Page 10 of Recklessly Yours

I looked back down at her phone and took a screenshot, then forced my gaze back to her. “Is this the only one?”

With her brows pulled together, she shook her head. “I deleted the other one, so I can’t be sure they came from the same number.”

Focused on the phone again, I tapped the messages icon so I could send the screenshot I’d taken to myself. When I typed my name into the spot for a recipient, nothing came up. “Huh, kinda surprised you don’t have my number.”

With her head tilted to one side, she assessed me. “Why would I?”

My gut clenched. Right. Rhett’s sister. Nothing more. She probably didn’t make it a habit of saving the numbers of all her brother’s friends in her phone.

I entered my name and number as a contact, then texted the screenshot to myself. When my phone chimed a moment later, I pulled it out of my pocket, intending to save her number in my contact list too.

Except, based on the way her name appeared along with the image, her number had already been saved.Huh. Had I asked for her number at that party a few years ago? The corner of my lips curled up. If I had, then it was definitely under false pretenses.

“I’ll look into this for you.” I blocked the random number and handed her the phone back. “But I’d bet my career this number comes back as a burner.”

She shrugged. “Okay.”

“Look, don’t take this lightly.” I narrowed my eyes and leaned forward. “It could be nothing, but stalkers can be dangerous.”

Her face screwed up into a look of disbelief. “I doubt I have a stalker. It’s probably just a wrong number.”

Maybe I was cynical—it was hard not to be after twelve years as a police officer—but I always erred on the side of caution when it came to this stuff.

“Regardless, be careful. And let me know if anything else comes up. I’ll follow up tomorrow.” With that, I stood and headed for the door.

As I strode down the sidewalk in front of the coffee shop window, she was already back to work. Though she seemed unbothered, I was left feeling like something was off. Even as I scanned Main Street, eyeing the people meandering up and down the sidewalks, I couldn’t shake it.

And that uncomfortable feeling sat in my gut for the rest of the day.

Chapter Five

HATTIE

I gritted my teeth.Come on, Savannah. Pay attention. Instead, she was half watching TV above my head and chatting about the hockey game with the guys at the bar. I wanted to get the inventory over with, but I should have waited until Tyler was on shift.

“Jack Daniels Black Label,” I said for at least the third time, leaning my side against the bar.

“Didn’t we already do that one?” Savannah huffed.

“Yes, but you still haven’t given me the number.”

“Really?” She looked over at me, her brows pulled together.

I sighed.

“Point six,” she finally said. “I don’t get why we do this.”

I wasn’t surprised by her statement. She hated when we did inventory and made sure we all knew how useless she thought the process was.

“To keep track of waste.”

“I think it’s dumb.”

“Yes, I’m aware.” I rolled my eyes. “Ready for the next one?”

We’d only gotten through two more—Savannah had what we liked to call squirrel brain—before my sister peered over my shoulder and broke out in a salacious grin. “Hello, Detective Dylan,” she purred.

Hugging the clipboard to my chest, I spun and gave him a small smile.