Page 76 of Cornered

Donovan finished the buttons. “Promise me you won’t drive yourself home.”

That was a promise she had no difficulty making. “Promise.”

Donovan didn’t look convinced, but he stepped back and followed her into the kitchen. “I have a question.”

“What’s that?”

“Is it normal for Steven Pierce to stop by?”

Cassie couldn’t tell if Donovan was asking as a cop or as a jealous, well, whatever he was. “He pops in a couple of times a week. Technically, all dining at The Haven falls under his purview.”

“What did he want tonight?”

“Um?” What did he ask? Her head was so fuzzy. Oh. Steven. “He said he wanted to tell me in person how much he appreciated my efforts over the weekend.”

“Huh.”

They hit the swinging doors that led out of the kitchen and into the main dining room. She tried to hurry to the photo op, but her legs and arms didn’t want to move the way she wanted them to. What was going on with her? The guests were going to think she’d been sipping on more than lemonade tonight.

DONOVAN STAYED OUTof the range of cameras and phones while Cassie accepted kudos from a movie star who’d recently won an Oscar. One of the servers leaned around the group taking photos and pointed toward the door. “I don’t want to intrude, but the porch with the fireplace makes for some gorgeous evening photos.”

Donovan watched as the whole crowd immediately abandoned their meals and trooped outside, Cassie companionablysquashed between the Oscar winner and his producer girlfriend. At least they were almost done for the night. Amos had finished plating the desserts, and he could handle closing up the kitchen. He and Cassie were on much better terms now. They’d had a little chat on Saturday, and as far as Donovan could tell, Amos was Team Cassie all the way. He hoped he wasn’t wrong about that.

Donovan slipped outside and paused by the door to the restaurant. In between the crush of guests, he could just make out Cassie posing for a photo with yet another celebrity.

He doubted anyone else would be able to tell, but he could see the strain on her face and the way her smile was forced.

That decided it for him. He was taking Cassie home after she came back inside. She was so tired she was starting to slur her speech. He made a mental note for the future: Cassie Quinn would quite literally work herself to death if not protected from her own off-the-charts work ethic.

A few minutes later, a wave of laughing guests returned to the dining room. He held the door open for the first guest, then the next. One man who looked vaguely familiar extended his hand.

“Thank you, Officer. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to let me come do a ride-along with you sometime?”

The other guests swirled around them and continued to filter inside.

“I’m playing a cop in my next movie. My agent’s lined up a few things for me in LA, but I’d really like to get the small-town experience.”

The last thing Donovan wanted to do was chauffeur an actor for a day, but he forced a polite smile. The line of returning guests had almost dissipated. Where was Cassie?

Of course she would agree to take pictures until the last guest was satisfied, even though she could barely stay upright.

Donovan focused on the man. “I’m afraid that’s not my call to make. Have your agent call our chief of police, Grayson Ward.”

“I’ll do that, man. Thank you.” He shook his hand again, and when Donovan looked back to the fireplace, the porch was empty.

He walked all three sides of the porch.

No Cassie.

He called her phone. A male voice answered. “Cassie Quinn’s phone. Donovan?”

“Amos? Why do you have Cassie’s phone?”

“It was in her coat pocket. I heard it ringing, looked at it, and saw it was you. So I answered it. Where are you?”

Donovan walked off the steps and into the green space around the restaurant. “Did Cassie come back in a side door?”

“No. I assumed she was with you.”

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