Page 42 of Billionaire Unexplained: Kaleb

She was probably right. People might think she looked a little familiar, but she looked so different from her alter ego right now that it would be hard to place where they had seen her before. “I still don’t like it,” I grumbled.

“Trust me,” she pleaded. “If I thought it was that risky, I wouldn’t be here. I know you’re trying to protect me, but I want to protect you and this town, too. Let’s get coffee. I only have one eye open right now.”

I let out a heavy breath as we crossed the street.

Anna knew what she was doing, and she really wanted to feel like a regular visitor to Crystal Fork.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t lived with this shit her whole adult life.

She needed to feel normal, and it was hard to deny her something this important to her.

Besides, I’d be here if anything bad happened.

That was better than her being by herself or with someone else when she introduced herself to the town.

I opened the door for Anna, ignoring the familiar clinking of bells that sounded as the door opened.

I was relieved when I saw that only a few tables were occupied when we stepped inside.

The Mug And Jug was a large gathering spot, and it got crowded at times.

I directed her forward and straight to the long, wooden counter that also functioned as a bar at night.

Anna slipped onto a barstool like she’d been to the place a million times.

Silas came out of the back room. He lifted a hand in greeting to me, and then stopped suddenly when he saw Anna.

“You’re new here,” the older man said as he started to move to a spot right in front of her.

She shot him her sweetest smile. “I am. I’m visiting this lovely town. I heard this is the best place to get an amazing cup of coffee.”

Silas shot me a questioning glance before he looked back at Anna with a grin. “You heard right. What will you have?”

“Anything that’s packed with caffeine and a lot of frothy milk?” she asked hopefully with a look of longing on her face.

Jesus! Was there a guy on the planet who could deny this woman when she asked that nicely?

Not Silas, obviously.

He looked like a man who was instantly smitten with the woman in front of him.

He stroked his silver beard as he beamed at Anna. “I’ll fix you up, darlin’. Do you want that coffee as sweet as you are? Not that a pretty girl like you needs any extra sweetness.”

Anna fluttered her eyelashes. “Yes, please.”

I rolled my eyes. I’d probably heard Silas say those words a thousand times before.

The man never stopped trying to charm any female who walked into his establishment.

“The coffee, Silas, and give her one of your cinnamon rolls, too,” I said a little impatiently. “I’ll have the usual.”

I plopped my ass on a stool next to Anna as I surveyed the people in the room.

I was glad to see that I knew every face in the room. Most of them were enjoying their coffee before opening their businesses at nine.

Yeah, everyone stared, but not any differently than they’d look at any stranger in the small town.

I was still a little edgy, but I relaxed a fraction because no one was looking at Anna like they’d just seen Annelise.

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