He shook his head and started the car.
“What?”
“I’ve never had a woman thank me so fervently for coffee.”
“That’s because you haven’t been to Mountain Brew before. Charlie is an extraordinary barista. I keep trying to steal her away to work at the Windward.”
He drove into town and parked. As we walked to the coffee shop, I saw him looking around, taking in the town.
Again, it worried me that he didn’t look out of place.
As I pushed open the door, the bell tinkled and the scent of coffee hit me. From behind the counter, Charlie smiled at me. “Tessa, I—” Her mouth dropped open and she stared at Ro.
He looked around the shop, then smiled at Charlie.
The barista made a gurgling noise.
I pressed my lips together. “Charlie?”
“Right. Sorry. But you’re… He’s…” She waved her hands around.
“Ambrose Langston.” He stepped forward, holding out a hand. “Tessa told me that your coffee is the best in the world.”
Charlie blushed and quickly shook his hand. “Hi.”
“Two cappuccinos, Charlie,” I told her. “Fast. We need to get to work.”
She nodded and moved to the machine. Then she froze and looked up. “You two are… on your way to the hotel?”
Ro leaned against the counter. “Yes.”
I saw the speculation in Charlie’s gaze. When Ro moved away to check his phone, she gave me big eyes. I just shook my head.
He returned. “We’d better get two of those bacon and egg muffins as well.” He touched my back. “I’m starving.”
“Sure.”
What I needed was for us to get out of there. I saw too many questions gathering in Charlie’s eyes.
We got our coffee and muffins and paid. “Bye, Charlie.”
She grinned. “Catch you later, Tessa. Bye, Hottie Billionaire.”
He laughed. “Goodbye.”
Soon we were back in the car, but it was a really short drive to the hotel.
“Caden updated me on the investigations,” Ro said. “He’s been following up on some leads.”
Nerves hit me. Whoever had poisoned me was close by. And I had no idea who they were. “That’s good.”
We pulled up in front of the hotel entrance. Ro grabbed my hand. “He’s not going to get the chance to hurt you again. Stay alert and make sure you don’t go anywhere alone.”
I nodded. “And you need to be careful too.”
“I will, baby.”
My door opened. “Good morning, Mr. Langston. Tessa.”
