Giorgio (Vigilance #1) - Silvia Violet Page 0,38

shook my head. I couldn’t let myself think like that.

Lane was watching me closely. “What?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

He walked out in front of me, and wow, that ridiculous coat looked so fucking good on him, though I hated the way it covered the curve of his ass.

There was no such thing as a perfect man, and even if there was, I didn’t deserve one. I wasn’t relationship material, and I never would be. I was better off alone.

I navigated my way to the closest town. There was no Starbucks, and Lane dismissed the idea of getting coffee from a fast food chain, so I headed through the small downtown. “I might as well drink the stuff at the cabin if I was going to drink that.”

“I thought you wanted cream.”

He huffed. “I want good coffee with cream. What about that place?” He pointed out the window.

I saw a blue awning that said Martha’s Coffee Spot.

“Local places are always the best,” he insisted.

It would also be a good place to find out if the man who’d come to the cabin was local. Not that I really had anything to go on. I wasn’t a detective, but I’d had to do enough on the spot investigation in the field that I was more than adequate at it.

I maneuvered the car into a parking space near the shop.

Lane got plenty of looks as we walked down the street. Most of them were confused or curious. A few were appreciative. One man scowled, but my glare made him hurry away. No one was going to fuck with Lane. He was mine.

My client. My responsibility. I was supposed to protect him like this. It was my job.

You’ve never acted like this with other clients.

He is X’s son, so I need to be especially careful with him.

That’s why you were jackhammering his ass in the middle of the night?

I took very good care of him.

The asshole voice in my head mocked me as we stepped into the coffee shop. I looked around noting potential exits and studying the clientele.

The only people inside were a man in a suit, who I guessed worked at the local bank, a young woman with a toddler in a jogging stroller, and an elderly woman who was seated at a table by the window with a mystery novel. It wasn’t like I actually expected the man who’d come to the cabin to be there. Chances were he was from Boston if he’d been sent by Hendon.

“Tell me if you recognize anyone.” I kept my voice low as we approached the counter.

He nodded, but I wasn’t sure if he was paying attention. He seem transfixed by the menu hanging above the counter.

“They have everything,” he said.

The barista looked like she was in her late twenties. She had her long, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, and she was wearing a black apron over a floral dress.

“Just tell me what you like, and I can make something special for you.”

Lane turned to me, beaming. “Please tell me we can come here every day.”

“Fine.” If that was what it took to keep him out of trouble and make him accept the shitty cabin we were stuck in, then I could manage it.

He turned back to the barista. Something sweet and caramelly, please.”

“In other words, if you were at one of our competitors, you might order a caramel macchiato.”

He grinned. “Exactly.”

“Hot or iced?”

“Iced.”

“That’s my favorite too. Strong coffee flavor for you?”

He seem to consider that for a moment. “Kind of in the middle.”

“Lots of caramel?”

“Yes!”

“You got it, and I promise you’re going to like my version better. I love your jacket by the way.”

Lane petted the soft fabric, and I couldn’t help but notice how sexy his gesture was. He was way too fucking adorable.

“Thank you. It’s my favorite.”

“I can see why.” The barista looked at me. “And for you, sir?”

“Just a black coffee. Thank you.”

Lane looked back at me and rolled his eyes. “You can be more creative than that.”

I sighed. “I’ll have an iced mocha.”

“See?” Lane said. “I knew you must like some stuff that wasn’t boring.”

“I like you, don’t I?” I muttered under my breath.

Lane turned, eyes wide. Had he heard me? Had I wanted him to?

“You vacationing around here?” the barista asked.

Lane looked uncertain about how to answer, so I responded. “We are. We rented a cabin for a few weeks.”

“If you need any suggestions about things to do or places to eat, just let me know. I’m Cathy, by the