Page 156 of On The Rocks

She pulled out her phone and opened a browsing window.

“What are you doing?”

“I want to see what this Irene woman looks like.”

“Why?”

“Because...” She swiped through a few photos then popped one open. “I couldn’t swear to it, but that looks like the woman we saw in Florida watching us.”

“No. I would have recognized her.”

“She was turned away, but when I went to the bathroom after...” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, when I went to the ladies' room, she went in after me. Said some really rude shit to me about how good you are.”

“Jesus.” Baron pushed his chair back and got up.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“There’s weird people all the time. And we were...out therewhere anyone could watch us.”

Baron shot a look at me.

“Like you can talk. I don’t have a public indecency mark on my rap sheet.”

Lennon turned to me. “You have a rap sheet?”

I cleared my throat. “Not the topic.”

She tossed her phone on the table. “We’ll discuss that at a later date.”

Baron pressed his lips together, then he flipped me off.

“I don’t know if I’m being paranoid or not, but I could have sworn I saw that blond chick at the taproom last night.”

“You did?” Baron sat back down.

“Yeah. Someone locked Griffin in the storage room last night—plus, we had a fire last night.”

Baron stared at me. “And you didn’t lead with that, dude?”

“I wasn’t prepared for any of this bullshit.” I popped my knuckles until Lennon put her hand over mine. “We thought it was an accident, but it’s definitely feeling like it may not be at this point.”

“Jesus, if it’s arson, I don’t know if Kira and Beckett can get the insurance claim paid.” Lennon stood, took her cup, and went back to the coffeemaker.

“We don’t know if it was or not.” I went over to her and stood behind her, smoothing my hands up and down her arms. “Maybe I should go.”

She spun in my arms. “Go where, exactly? How are you going to get her away from here?”

“I don’t know,” I exploded. “But if I go away from here, the orchard will be safe.” I gripped Lennon’s shoulders. “What if she’s here because of me?”

“So, you think if you’re not here she’ll just stop?” Her eyes were blazing hot with anger.

“It could. I don’t want anyone getting hurt because she’s fucking unhinged. Ronnie almost died last night. What if that was you? Do you realize how much she looks like you if you just look quick?”

Her eyes widened.

“Yeah. When Justin picked her up, and her hair was in her face, it could have been you. What if Irene thought it was you?”

She pushed me back. “That’s ridiculous.”

---