good,” Bryan said. “Rhonda, are you sure you won’t mind?”
“Of course not. It’s not like we’ll get married.”
***
As we all walked in, I noticed that Bryan held the door for Rhonda, then slid into the booth next to her.
I paused before taking my own seat as my gaze caught on Anelya, sitting at the counter enjoying what looked like four different small pies.
“We will be right there,” Greg said to our friends.
They barely noticed us, already talking at the table.
“Anelya?” I asked as we stood next to her.
She looked up, and I could see the resemblance to her sister Carolina, who was on the other side of the counter. They had the same smile, though Anelya had dark hair and a strong, taller frame. Her brown eyes seemed to warm as she smiled at us.
“Hello,” she said. “I hear Raymond’s surgery went really well.”
Greg nodded. “Listen, we’d like to take you to dinner as a thank you. Are you free tonight? Both of you, of course,” he gestured to Carolina.
Good idea, I thought. She might be more at ease with her sister.
“I’m here until close tonight,” Carolina said, “But Anelya is free.”
Anelya shot her sister the same type of look Rhonda had just sent me in the car.
