Lisa’s heart panged as emotion began clogging up inside her. Her fear was unfounded. The man had come with good intentions. “That’s really beautiful.”
Braden’s expression looked so earnest and solemn that he almost seemed like a soldier coming to announce a death on the battlefield. Why was the man so perplexing to her? She didn’t want to like him—yet she felt herself rooting for him at the same time.
“I was hoping you’d accept it as a sign of apology. It’s my way of saying that I messed up but that I want to do the right thing.”
“Of course I accept your apology.” Lisa took the casing, stared at it one more time, and put it into the pocket of her jeans. The gesture really was sweet.
“Thank you.”
She peered beyond Braden into the parking lot as a question hit her. “How did you get here? You don’t have a car.”
He shrugged. “I walked.”
Her eyes widened as she pictured the distance between Ty’s place and here. It was probably two miles. “Long walk.”
“I don’t have anything else to do.”
She took a better look at Braden. He had circles under his eyes. His hair was tousled. His eyes were bloodshot.
Yesterday, he had looked off his game—or was it off his rocker? But today he looked even worse, only in a somber, heavy-hearted way. She just couldn’t figure this guy out. Unfortunately, part of her wanted to.
Maybe he was like some scientific experiment that she wanted to get to the bottom of. Unanswered questions had always fascinated her. It was one of the reasons she originally wanted to become a scientist.
“No offense, but you look pretty horrible.”
“I feel pretty horrible.” Braden looked as if he tried to smile but couldn’t.
Guilt bit into Lisa. She should let the man leave. Forget the forlorn look in his eyes. Put space between herself and this stranger. Do everything she could to stop her soft heart from getting her killed and proving her mom’s theory true.
Instead, she found herself asking, “Look, why don’t you sit down? I’ll get you some coffee.”
Braden ran a hand over his face and shifted his weight. “You don’t have to do that. That’s not why I came. It’s really not.”
“I insist. I know someone who needs caffeine when I see him.”
A hint of hope appeared in his gaze before quickly disappearing. “Only if you’re sure. I can leave if I make you uncomfortable.”
“I’m sure. Have a seat.” Lisa wasn’t actually sure. But she’d already put the offer out there. Now she hoped she didn’t regret it.
Because today might not be as lucky as yesterday.
Before she could think about it too long, her phone buzzed just then. She looked down and saw that she’d gotten a message from her friend Wes.
Did U C this?
She clicked on the link he sent, which took her to a website. A message had been posted on the Facebook page for her restaurant.
Horrible food. Horrible service. Someone needs to close this place . . . permanently. It would be a favor to anyone who’s ever thought about eating there. Anyone want to help me make that happen? Maybe we can run the owner out of town.
Lisa’s stomach dropped. It wasn’t that she was opposed to bad reviews. Well, she had to admit that she didn’t like them. But she could sense the threat of danger in this one.
Had the same person who’d shot out her window left this?
She didn’t know.
But a bad feeling loomed in her gut.
Chapter Five
Lisa poured Braden a hot cup of coffee, hoping she didn’t regret inviting him to stay. She didn’t want a repeat of yesterday.
Yet here they were.
Alone.
What if Braden snapped again?
Lisa shivered, trying not to second-guess herself so much. But as the memory of their first encounter jarred her thoughts, her arm jerked and coffee spilled onto the table.
She grabbed a napkin and tried to absorb the liquid before it dripped over onto Braden. “Sorry about that.”
Braden grabbed some napkins and helped her soak up the coffee. “It’s okay.”
She gathered all the soggy napkins and tossed them into a nearby trashcan, willing herself not to act so nervous. Get a grip, Lisa. Or ask him to leave. But don’t waiver in this place of uncertainty.
“Were you comfortable at Ty’s last night?” She went to stand beside his table again, wondering if anyone else would come into her restaurant today. But that scathing review could have scared everyone away. After all, businesses lived and died by word of mouth. “Everything okay at the house?”
“It was fine.” Braden shrugged, looking as if he wanted to say more as his hands hugged his coffee mug. But he didn’t.
Braden took a long sip of his coffee, but life still didn’t seem to be returning to him. This guy . . . he had some demons haunting him.
A pang of compassion rushed through Lisa. Not even Cyndi Lauper singing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” on her overhead could unearth Lisa’s carefree side right now. She had too much on her mind. Mostly she was playing with the insane idea that this guy needed someone to help him, and she didn’t see anyone else stepping up.
She jutted her hip out, decision made. She was going to help him. “Listen, how about some food? What can I get you?”
A flash of surprise shot through his gaze before he waved his hand in the air. “I don’t want to impose. I really just came to apologize.”
“Oh, you’re not imposing. I’m charging you.” Lisa grinned, trying to break the tension with some brevity.
A smile finally cracked Braden’s face, and his shoulders relaxed some. “Okay then. How about an omelet?”
“I have a great one I make with pepperoni, sweet onions, and potatoes.”
He raised his eyebrows, looking torn between being polite and being honest. “Could I just do bacon and cheese? I guess I’m not feeling very adventurous at the moment.”
“One bacon and cheese omelet coming right up.” Lisa got that reaction to her more creative recipes a lot, but foodies like herself loved the strange, innovative combinations that kept the taste buds guessing.
Lisa went back into the kitchen and kept one eye on Braden in the dining area as she cooked.
The man looked fairly normal as he sat there. But his shoulders seemed to carry an invisible weight. Why was that? And why did this man have her so curious? The best thing Lisa could do was forget about him and move on. Yet the curious, compassionate side of her couldn’t do that.
Her gaze moved to the empty tables in her restaurant, and her stomach clenched.
No one else was here. If it wasn’t the review, then it was probably the weather. The wind had picked up, and it was crazy cold outside today. Most locals were probably huddled inside, trying to stay warm.
This was the time of year when everyone hunkered down. Some people worked on restoring surfboards or crafting art or creating jewelry. Lisa usually spent the winter months whipping up new recipes and helping out with the local Meals on Wheels program.
Her phone rang, and Lisa saw that it was Tammy, her server. “Tammy, where are you? I’ve been calling all morning.”
“I’m sorry, Lisa. I should have told you. But my friend Darlene and I decided to go on a road trip to Florida. We’re in Key West right now, and we’ve decided to stay.”
“For how long?”
“Indefinitely.”
She bit back a harsh comment. “Some advance notice would have been helpful. I don’t have anyone else to fill in for you. I’m by myself here today.”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry. Good thing you’re not busy at this time of year.” Tammy didn’t really sound all that sorry, which only grated on Lisa’s nerves even more.
“Yeah, good thing.”
How did someone forget something like telling her employer she was leaving for Key West?
Tension pressed in on Lisa as she slipped her phone into her back pocket. Great.
What was she going to do now? Run this whole show by herself? She was already understaffed, and John’s disparagements were still messing with her mind. All she needed was for people to add “bad service” to their list of critiques.
She knew she was overreacting to the negative analysis. If she was honest with herself, the insecurities probably went back to her childhood.
She’d always been the overweight one that kids had made fun of.
Until her junior year of high school. Then she’d decided to turn her life around. She’d started watching what she ate and exercising.
A year later, she was down forty pounds, and she’d managed to keep it off in the years since.
But deep inside, Lisa still felt like the overweight girl who didn’t fit in. Who didn’t feel good enough. Pretty enough.
That had been a long time ago, so why was she still holding on to those hurts?
She was a different person now, and one man wasn’t going to ruin it for her.
Still turning the thoughts over, Lisa plated up Braden’s omelet. The scent of eggs and cheese drifted upward, and she inhaled the aroma. The first part of enjoying food was seeing it. Then it was smelling it. And, finally, it was tasting it. That’s what her grandmother had told her, at least, and her grandmother was the best cook she’d ever known.
She carried the plate over to Braden and placed it on the table. Against her better judgment, she sat down in the booth across from him.
“Looks great. Thank you.” He bowed his head and said a quick prayer before digging in.
At least that was admirable. Had her first impression of the man been totally wrong? Lisa still wasn’t sure.
But she wanted to find out.
“So tell me about yourself, Braden.” Lisa rested her elbows on the table, determined to make the best of things.
“There’s not much to tell.” Braden lifted his fork, his arm trembling.
Lisa looked away, trying not to make him uncomfortable. But it was too late. He lowered his arm.
She hadn’t intended on making him self-conscious. But she was curious about this man and what had really brought him here. Curious about the ghosts that haunted his gaze. Interested in what could have caused him to think she was a killer.
Keep talking, Lisa. Keep talking. “You had a secret job that’s Special Forces without being a SEAL?”
“Yep, that’s about right.”
When he offered no more information, she asked, “Are you married?”
“Nope. Never have been. No kids.”
She studied his face, trying to put together a mental analysis of him. He didn’t seem to want to talk about himself, but she couldn’t bring herself to blather on about inconsequential things like the weather or football. No, she wanted to know more about Braden. She needed to form a bigger picture of the man.
“How long have you been out of the military?”
“Two years.”
“I guess you worked with Ty.”
“On occasion.” Braden absently rubbed his fingers against the side of his coffee mug. “We had some missions together and blew off some steam together when we were back in the States. He’s a good guy.”
There. He’d shared something more than an incomplete sentence. Her mission was done.
“Well, I hope you’ll like it here. The weather is going to be a bear, though. A polar bear.”
She cringed at her analogy. Her friends always said Lisa liked to do things her own way—both in the kitchen and in life. Yes, she marched to the beat of her own drummer. Some people got that and some people didn’t.
Braden didn’t even flinch at her corniness. “Polar bear or not—I’m not here for the beach. I’ll be fine staying inside.”
It took a special kind of person to be okay being alone. Most people Lisa knew preferred to fill up their days with busyness. It helped keep people’s minds off their problems—even if it was just a temporary fix.
“Good timing then,” Lisa finally said. “It’s the perfect season for that.”
Braden’s gaze flickered to hers. “Look, I don’t expect you to have anything else to do with me while I’m here. I’ll look out for myself. I do appreciate the breakfast.”
Lisa waved him off. “You’re fine. Besides, I offered to cook for you. It’s what I do.”
A small part of her—a part that didn’t make sense—felt a pang of worry for the man. While being alone could be an amazing chance to evaluate your life, it could also be a burden. She understood that. And something about this man screamed that he needed someone.
Braden pulled his gaze back up to hers. “Let me help you out here today.”
Lisa blinked, uncertain if she’d heard correctly. “Help me out?”
“That’s right. It looks like you’re short-staffed. Besides, I heard you on the phone. Someone didn’t show up to work, right?”
She frowned when she remembered her conversation with Tammy. “My waitress actually left town without any warning.”
“So let me help.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Lisa just couldn’t see that working out, not with his issues—both his memory and the tremors in his hands. Forgetting customers’ orders? Dropping their plates? It would be a recipe for disaster.
“I want to. I may not be able to do everything, but I can seat people. Take their orders. Refill their drinks—as long as the cups have tops on them.”
As he said the words, a group of eight people stepped inside.
It would be nice to have some help. There was no way Lisa could handle this workday alone. And she didn’t want to give critics any more ammunition.
Finally, she nodded and said with a semi-teasing tone to her voice, “Okay, but if you put any of my customers in a chokehold, you’re out.”
Braden smiled again and let out a soft chuckle. “It’s a deal.”
Lisa hoped that whatever this man was hiding didn’t end up getting her in trouble.
Because he was definitely hiding something. She just had no idea what.
Chapter Six
Braden had come out today for two reasons. The first was to apologize to Lisa. He honestly felt bad about what happened.
The second reason was because he needed to keep an eye open for trouble. Someone had set off those firecrackers. Had they done it to taunt him?
Braden didn’t know yet. But he needed to find out. He needed to survey the area, see who was in town, and listen to the local scuttlebutt. And though he hadn’t intended on volunteering to help Lisa, it was the perfect way to keep an eye and an ear on the town.
To Braden’s surprise, he’d actually enjoyed helping out at the restaurant today. It hadn’t been busy, but the people who’d come in had been interesting and mostly friendly. He’d found himself loosening up as the day went on.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t seen any familiar faces. Nor had anyone given him a bad feeling in his gut. He had no more answers now than he had when he came here this morning.
He’d done okay as a server. He’d taken orders and delivered some food—the dishes he couldn’t spill. It wasn’t the ideal job for someone whose limbs quaked, but it had been doable.
As he bused a table, he stole a glance at Lisa from across the restaurant. She was talking near the breakfast bar with a customer, and her hands flew around in an animated fashion.
Braden hid a smile. The woman was surprising. She was just so bright-eyed and full of life.
So different from him.
And he was fascinated. He felt this crazy desire to learn more about her. To ask her how she came up with her crazy recipes. To figure out why she was still single.
Finally, at nine p.m., the last customer left, and Lisa flipped the sign to Closed. As she did, she leaned against the door, and an expression of delighted exhaustion captured her face. “Whew. That was busier than I expected. I guess it’s a good thing you stayed.”
“And I didn’t put anyone in a chokehold.”
She smiled, an action that screamed of since
rity and warmth. “That’s right. It’s a good thing you promised not to. Because the way Mr. Miller was talking about politics and religion, you may have wanted to.”
Braden grinned again. What was it about Lisa that made him do that?
It was strange. In the past, before his injuries turned his dreams upside down, he’d dated beautiful women. Women who knew they were beautiful. Who spent hours making themselves attractive and who spent their entire paychecks buying only the best.
But Lisa was different.
She was beautiful in a natural way. And she was so down-to-earth. Just so . . . different. Braden couldn’t put his finger on exactly what it was about her that he found so refreshing.
“Did you grab anything to eat when I told you to?” Lisa asked, moving away from the door toward the kitchen.
“I did. I had a grilled-cheese-and-peach sandwich with some of your homemade chips. It was delicious.”
“That’s one of my favorites.” She paused for a second, absently straightening a pile of menus, and looked at him as if gathering her thoughts. “Listen, I just need to put a few things away and then I can drive you home. Sound okay?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind, I am a little tired.” Ordinarily, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. Or maybe Braden just liked the idea of spending more time with Lisa. Not that she would ever give him the time of the day—especially after the way he’d reacted to her yesterday. He knew she’d only let him help here at the restaurant today out of kindness. Or was it desperation?
“It’s no problem. If you wouldn’t mind putting the chairs on the tables, I’m going to grab the broom and sweep down the place. Then we can go.”
As Braden began doing as she asked, he glanced up at Lisa again. “You mind if I ask a few questions about you?”
She paused from sweeping. “Me? Maybe. I can’t promise I’ll answer.”
Shadow of Intrigue Page 4