They took four stools at the counter, as usual. Robbie sat on the seat farthest from the door, Zane and Brett perched in the next two seats, with their dad next to them, his bulk between them and whoever might enter the diner. These seats were also not in front of the diner’s windows, but at the very end of the counter, almost in the hall to the bathrooms.
Addie took up the coffeepot and poured a cup of fully caffeinated brew for black-and-white guy and three ice waters for the boys. She’d offered them cokes when they first came in, but their dad didn’t like them having sugared drinks.
Considering how much pie they put away, Addie didn’t blame him. Sweet sodas on top of that would have them wired to the gills all night.
“You almost missed the pie,” Addie said to the boys as she set the dripping glasses of water on the counter. “We had a run on it today. But I saved you a few pieces in the fridge.” She winked at them. “I’ll just run and get them. That’s three banana creams and an apple streusel, right?”
She looked into the father’s green eyes, and stopped.
She’d never seen him look at her like that. There was a hunger in his gaze, powerful and intense. He skewered her with it, and Addie looked back at him, her mouth open, her heart constricting before it started pounding.
Men had looked at her with suggestion before, but they’d always accompanied it with a half-amused smile as though laughing at themselves or telling Addie she’d have a great time if she conceded.
This was different. Black-and-white man studied her with a wanting that was palpable, as though any second he’d climb over the counter and come at her.
After a second, he blinked, and the look was gone. He hadn’t intended her to catch him.
The blink showed Addie something else. Behind the interest, his eyes held great distraction and deep worry.
Something had happened tonight, some reason he’d come here going on five minutes late.
Addie knew better than to ask him if everything was all right. He wouldn’t answer. The man was not one for casual conversation. The boys talked, but kept their answers general. They had not betrayed with one word where they were from, where they went to school, what they liked to do for fun, or why their dad kept them up this late every night.
Addie simply gave them all her smile, said, “I’ll be right back,” and ducked into the kitchen to fetch the pie she’d held back for them.
She took out the pieces, already sliced on their plates, and sprinkled a little extra cocoa powder on the banana cream ones from the dented shaker on the shelf.
The guy who washed dishes—Bo went through a new one about every two weeks—wasn’t there. He liked to ducked out for a smoke right at closing time, coming back in when Bo got there to finish the cleanup. Addie hummed, alone in the kitchen, her pulse still high from that look black-and-white man had given her.
If Addie marched out there and said to him, sure, she was interested—in a discreet way in front of his kids—would he break down and tell her his name?
Or would he take her somewhere and make love to her with silent strength, the same way he walked and ate? Would Addie mind that?
She pictured him above her in the dark, his green eyes on her while she ran her hands all over his tight, beautiful body.
Nope, she wouldn’t mind that at all.
She picked up two pieces of pie, still humming. At the same time, she heard a scratching at the back door.
Bo? Addie set down the pie and walked over. Bo always used his key to get in—they kept the back door locked. Even in this small town that was pretty safe, robbers passing through might seize an opportunity.
Bo often couldn’t get his key into the lock—his hands shook with a palsy that ran in his family. The dishwasher often had to help him, or Addie would open the door for him.
Bo was a bit early, but he was sometimes. Addie reached for the door, just as something banged into it.
“Bo? You okay?” Addie unlocked the deadbolt, carefully pulled the door open, and peeked out.
The door fell inward, a heavy weight on it. Addie looked down.
A curious detachment came over her as she saw the dishwasher, a guy of about thirty with greasy brown hair and beard stubble. He was dead, his brown eyes staring sightlessly. She knew he was dead because he had a gaping red hole where his heart used to be.
If this had been a movie, Addie would be screaming, fainting, sobbing, saying Oh, my God, or running outside crying, Somebody, help!
Instead, she stood there, as though caught in treacle, unable to move, think, talk, or even breathe.
A faint noise sounded outside, and Addie raised her head. She saw the round muzzle of a gun, one of the automatic ones that shot however many rounds a minute. Her breath poured back into her lungs, burning, and she knew she was looking at her own death.
A rush of air passed her, and the door slammed closed. At the same time a pair of strong arms closed around her, propelling her to the floor, the man with black-and-white hair landing on top of her.
In the front of the diner, every window shattered as bullets fired through it. Glass flew through the open pass between kitchen and dining area, as did bullets, shards of cups and plates, tatters of napkins.
The kids, Addie thought in panic. Where were the boys?
There they were, huddled against the door to the freezer. How the man had gotten them in here so fast and out of sight and then come for Addie, she didn’t know, but her body went limp with relief to see them.
“Who’s doing this?” Addie squeaked. “What—”
The man clamped his hand over her mouth. “Shh,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “I need to you to be very quiet, all right?”
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jennifer Ashley has written more than 80 published novels and novellas in romance, urban fantasy, and mystery under the names Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner. Her books have been nominated for and won Romance Writers of America’s RITA (given for the best romance novels and novellas of the year), several RT BookReviews Reviewers Choice awards (including Best Urban Fantasy, Best Historical Mystery, and Career Achievement in Historical Romance), and Prism awards for her paranormal romances. Jennifer’s books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have earned starred reviews in Booklist. More about Jennifer’s books and series can be found at jenniferashley.com.
Titles by Jennifer Ashley
The Mackenzies
THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE
LADY ISABELLA’S SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE
THE MANY SINS OF LORD CAMERON
THE DUKE’S PERFECT WIFE
A MACKENZIE FAMILY CHRISTMAS
THE SEDUCTION OF ELLIOT MCBRIDE
THE UNTAMED MACKENZIE
THE WICKED DEEDS OF DANIEL MACKENZIE
SCANDAL AND THE DUCHESS
RULES FOR A PROPER GOVERNESS
THE SCANDALOUS MACKENZIES
THE STOLEN MACKENZIE BRIDE
A MACKENZIE CLAN GATHERING
Shifters Unbound
PRIDE MATES
PRIMAL BONDS
BODYGUARD
WILD CAT
HARD MATED
MATE CLAIMED
LONE WOLF
TIGER MAGIC
FERAL HEAT
WILD WOLF
SHIFTER MATES
(ANTHOLOGY)
BEAR ATTRACTION
MATE BOND
LION EYES
BAD WOLF
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Jennifer Ashley, A MacKenzie Clan Gathering
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