Page 13 of How Sweet It Is

She jerks her head toward me, her eyes wide. “What?”

“What kind of business?” I repeat.

She fiddles with the hem of her suit jacket. “Retail.”

What kind of answer is that? “Selling what?”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “It’s a small-town grocery store.” She kind of stumbles over the words, and I can tell she’s lying again.

What on earth is this woman hiding? Why is she lying about something like this? And do I need to be worried about my bank information that I just shared with her? “What college did you go to?”

She tenses, a sudden wariness to her. “Why?”

“I just want to know.” I pick up my menu again, but I don’t look at it. I stare at her.

“Kansas State.” Lie.

“What high school?” I ask quickly.

“Wichita North High School,” she shoots back at me, rapid-fire. Another lie.

“Where were you born?” I ask.

“Manhattan, Kansas.” Lie. “Why are you asking me so many questions?”

Because you’re lying to me.I shake my head. I don’t want to tell her I know she’s lying. I want to figure out if she’s a serial killer first. “No reason.”

She buries herself in her phone, and I bury myself in my menu, but I can’t stop wondering what is up with her. Why is she here on Willow Shade Island, lying about where she’s from? Is she here hiding from the law?

She looks harmless, but is she? This morning, she came to my rescue. I thought maybe I was wrong about her, but now I know something is off with her. Big-time.

The waitress comes and takes our orders. I watch Amelia as she picks her phone back up, shutting me out. I don’t even pretend to look at the ocean. I blatantly stare at her.

A man walks up to our table, and Amelia smiles and sets down her phone. “Hello, Rafe.”

I take in his wide chest, beefy arms, and movie-star smile, and I instantly hate him.

He nods at me. “You must be Levi. Amelia’s told me all about you.”

I quirk one eyebrow. “She has? Funny. She hasn’t told me anything about you.”

He sticks out a hand. “I’m Rafe, her cousin. Care if I join you?”

CHAPTER 7

CLAIRE MATTHEWS — SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

Relief courses through me as Rafe sits next to me at our table. I was getting the third degree, and I needed help, so I texted my handler. Thank goodness he came quickly.

He turns to Pretty Boy. “So, Levi. Tell me about yourself.”

I watch Levi squirm, and it makes me want to laugh. Rafe is pretty intimidating. He looks like a cross between a grizzly bear and a lumberjack.

Levi clasps his hands together on the table. “Me? I’m pretty boring. I’ve lived on Willow Shade all my life. Just opened a bakery. That’s about all there is.” He gives Rafe the once-over. “Tell me about you.”

Rafe smiles, but his eyes remain wary as he assesses the situation. “I’m a freelance photographer. I moved here for the amazing views.”

Levi’s gaze bounces between me and Rafe, and his eyes narrow. “You two don’t look like you’re related.”

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