She glanced over her menu, debating between the salmon and the scallops as she waited for James. She heard his voice out on the street. “I need you to bring my car up for a minute, I forgot something.”
“I could retrieve whatever you need,” the valet said.
“No. I need to get it myself.”
“Of course, sir.”
Maryn sat up straighter. Please say James wasn’t getting a ring or some kind of present for her. He’d proposed more times than she could count, but she’d always been able to laugh him off as he’d never done the formal get down on his knee or anything. Her palms started sweating. She sat still and listened until she heard James thanking the valet. Slipping out of her chair, she passed their waitress on her way through the restaurant.
“Is everything all right, miss?” the waitress asked.
Maryn wondered how pale her face was. “Oh, yes.” She waved a hand. “If my date returns will you please tell him I went to the restroom?”
“Of course.”
Maryn slipped out the restaurant door in time to see James lift a small present from his trunk then give the valet some cash and stride off around the back of the restaurant. Weird. If the present was for her, wouldn’t he be bringing it back inside? She should feel relief, but something was off.
She quietly followed him, not sure what her excuse would be if he caught her, but it was James. He wouldn’t care. He usually shared everything with her. Yet for some reason, she didn’t want him to see her.
Low voices reached her as she paused at the edge of the building. Peeking her head around, she saw James and two really rough-looking dudes—tats, shaggy heads, and scruffy clothes—at the back of the alley. James handed over the package and the guy gave him an envelope. What in the ecosphere was going on? At least she didn’t have to worry about the present being for her.
One of the guys lifted his head and stared right at her. Maryn scurried around the side of the building, flattening herself against the wall.
“What?” James said.
“Some blonde chick was spying on us.”
Maryn took off at a run. She had to make it back into the restaurant before they saw her. Her heels slowed her down. Oh, crap, they were going to catch her. A service entrance was to her right. Not stopping to think, she jerked it open and then slowly closed it. Leaning against it, she heard footsteps pounding past. She turned around and swallowed hard. The entire kitchen staff was watching her.
Patting her hair, she gave them a smile and walked straight through. “Is this the way to the restroom?”
“Um, yes, ma’am,” a chef with a starched apron and white chef’s hat said to her.
“Everything smells fabulous,” she said and waved a hand like she knew what she was doing. “Carry on.”
Ignoring the whispers and stares, Maryn hurried through the kitchen and out into the restaurant. Trying to get her ragged breathing under control, she slowed her steps and prayed the sweat dripping down her neck and chest wasn’t visible.
Finally, she reached their table, sank into her seat, and took a long drink of water, using her napkin to dab at the moisture on her forehead. Her heartbeat wouldn’t slow down, but she thought she looked under control when James reappeared a few minutes later.
She arched an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
“What do you mean?” He stared at her like he knew she’d spied on him.
“You were gone for a while.”
“Sorry. Just had to meet with a source about a story.” He held up a hand and pumped his eyebrows. “Nope, not sharing the scoop. It’s a good one and you’d try to steal it out from under me.”
“Come on, I’ve never done that.” Maryn laughed, exhaling in relief. Oh, thank heavens. James wasn’t involved in some nefarious plot. Everything made sense now. Those scary guys were the source. He’d given them a gift and they’d given him some information. She almost confided that she’d watched, but something in her gut still felt uneasy.
“You have done that.” James pointed an accusatory finger at her. “And probably still will, even though you’re going to be famous in your own right after tomorrow.”
Maryn forced a smile at him, grateful when the waitress appeared. She used to be so driven about her career, but for some reason it didn’t matter as much to her anymore. Okay, she knew the reason and it was currently nine hundred and seventy eight miles away. She really needed to stop asking Siri that distance.
ChapterThirteen
Tucker tried to keep himself busy, but it didn’t work. It didn’t come close to working. He thought about Maryn nonstop, but he still couldn’t stand the fact that she’d left. If she cared for him and wanted to be with him, why had she left with that James guy and why hadn’t she come back?
He marched into his office and clicked his mouse. Maybe some time spent programming could distract him. He’d used physical exertion to divert himself many times before, but it wasn’t doing a thing for him right now. No matter how hard he ran, boxed, lifted weights, chopped wood, or cleared dead trees out of his forest, he could still think, and when he thought, it was about the blonde beauty who had walked out his front door on the arm of a fake pretty boy loser. The guy dressed like a flamer, punched about as hard as Mama when she caught Tuck sneaking cookie dough, and looked like his hair was highlighted. Tucker rolled his eyes. If that was Maryn’s semi-boyfriend then Tucker definitely wasn’t her type. That thought made him even more grumpy.