Page 49 of Blind Luck

“It’s not like I had a choice. Looking back, it was weird as hell, but when you’re there and you don’t know any different, it just seems normal. It was only after my brother got thrown out that I began to question things, but it took me another three and a half years to escape.”

“Damn, I’m sorry,” Rusty said again, which was dumb because none of my past was his fault.

“So, there won’t be any relationship goals on my bucket list, but maybe I’d like a dog someday. Trooper’s real cute, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, he is. Getting a dog is on my list too. As soon as my travelling days are over, my first stop will be the shelter.”

“Hey, isn’t that Kelsey?” I said, remembering why we were supposed to be here. ItwasKelsey. I recognised her red pumps. They were so pretty, but I’d break an ankle if I tried to walk in them.

“I’ll go,” I told Rusty. “She’s probably just heading out to grab lunch.”

And besides, I needed a moment alone. Somehow he had a way of drawing my secrets out of me by being so damn nice about it. And he hadn’t judged or criticised ortold me I should have done things differently. A relationship wasn’t in the cards for me, but if Iwerethat kind of girl, Rusty was the type of guy I’d look for. Minus the hockey career, of course. I didn’t like the idea of him getting into fights.

Not that I’d considered spending time with him after the case was done, no siree. Rusty was barely more than an acquaintance.

Stop overthinking.

I picked up my purse and hurried after Kelsey.

CHAPTER 16

ERIN

“Damn, is that…?”

I thought it was, but I checked the picture on my phone just in case. “Sure looks like him.”

Yesterday and Monday, Kelsey had left work alone and gone right back to the Neptune. But today, she’d walked out of the office building with Amber Cassidy and climbed into a cab. I said a silent thank-you for Alexa’s tracking software because there was no way we’d have caught up with them otherwise. Rusty had brought his pickup—which was actually Mav’s pickup—and I directed while he drove.

We ended up at the Salt Shaker, a modern fusion restaurant near the Strip, possibly started by someone who had a beef with the Peppermill, who knew? Anyhow, the restaurant was big enough that we wouldn’t stand out if we went inside, and two minutes after the hostess seated us, Kelsey’s mystery date from the Galaxy showed up and made a beeline for her table. Five minutes after that, another guy arrived and took the seat beside Amber. He wore skinny jeans and a pale blue polo shirt buttoned up at the neck.

Then we started the guessing game. Dinner among friends? A business meeting? A double date?

“I vote date,” Rusty said, picking up a menu. “Look at the body language. The guy’s into Kelsey.”

But was she into him? “Really?”

“He squeezed her hand when they sat down.”

“Does that say ‘date’?”

“It’s more intimate than a kiss on the cheek.” Rusty considered for a moment. “Unless it’s one of those slow, lingering kisses.”

“I don’t know… Kelsey’s smiling, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.”

“Maybe she doesn’t like the restaurant. It’s damn busy in here.”

“Busy is a good thing. If a restaurant is empty, that usually means the food sucks. Or the hygiene sucks, which is worse.”

Or sometimes both, if a restaurant I’d worked at in Florida was anything to go by. Although with hindsight, it might have been a money-laundering operation. Back then, I’d had no idea about those kinds of crimes, but Ari had taught me a lot.

Anyhow, the Salt Shaker was three-quarters full, good for an early evening. According to the story on the first page of the menu, the place was a husband-and-wife venture, started after they couldn’t agree on where to go for dinner one night. There were four kitchens—American, Italian, Chinese, and Mexican. You could order an appetiser of crispy seaweed, followed by pizza, then churros, accompanied by a side of biscuits and gravy. At least, you could if you had no tastebuds.

Since we didn’t know how many courses the folks at the target table planned to eat, we only ordered entrées. If necessary, we could stretch it out and then order desserts. While Rusty kept the conversation going, I nodded in theright places and monitored Kelsey. She smiled and sipped her drink, but when Galaxy Guy’s arm moved in a way that suggested he was touching her under the table, I swore she showed disgust. Not a full-on grimace, but a slight twist of the lips. Definitely not joy. On the other hand, Amber and the gent next to her did seem genuinely into each other.

“I need to get a better picture of that guy,” I whispered to Rusty. “Maybe when they walk past us to leave.”

Usually, I’d sidle by the table and pretend I was looking for the bathroom, but they were sitting in a corner and there was clearly no bathroom in the vicinity. What would Ari do? She always thought outside the box.

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