to let me go. “You haven’t even finished your beer.”
“Oh. Okay.” I picked it up and chugged it.
“Who’s looking after the kittens?” Beck asked.
“Tonight? Probably April, unless she switched with Travis.” A cold nose burrowed into my hand, and I found Callie right beside me, angling for scratches. I knelt and dug my fingers into her fur. Her eyes drifted closed and she wiggled with pleasure. “Hey, sweet girl.”
“I could help with the kittens if you want,” Beck offered.
“You should get a good night’s sleep, don’t you think?”
“I had a cat nap.” The pun made me smile.
“April can handle things tonight. How about you and Callie stop by tomorrow morning? You can feed the kittens, and if you’re up for a little project, my supply room needs to be cleaned and inventoried. We’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to check expiration dates for a while. Job pays fifteen dollars an hour.”
He frowned. “I can’t take your money. You got my guitar back for me.”
“It’s okay—”
“No, it’s not.” Hands on his hips, he defied me. “I’m not a con artist, and I don’t want your charity.”
“It’s not charity. It’s a legit job.” I knew that guitar was going to come back and bite me. “Look, come or don’t come. I can find someone else to organize that space, or I can put in the extra time over the weekend. You should still find a job around here. Plenty of people need help.”
He glanced away. “You sound just like my stepdad.”
“Great. Wow. On that note—”
He caught my hand. “I was doing okay until Tug screwed me over.”
I couldn’t bear the betrayal in his eyes. I’d have done violence if Tug was there, which was totally unlike me. “I know that must have hurt a lot. I’m sorry.”
He lifted to his toes and kissed my cheek. “Thank you. You’re a really good friend.”
I coughed to hide the rush of…what? Shame? Embarrassed arousal? “It’s been a really long day. I have to go.”
“I’ll see you out, Lindy.” Cooper met us as we walked to the door. Shawn opened it for me. “We’ll take it from here.”
I made sure Shawn could see my lips when I said, “You guys are much better with people.”
Shawn hugged me goodbye.
“Stop manhandling my man.” Cooper pulled him away playfully then hugged me. As I left, I let go of all the unexpected emotions that plagued me.
Why wasn’t Beck just another guy to me? He had parents, even though going through something traumatic had made them cold.
He heard me call him a grifter. He also said I smelled good. If he was up to no good, I’d feel it deeply. I’d feel it personally.
If Beck had been gone by morning, I wouldn’t have been surprised.
Despite what I’d said, I wasn’t ready to face my empty house. My cockatiel Rico Suave would be there, but honestly, a bird wasn’t going to be much company tonight. Pie was out because Café Bêtise was closed by now. Though I’d eaten earlier, I was hungry again, so I parked in the clinic’s lot and walked to Bistro, hoping it was open until ten.
I got lucky, and there were still a few couples dining. Some I knew, like Izzie and her boyfriend, Andy, who was one of the local cops. I waved hello. The hostess showed me to a table by the window. I got out my phone and checked my messages, which seemed like the best way to avoid conversation. I liked dining alone, but people took it as a personal challenge sometimes.
The waiter offered me a menu. “Hey, Dr. Lindy.”
“Hi.” Did I know him? His name tag read Jeremy.
He must have seen my confusion, because he smiled. “I brought my roommate’s white Himalayan to you for bladder issues last year. Pinky. You changed her food.”
“Ah, right. Nice to see you again.” I vaguely remembered a fat, fluffy cat with the air of deposed royalty. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s good. Beatrice loves that cat to pieces.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
“You got anyone joining you tonight?”
“Nope, just me.”
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“What’s on tap?” He mentioned several beers, and I picked a regional IPA.
“I’ll get that and be back in a second for your order.”
“Thanks.” If ever a place illustrated life in a small town, it was Bistro. The menu proudly stated they served Yasha Livingston’s artisan breads and Mary Catherine’s pies. Everyone’s business connected to everyone else’s. You couldn’t go anywhere without finding cooperative advertising or at least flyers