Page 102 of The Quiet Witness

Kate raised her eyebrows in jest, still flipping through the menu.

“I’ll have the garden salad. Oil and vinegar on the side, please.”

“Want chicken on that?” She peeked at his trained arms again.

“No, no.” He shook his head. “Just the greens.”

Eventually she turned to acknowledge Kate, her sweet smile disappearing into the abyss.

“I’ll have what he has. With a sparkling water, please.”

They returned the menus, the woman, Deborah her name tag read, wheeled around to pass on their orders.

Lucien raised a single eyebrow at her. “All I’ve heard is… I want a cheeseburger, what is this… quinoa?! I want fried rice, Lucien.” He’d piped his voice down to mimic hers. “Now here we are, surrounded by the world’s greasiest foods, nearly dripping off the menu. And you order a… salad?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

“Why would you make me feel that way?”

Deborah returned, swifter than lightning with their orders. Placing them down on the table with a clank, followed by Lucien’s requested olive oil and vinegar.

Lucien didn’t look away from Kate, the question heavy in his eyes.

“Well?” He gestured with his chin to her salad.

“Well.” Kate trapped a piece of lettuce on her fork. “You are vegan, aren’t you?” His look shifted from suspicion into downright shock.

She smiled sweetly. “I’m not wrong, am I?”

His mouth opened and closed, almost like a fish on dry land. Kate bit her lip, trying to hold back her laugh.

Finally, he settled on, “However did you find that out?”

So, I was right all along!

She didn’t let her thoughts show, fully enjoying the moment of Lucien being off-kilter for once. She leaned forward. “You’re not that much of an enigma… sweetheart.”

She popped a piece of tomato in her mouth, wincing slightly. Ugh, greenhouse tomatoes that hadn’t seen the sun. Tasteless buggers.

Lucien fixed her with another glare. “Spill it, Kate Withers, or you will suffer the consequences in training… soon.”

Ohhh, we’ve reached last name basis. With threats on the side… interesting

“Oh, trust me.” She brushed her hair back behind an ear. Noticing how his gaze followed the movement. “After that driving lesson of yours just now, I am only returning the favor.”

She smirked, having drawn out his misery long enough. “Maybe it’s because your fridge is always stacked to the brim, but it never contains anything from meat or cheese.” Her smile fell away. “Plus, the looks. When we drove by that slaughterhouse a couple miles back?” He nodded. “You can’t not see it. Sometimes it makes me think… well… you look as if you live their pain and breathe their fear. Knowing what they’re about to go through.”

He turned into a statue.

“Which is strange… considering.” She almost said it but bit her tongue at the very last second. She was so used to being straight up, she’d nearly forgotten they were in public. She added hastily. “Knowing what you do.”

But Lucien sidestepped her question. Firing off one of his own, confusion obvious in the curve of his frown. “It doesn’t answer my earlier question. You could have easily ordered a hamburger. If only to tease me, which we both know is the reason for your existence.”

Her answering laugh made people turn their heads and glance her way. Hiding her red cheeks behind her hands, she muttered shyly. “Maybe you’ve rubbed off on me. Besides.” An innocent shrug rolled off her shoulders. “There are better ways to get under your nails.”

“Well.” He cleared his throat. “I guess your detective work deserves a reward.”

That made her perk up. “A reward? You mean you won’t torture me in the car anymore?”