Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,239

out.”

“Nope.”

Her back slides down the booth and Roarke’s foot appears on the edge of my booth seat. “Nope again.”

“Seriously. I’m not having this conversation with him, especially with his grandpa’s judging eyes a few feet away.” Allie’s willow tree statue straightens and she gets back in her seat, her lips in a tight line.

“Relax,” Roarke says, sipping his coffee again.

As if we’re on a movie set, a strong wind storms in with Wyatt’s giant figure. He stops, gaze searching the room before it rests on the back of Allie’s head.

“Allie Baldwin!” he yells.

“Go away, Wyatt.” She finishes with the grape jelly row and moves on to strawberry.

Liv silently places my breakfast and Allie’s Coke down on the table, before sliding away, clearly not wanting to get in the middle of this showdown.

“May I?” The kid eyes my side of the booth.

I slide over, my purse resting on the edge of the seat.

Wyatt pushes the plate my way and picks up my coffee mug, positioning everything the way it was before he asked me to slide over. Nice kid.

“Thank you,” his deep voice says and then he extends his hand out across the table. “Hey, Roarke.”

Roarke shakes his hand, a smile on his lips. “Wyatt.”

They drop hands and my breakfast stays untouched as I watch the unfolding of a young lover’s quarrel in front of me.

“Look at me, Allie.” Wyatt’s words bite out of his mouth.

She turns the jam container and starts on marmalade.

“Allie, look at the boy.” Roarke elbows her, but her eyes focus in on the different flavors of jelly like she’s doing a jigsaw puzzle looking for a specific piece.

“Stay out of it,” she grumbles.

“You know I love you. I’ve loved you since the third grade when you kneed me in the nuts.”

I press my lips together to keep from smiling and Roarke’s eyes find mine, sharing a similar expression.

“You never understood the word no,” Wyatt goes on.

Allie shrugs. “I wanted you to play with me.”

“I didn’t want to play. You pushed the topic and then everyone laughed when I fucked up and lost the game.”

“Let’s move on to the present,” Roarke interjects like the lawyer he is.

“Wyatt?” The police officer at the counter circles his stool around to face us.

“Hey, Grandpa,” he says, waving his hand but never looking in his direction. “I’ll be there in a second.”

“What’s going on?” His big feet land on the floor and he slowly steps over.

Roarke’s back grows straighter with each stride.

“Nothing. I’m talking to Allie.” He points across the table to his fiancé.

“Didn’t even see Allie here,” he says.

Should this man be a police officer if he can’t even take in his surroundings when he walks into a diner? Isn’t that like protocol or something?

“You have to listen to me.” Wyatt’s eyes are lasered in on Allie’s. “Do you really believe I want Kylie?”

“Kylie?” his grandpa questions.

Seriously what is it with this town and one-word questions?

“Grandpa, please go back and finish your breakfast,” Wyatt says in an exasperated tone.

“Roarke.” The sheriff shifts his attention, his thumbs resting on the belt under his straining stomach.

“Sheriff.” Roarke nods at the man.

“Back for the wedding. Nice of you to walk Allie down the aisle.”

“Well, she is my sister.”

“And as everyone in this town is aware, I don’t have a dad,” Allie bites back and Roarke nudges her with his elbow.

“I would have fought him to walk you myself even if you did.”

Allie glances up and she and Roarke share a look. A ‘you’re my hero’ smile lands on her face.

“Suck up.” Allie disregards his comment, staring at me. “He’s being soft because you’re here.”

“Who are you?” the Sheriff asks me, finally concerned about the stranger at the table.

I extend my hand, ready to introduce myself.

“Hannah Crowley, Sheriff,” Roarke answers for me.

The Sheriff’s calloused hand wraps around mine. “Sheriff Wiltaker. I knew you were from out of town. Should have figured you came in with Roarke.”

Roarke rolls his eyes.

“I’m Wyatt.” The young kid gives me a fleeting glance. “Allie’s soon to be husband.”

“So you think,” Allie spits.

“You two kids. Stop all the fighting. You’re getting hitched tomorrow and you’re going to make me a great-granddaddy.”

Allie’s cold stare stays on Wyatt.

“I told you, Grandpa, we’re not ready for kids yet.” Wyatt holds Allie’s gaze, not sparing a glance at his grandpa.

“You’re being foolish. Once you raise your kids, you’ll have time to yourselves.”

“Allie, can I please talk to you in private,” Wyatt pleads.

“Go talk to him,” Roarke says.

“Give me one reason why,” Allie says, finally