Page 7

EVE

The diner got busier as the day went on, leaving me sweaty, aching, and desperate for a break.

I’d barely had time to catch my breath during the lunch rush.

I wiped down the counter for what must have been the fifth time that hour, the rag moving in circles while my thoughts did the same.

From what I could see through the pass, Orion hadn’t moved much, his attention locked on the papers strewn across the table in front of him.

Why was he still here? What was he working on?

Those questions had no business creeping into my head when I still had orders to plate. Besides, he’d probably be gone tomorrow, moving on just like everyone else who passed through this nowhere town.

So why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?

“Hey, Sam, I’m gonna take lunch,” I called over my shoulder as I shrugged my apron off.

Sam glanced up from the fryer, his face shining with sweat, and gave me a thumbs-up.

I grabbed the burger someone had sent back earlier—I wasn’t going to let perfectly good food go to waste—and entered the dining car.

Orion looked up as I neared, the serious look on his face instantly discarded when he smiled up at me.

“Mind if I join you?”

“I insist,” he said, his voice like honey poured over smoke.

I couldn’t help but glance at the table as he cleared a space for me. Topographic maps were spread across it, crisscrossed with faint pencil marks. Beside them were loose pages, and police reports—disturbingly similar to the ones I’d combed through after my mom disappeared.

Suddenly, I didn’t feel hungry. My fingers tightened around the edge of the plate as I slid into the booth, more to steady myself than anything else.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Orion leaned forward on his elbows. Heat crept up my neck as I sat back, suddenly very aware of how small the booth felt with him in it.

“Just interested to hear about what you’re working on,” I said, nodding my head towards the maps now covering the far side of the table.

“What’s there to tell? Figured I’d do a little research while I’m in the area. Nothing too exciting.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing. What brings you to Virginia? I’m assuming you don’t live here.”

“That obvious, huh? Just looking for clues that might help this missing persons case I’m building.”

“Did someone go missing from here?” My stomach churned as I said it, and I tried my hardest to think of anyone but her.

“Not exactly. Just the closest cabin vacancy I could find at the last minute.”

“Right…” I said, my fingers itching to grab one of the reports.

There was something in the way he was watching me, the way he was avoiding my questions, that had me wanting to know more.

“You really aren’t giving me much to work with here.

You sure you’re not plotting something, I don’t know, nefarious? ”

He chuckled, sending those butterflies scattering again. “Plotting something? You really think I’m the nefarious type?”

“Yes?”

“Well, you’ve got me there,” he chuckled.

“Fine, don’t tell me. But can I ask you another question?” I pressed, leaning in slightly, my food completely forgotten about.

“Hit me with your best shot,” Orion said, cocking his head.

“Why did you become a detective?”

His grin faltered. It was so minute I might have missed it had I not been watching him so intently.

Before he could respond, the bell above the diner door jingled.

“Eveee!”

I looked up in time to see Cherry, Darcy’s unstoppable five-year-old, charging toward me without hesitation. A rush of air left my lungs as her small body slammed into mine, knocking us both back into the booth. Her sticky fingers caught in my hair as she tried to choke me.

“Cherry, we talked about hug-bombing,” Darcy called out as she walked over. “Not while Auntie Eve is working, okay?”

Cherry pouted as she untangled herself, skipping off to join her brother, Robbie, in an empty booth.

Darcy stopped by the table, shifting her two-year-old, Dolly, higher on her hip. Then she froze when she spotted Orion, her eyes flicking between the two of us, not unlike how Louise had done when she met him earlier.

“Eve,” Darcy said, settling her sights on me. “My dad called to tell me he had to dig your car out of a ditch. I went by your house, but you weren’t home. Are you okay?“

“Besides the car, I’m OK. You didn’t need to check in on me.”

Darcy pursed her lips and hummed for a moment. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is Orion, he helped me get out of the ditch and gave me a ride to work.”

I hoped if I sounded nonchalant about the whole thing that she might just drop the subject. But, like flipping a switch, Darcy’s demeanor changed in an instant.

“He rescued you? Eve, that’s so romantic!”

Orion started coughing, trying to cover his laugh. Without thinking, I kicked out at him under the table, my foot connecting with his shin.

“I didn’t know you were popping by today,” Louise said over Darcy’s shoulder, giving her a quick hug.

“I just wanted to bring the kids over, check on Eve, maybe cheer her up after the—” Darcy said.

“Why don’t we leave Orion to his work and go sit… well, anywhere else,” I said quickly, seizing my chance and scrambling out of the booth with my untouched plate of food.

“Oh, I guess that means we’re done,” Darcy said, as I ushered both women away. “Bye, Orion.”

“Nice meeting you, Darcy,” he said, his voice warm but still carrying the ghost of amusement that lingered on his face.

I guided Darcy toward the booth where her kids were now coloring on the menus and slid into the seat beside Cherry, who was the perfect distraction.

But once the kids were settled and lunch was ordered, Darcy’s attention snapped back to me.

“Look, I get why you didn’t call me,” she began, her tone conspiratorial. “But don’t you think I deserve to know about the sexy-as-sin man who rescued you? You call your friends after something like that happens, Eve!”

“Darcy, I meant it when I said nothing happened. He was just driving by, gave me a lift home, and that was it.”

She arched a brow, smirking like she already had me figured out. “Then why else is he hanging around if not because he likes you?”

“I don’t know why he’s still here! I was trying to figure that out before all the hug-bombs. And he doesn’t like me—what would make you say that?” I said, crossing my arms defensively.

“Sure, babe. And I totally don’t eat peanut butter straight out of the jar.”

I risked a glance toward Orion, still sitting in his booth. He wasn’t looking at me now—his focus was on his phone, the faint furrow in his dark brows making him seem even more serious than usual.

The idea that he might actually like me had flitted through my mind a few times throughout the day, but it was unbidden.

He was charming and gorgeous, and sure, he had this magnetic energy I couldn’t quite shake, but the thought was ridiculous.

I barely knew him, and he was obviously here for something else—something more important than me.

Bumping into me was just a burden, and the diner was just a convenient place for a man always on the road to take a break.

“Even if he did like me, it wouldn’t matter. He’s not staying.”

Darcy leaned closer, her voice softening in that way that made it impossible to brush her off. “You sound like you’re not even giving him the chance. You deserve a piece of happiness, Evie!”

Her words soured the air. I hated how she pitied me. Not all of us were lucky enough to have families, and she didn’t have to constantly remind me of that.

I forced a weak smile, but inside, a storm brewed. Darcy wasn’t being cruel. She was being Darcy—genuine, if a little off the mark.

Before I could say anything, a shadow fell over the table, and I scrambled to my feet.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Orion cleared his throat. “But I need to go see to something.”

I looked over at his booth, realizing his things were already packed up—maps, papers, laptop—all gone.

“Oh, well, it was nice to meet you.” I swallowed down my disappointment and hoped it wasn’t written all over my face.

“Are you trying to get rid of me, Eve?” He said with a laugh that completely threw me off. “You’re going to need to try harder than that.”

“What? No!” I blurted, flustered. “That’s not what I meant—”

He held up a hand, cutting me off with an easy grin. “I’m not going far,” his gaze softened slightly as he added, “You’ll still need a ride home unless your car’s fixed today. Which I doubt.”

As if on cue, Darcy popped up beside me. “Oh! Dad was going to call you, but I told him I’d swing by. He said it’ll be finished tomorrow. He’ll drop it off at your place and send you the bill.”

Orion raised an eyebrow. “Well, would you look at that,” he said, his tone dripping with smugness. “I’ll be back at closing to pick you up, so don’t go scurrying off into the night without me.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said quickly as we started moving toward the door.

“Oh, I think I do. There’s a crazy person out there running pretty girls off the road. Gotta make sure you get home safe.”

“You’re incredulous,” I muttered, shoving him lightly toward the door.

“Stay out of trouble, hurricane,” he called back. His tone was commanding enough to send a shiver straight through me.

I watched him go, my heart buzzing in my chest.

Knock it off, Eve. He’s not into you.

Shutting the door, I turned and immediately locked eyes with Louise, who was leaning on the counter, watching me with a look that made my stomach twist.

“Don’t,” I warned.

She just grinned—the kind that made me want to disappear into the floor. I just rolled my eyes and headed back to the kitchen.