Page 8 of May 11

She hadn't planned on spending time with him. All she wanted to do was wake up, have time to think, and get some caffeine before finding somewhere else to sleep for the night.

To her surprise, he reached in front of her and opened the door to the coffee shop. She walked in first and stopped. The wonderful aroma of yeast tickled her nostrils. Coffee wasn't the only thing they offered.

"You must be Jessica." A woman behind the counter held out her hand.

She shook her head. "Sorry, no."

Wire put his hand on her back. "We're looking for some coffee, Dania. And a couple of muffins—"

"I'll pay for my own." She put her hands on the counter. "I'd like a caramel frap and a cinnamon roll. To go, please."

"Sure." Dania glanced between her and Wire. "Anything else?"

"No, that'll be all." She stepped back.

Wire spoke with the woman. Cora walked over to the wall and looked at the pictures, trying to distance herself from the biker. She couldn't help but listen to their conversation.

"Sorry," said the woman. "Bane mentioned he'd ask around at the clubhouse to see if any of the ol' ladies wanted a part-time job working here. I got excited, thinking you were bringing me someone. Tourist season is crazy this year. We're swamped."

Curious, Cora moved back to the counter. Seaglass Cove was a small town. Everyone probably came to the coffee shop.

"Excuse me." She waited until Dania turned around. "Are you handing out applications to everyone or only hiring friends?"

Dania's eyes brightened. "Anyone. Are you interested?"

"How long is the tourist season?"

"Until Labor Day."

That would give her a little over three months. She could stay in one spot. She could drive to the surrounding coastal towns on her days off and enquire about her brother.

She raked her teeth over her bottom lip. There was no need to work. Her parents left her enough money to last her whole life. But, the job would put her smack dab into a position to meet many people, making her search easier.

"I'd be interested in the job through the summer." She inhaled deeply. "Could I have an application?"

"No need." Dania held up her finger. "Let me get your order, and then we can talk."

Wire stood off to the side, frowning in her direction. She ignored him because he had nothing to do with what she was doing here.

Knowing she would talk to Dania, she sat at the table near the window and waited. Wire sat across from her. He'd need to move.

"I wanted to talk to you and find out if you've remembered anything about last night when Rush was hurt," he whispered.

"No." She sighed. "I told you it was dark. I couldn't see anything but an unrecognizable man. Once he spotted me looking, he took off and got in his car. That's it."

"What kind of car?"

Irritated at him, she pointed out the window at a car parked on the other side of the street in front of a furniture store. "Like that one."

"A silver four-door?" he asked.

"No." She sighed. "That shape. It was black or maybe dark blue."

"So, an SUV." He tapped the table. "How tall was the man?"

"How would I know?"

"You saw him."

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