Page 40 of Tempted

“Youdream aboutme,” I tellher.

“Always.”

CHAPTER 9

***Raven***

I see him before he walks into the diner.Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself to face him. It’s time toput three years of drama club to use. I square my shoulders but goback to wiping down the counter. The chimes on the door jingle, andI smile up at him.

“Hi. Welcome to Millie’s. Just sit where youlike, and I’ll be right with you,” I issue my standardgreeting.

He removes his hat and takes the stool infront of me. He looks tired. The kind of tired that comes fromhaving a stressful job. He’s probably in his thirties but looksmuch older. His eyes are a beautiful shade of brown, but are heavywith years of seeing too much shit. His brown hair is parted to theside and neatly combed. I can tell he works out a lot because hisarms fill out his shirt very nicely.

“Okay…counter it is. What can I get you?”

“Coffee.”

“Regular or decaf?”

“Regular.”

“Coming right up.”

As I’m pouring his coffee, he introduceshimself. “Sheriff Adrian Renley. I’d like to ask you somequestions, Miss Alvarez.”

“Um…okay.”

I need to play it cool. I have to find abalance between not knowing anything and knowing too much. He’shere, which means he thinks I knowsomething.

“Are you acquainted with Mr. GageHunter?”

“I know him. Why?”

“How do you know him?”

“I met him through my sister. Again…why?”

“There was an incident on Septemberthirteenth. Witnesses reported a car being chased and shot at bytwo men on motorcycles.”

“Yeah, I heard about that. Have you caughtthose guys?”

“Working on it. Witnesses from Chiquita’s saythe two of you had a heated argument that night.”

“I wouldn’t call it that.”

“What would you call it?”

“A conversation.”

Millie walks up and places her arm around myshoulder protectively. “Sheriff, what’s going on here?”

“Just asking some questions.”

“Well, since Raven is a minor, you won’t mindme sticking around.”

“Of course not.”

Throughout the entire exchange so far, hisexpression has not changed. Not even a twitch. He has one hell of apoker face because I can’t tell what he’s thinking. He nods toMillie then turns back to me.