Page 81 of Kiss of Deceit

I ignored him, not denying anything since he’d seen my arm around her this morning. If the town wanted to gossip aboutme and Dani, then maybe it would stop assholes like Riggs from touching her.

“You think they’ll stay in town?” Harry asked after another sip of his beer.

“No idea,” I muttered, gazing around the bar. It was packed tonight with no empty tables. Football was playing on the mounted televisions, and a few men were bickering about who was in line for the next game. “They didn’t seem like they wanted to be here.”

“And if we don’t find the killer?” Harry asked under his breath. “I don’t think?—”

“We’re out of pretzels. Want me to restock?” Adella asked, interrupting Harry as she stepped up beside me. “We’re going to through more this winter than last year. I don’t think we’ll have enough to last to January.”

“Go ahead and open a new box,” I told her with a shake of my head.

I had a feeling this would happen after seeing how this week was going. My bar was always busy, but it had been packed every single night since the murders started. It was almost as if no one wanted to be alone. The atmosphere was also more somber, heavy with fear.

The door opened, and a sense of relief shot through me when Dani entered the bar. She was bundled in her thick jacket with her hands buried in her pockets. In the hours I was at the clinic today, I was barely able to say a word to her, but I didn’t miss that something was wrong. After her talk with Susan, she wouldn’t even meet my eyes. Though, even when I saw her in the morning with Riggs, something seemed off with her.

I frowned as she strode closer, not watching her surroundings like she usually did. I clenched my jaw when I noticed Tristin and his little group of friends staring at her. Hewasn’t dumb enough to try to go near her in my bar after my warning.

My eyes cut to Harry. “You’re in her seat. Move.”

“You aren’t serious,” he sputtered with a scowl.

“Do I look like I’m kidding? Move your ass, Harry.”

He cursed at me under his breath as he snagged his beer and staggered away. Adella chuckled, grabbing the napkins from me. She rounded the bar to restock them on the tables. My attention went back to Dani as she slid onto the stool Harry just vacated.

“You want to talk about it?” I asked quietly.

Her gaze snapped to me. “Talk about what?”

“Whatever’s been bothering you since this morning.”

She blew out a heavy breath. “It’s just been a shit day.”

I had a feeling it was far more than that, but she didn’t keep talking, so I dropped it. It was just like when she had her nightmares. If she wasn’t ready to share, then I wouldn’t pry. No matter how badly I wanted to know what was going through her head.

I reached for the vodka to make her usual drink, but she shook her head. “Just soda, please. I need a clear head.”

“A clear head for what?”

Her sweet smile shot suspicion through me. “I need your help, Kole.”

I placed my palms on the bar, leaning closer. “Help with what?”

“Susan wants us to move back into the police station in two days.” She met my eyes, looking unsure about telling me this. “I need fifteen minutes alone in the police station.”

“Why?”

She bit her lip, hesitation flashing across her face. “I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t? Or won’t?”

“Harry has had people standing guard day and night…” she trailed off as if choosing her words carefully. “You’re technically a deputy now. If you just volunteer for tomorrow night’s shift and let me slip inside for a few minutes?—”

“Oh, you have this all planned out, don’t you?” I cut her off, failing at hiding my amused grin. “And what if I say no?”

“You won’t help me?”

Fucking hell.Her question made me realize how deep I was with her already. Because there wasn’t any part of me that wanted to deny her. If she wanted my help, I’d do it without question.