Page 99 of The Savior

They made quick small talk, and Liam wondered if Chelsea would ask Chance what his thoughts were on strangers taking pictures. But the conversation shifted to Chance’s watch duty. After a list of possible concerns that weren’t problematic, he summarized the update as “Jack shit is happening now, and maybe Hagan will have better luck.”

“Nothing happeningisgood luck,” Liam pointed out.

Chance shrugged then spread cream cheese across a toasted bagel with a plastic knife.

Chelsea preened, and Liam tore off a larger-than-necessary piece of bagel and rolled it in peanut butter. Her eyebrow lifted, and he tossed the entire messy bite into his mouth.

“Sexy,” she muttered.

“That’s what I tell him all the time,” Chance added, taking a second glance at Chelsea.

Liam balled up his peanut-butter-covered napkin and pegged Chance. “Eyes in your head.”

“I wasn’t checking her out.” Chance tossed his hands up in faux surrender. “Just understanding the dynamic.”

They were at work. There was no dynamic. Chelsea straightened and focused on her bagel.

“You two going to set up the new equipment today?” Chance asked.

Liam nodded.

“Want some help?”

He considered how much time Chance’s help would save against how much Liam enjoyed time alone with Chelsea.

“Why don’t either of you have jobs?” Chelsea asked.

Chance took another bite of bagel then a swig of coffee. “We do.”

She scowled. “Why don’t you have togo to them?”

“Contracting means making your own schedule,” he said.

“I thought you were only able to help for a couple days,” Chelsea countered.

“At first.” Chance left his response at that.

“We’re off, and we’re on,” Liam added, preferring the inquisition to be over. “Contracts change. That’s how it goes.”

Chance agreed then asked Chelsea, “Are you okay with this?”

“This what? Because I don’t know much.”

“You have to know something.”

Their conversation was making Liam uncomfortable.

“I can help catch Julia’s murderer, and two people I love may be in danger. That’s all I know.”

“Maybe that’s for the best,” Chance said.

Oh hell. That wasn’t the right thing to say to Chelsea.

“What do you know?” she asked.

The volume of a muted television that hung in a corner turned up, interrupting the growing tension, and a hush fell over the bagel shop again. Chance, Chelsea, and Liam turned toward the television.

BREAKING NEWS REPORT was emblazoned across the red chyron at the bottom of the screen. A scene of first responders working behind a reporter was playing. Smoke curled from a building behind the woman’s dark hair.

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