“That sneaky little shit,” Colt said. “He hasn’t told me nothin’ about this.”
How was she supposed to answer? What if Cam didn’t want his family to know? “Maybe there’s nothing to tell.”
“Right. Seein’ as his pickup has been parked outside your apartment late at night for the last week…well, sweetheart, that’s not something that’s gonna escape notice in this gossipy town or in the gossipy McKay family,” Colt drawled.
“In that case, I guess it doesn’t matter that my shades are drawn?”
Colt grinned. “Oh, I wouldn’t go that far. There’s lots of shocking things goin’ on behind closed doors that are better left to the imagination.”
No kidding. “Tell Indy I said hello,” she said and ducked out the back door.
Domini snuck in the delivery entrance to Dewey’s. She watched David’s knife flash as the scents of onions and green peppers filled the prep area.
David didn’t look up when he said, “Hey, Domini.”
“Hey, Dave. How’s it going?”
He shrugged. “I’m good.”
“Did lunch go okay?”
“Slow. So I have a feeling you’ll be busy tonight.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you’re cooking.”
She groaned. “I forgot. Is there any chance—”
“Nope. I’m prepping until five and then I’m outta here.”
“Please?”
“No way. I have a date with a hot number from Spearfish. She’s staying over at my place and everything.”
“Lucky you.”
“Yep.” David scooped the mix into a white plastic bucket.
Domini wandered out front. The place was empty, typical for the time of day. Myra, the night waitress, sat in a booth rolling silverware. “Need some help?”
“I won’t say no if you’re offerin’.”
She slid across from Myra and grabbed a stack of napkins. “How was the lunch crowd today?”
“Eating someplace else according to Bea.” Myra peered at her over the rim of her leopard-print eyeglasses. “Bobby is slacking big time when you’re not around.”
That was disconcerting. “I haven’t heard customer complaints.”
“That’s because they don’t bother to complain. They just don’t bother to come back in.”
“David says we’ll be busy tonight because I’m cooking.”
Myra rolled the silverware into the napkin and dropped it into the bucket with a muffled clank. “Why don’t you hire another cook if you don’t want to do it anymore?”
“That’s the thing. I’d rather just cook. It’s the management stuff that I don’t want to do.” Domini almost clapped her hand over her mouth. Why had she admitted that? To an employee?
“Why don’t you tell Macie? I’m sure she’d understand.”
“No, she wouldn’t. After what happened with Cat, she needs someone she can trust to manage this place. I had to promise David the moon to stay on as a prep cook because no one else has applied. I know it’s the exact same story on the management side.” Domini sighed. Unemployment rates may be skyrocketing everywhere else in the country, but not in Wyoming. For the most part, skilled workers in the restaurant industry could pick and choose where they hung their apron.
The doorbell chimed.
“Right on time.” Myra’s eyes sparkled. “Chin up, boss. Maybe a knight in shining armor will ride to your rescue and sweep you away from this mundane existence.”
Domini didn’t have to turn around to know who’d walked in.
Cam.
Silly, but her heart did a little flip.
“Hey, Deputy,” Myra called out. “Want coffee?”
“Please.”
She waited until Myra delivered Cam’s coffee before she sauntered over. Her body flushed hot as the griddle when his hungry eyes ate her up. “Deputy. May I join you?”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
“Would you prefer I sat beside you or across from you?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
He blew across his coffee. “On which side offers the easiest access for me to cop a feel.”
“A cop copping a feel?”
“Yep.”
She sat across from him. “How has your day been?”
“It started off with a bang.” His sexy bad-boy grin made her stomach cartwheel.
“I’ll say.”
“How’s your day been?”
“Good. I saw Colt and Hudson a little while ago. Colt grilled me on what was going on with us.” She swiped his mug and took a drink. “The rumor mill has been churning.”
“Yes, it has. My mother called today.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Nothin’. I didn’t answer her call. I just…”
Don’t want to tell her it’s just sex between us?
Cam sighed. “I want to keep you to myself for a little bit longer before they start meddling. Does that sound stupid?”
“No.” Before she choked up at another glimpse of the sweet side of this gruff man, she changed the subject. “So, did you arrest anyone today, Deputy?”
“I ticketed two kids for drag racin’ out by the old cemetery. Then I finished paperwork. I got tired of listening to Shortbull and Reeves arguing about baseball so I took a break and came here. What time do you get done?”
“Ten thirty. I’m cooking tonight, which I’ll admit I am not looking forward to.”
“Funny, I always look forward to your cooking.”
“Ah. So is that why you’ve been coming in at least once a day for the last two years? Because of my culinary skills?”
“I’m a bachelor. Half the time I eat Cap’n Crunch for supper.”
Domini leaned across the table. “That is not an answer, Cam.”
“I know. But I don’t guess you’d like to hear how seeing your pretty face never fails to make my day, no matter what else happens to me during the course of that day.”
“You’re wrong. Sometimes I want to hear mushy stuff.”
Cam touched her face. “Anything you want, Domini. Name it.”
The doorbell pinged. Cam dropped his hand and threaded their fingers together. Before Domini tore her gaze away from Cam’s compelling blue eyes, a blond ball of energy stopped short of tackling her in the booth.