Page 15 of Riding with the Secret Billionaire

I've managed to offend her, which wasn't my intention.Before I can figure out how to navigate this sudden shift, Kathy returns with a breakfast platter that's genuinely alarming in its proportions.

"One Hearty Breakfast for the not-a-couple," she announces with a wink, setting down a plate heaped with golden pancakes, eggs, hash browns, and enough bacon and sausage to feed a small army."Enjoy, darlings."

Trish's eyes widen comically."Okay, I see your point about sharing now."

The moment of tension passes as we both survey the mountain of food before us.Kathy has thoughtfully provided two sets of silverware, and Trish immediately claims the larger stack of pancakes, drowning them in maple syrup.

"So," she says, cutting into her pancakes with gusto, "what's your story with Route 14?You seem to know it well for someone who supposedly doesn't do road trips often."

Her question catches me off guard."What makes you think I don't do road trips often?"

"Your entire demeanor screams 'routine-driven city dweller.' Plus, you mentioned your security work is mostly administrative now, which suggests an office, not open roads."

"I've driven this route before," I admit carefully."For work."

"Security work?" she presses, taking a bite of pancake that leaves a small dot of syrup at the corner of her mouth.

Without thinking, I reach out and brush it away with my thumb.Her breath catches audibly, and for a moment, we're frozen in that point of connection.

I pull my hand back, cursing my lapse in judgment."Yes, security work," I confirm, returning to the safer topic."A client project a few years back."

She studies me over her coffee mug, clearly not satisfied with my vague answer but seeming to decide not to push further."Well, I'm glad one of us knows where we're going.My sense of direction is legendarily terrible.I once got lost inside a mall."

The conversation turns to lighter topics as we make our way through the enormous breakfast.By the time we finish eating, barely making a dent in the monstrous breakfast, the diner has mostly cleared out as locals head to work.Kathy brings our check personally, refusing Trish's attempt to pay.

"Dawn already called and settled it," she explains with a smile."She said it's a gift for the road.We don't get many interesting travelers through Heartstone, so we like to make it memorable when we do."

"That's incredibly kind," Trish says, clearly touched by the gesture.

"Just promise you'll stop by again if you're ever back this way," Kathy replies, giving us both a warm smile."Maybe on your way back from Nevada?"

"Maybe," I say noncommittally, knowing my return journey will likely be by private plane, not Route 14.

Back at the B&B, we find our bags already loaded in my truck, with Dawn and Jeremy waiting to say goodbye.

"Safe travels," Dawn says, hugging Trish like they're old friends instead of overnight guests."And remember what I said about not letting good opportunities pass you by," she adds with a meaningful glance in my direction.

Jeremy shakes my hand with a firm grip that confirms my military suspicions about him."Route 14 can be unpredictable this time of year," he warns quietly."Weather changes fast in the mountains.Keep an eye on the forecasts."

"Always do," I assure him.

With final goodbyes exchanged, we climb into the truck and pull away from the Nighty Night, heading west toward Kansas and the next leg of our journey.

"I liked them," Trish says, watching Heartstone recede in the side mirror."Dawn and Jeremy, Kathy, all of them.There's something nice about places where people still look out for each other."

"Small towns have their advantages," I concede, merging onto the highway."And their disadvantages."

"Such as?"

"Everyone knows everyone's business, for one.Privacy is a luxury."

She considers this. "I suppose that would bother someone like you.All those secrets to maintain."

The accuracy of her observation is again unsettling."I don't have secrets," I lie."Just personal boundaries."

"Right," she says skeptically."Mr. Open Book. That's definitely the vibe you give off."

I choose not to respond, focusing on the road ahead instead.The sky is clear, promising good driving conditions, and despite our breakfast detour, we're still on track to reach Basic Plaines by early evening.

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