Page 11 of A Rebel's Shot
“Yeah. I watched you on her channel. So nice to meet you.” Kim gave him a quick side hug before she crossed her arms with a sigh. “That Sunny. Such a nice girl. What’s she up to now?”
“I just dropped her off in the bush of the 40-Mile gold district north of Chicken. She’s trekking her way back to civilization.”
“That girl and her adventures. Makes me wish I was younger. You tell her Kim says hi next time you talk to her, okay?”
“I will.”
Kim turned to Merritt who watched the exchange with her mouth slightly open like she wasn’t sure what was happening. “And you, honey. What can I get you to drink?”
“Oh, um, hot tea, please?” There definitely was a hesitancy in Merritt’s voice that wasn’t there in her office.
“Be right back.” As Kim left, Merritt’s shoulders pushed back a little more and her neck lengthened, like her armor was clicking back into place.
Tiikâan sprawled his legs out and leaned back into the booth. “Smells amazing in here.”
“Yeah.” Her eyes widened as she scanned the menu.
“Sunny raved about the food. Declan, too.”
He surveyed the menu. Jeez. There were so many options that sounded amazing.
“Who’s Declan?” Merritt finally glanced at him.
“He’s a buddy that I grew up with in Tok. He’s the English teacher and the football coach at the high school.” Tiikâan grimaced. “And the local Turo.”
“He gave you that purple monstrosity?” Her smile, a genuine one that showed her straight teeth and made her eyes sparkle, hit him like a punch to the solar plexus.
This one could be dangerous if she ever let that smile loose for good.
“Yeah. He partners with the kids in town who end up working somewhere else for the summer or go off to college. He does all the work, then gives the kids most of the income. Not a very good business deal if you ask me, but he’s always been like that.” Tiikâan leaned forward. “He claims the Purple People Eater is the only vehicle he has available, but I have my doubts.”
Her smile faded to just a pleasant, practiced expression and her shoulders went back. “I believe we have cars here for use. I can see if one’s available.”
Why did the offer feel calculated?
“Nah. Renting it helps the girl out. Plus, it’s just a car. Doesn’t really matter what it looks like as long as it gets me from point A to point B.”
He smiled at Kim as she headed over from the kitchen with their drinks, though he could feel Merritt’s gaze on him. Studying him like he was some sort of new species she’d never met before.
“You ready or you need more time?” Kim asked as she put the drinks in front of them.
“Definitely more time. I haven’t even read through the first column.” He grabbed his soda and thanked her.
When she’d left, he scanned the menu and whistled. There had to be a hundred options. His gaze zeroed in on the unique pizza combos. He loved it when restaurants got adventurous.
“Kung Pao Chicken pizza? Oh, the Genghis Khan with beef, chicken, and a special sauce sounds good. Wonder what the special sauce is?”
“Hmm.” Was all the response Merritt gave as she fiddled with her necklace and scanned the menu with a crease in her forehead.
What? The rich girl doesn’t do pizza, burgers, and Chinese?
“We should get a Scampi Shrimp pizza. Shrimp in a special garlic, parsley, and butter sauce on a pizza? It’s like 5-star dining meets hometown diner. Sounds like a good match to me.” He wagged his eyebrows at her when she glanced up.
She cringed and bit her bottom lip. “While that sounds like it might be interesting, I’m a vegetarian.”
Of course, she was. She did realize that his primary source of income was guiding hunters to harvest meat, right? Would he have to spend the summer with looks of disdain every time he gnawed on a jerky stick?
Not that they’d be eating together often, but between her family’s obvious snobbery and their different lifestyles, the job he’d already been dreading could turn downright hellish.
