Page 41 of Jesse
The Thornebane owner smirked, handing over a plate of food. “Here. Maybe it’ll help him grow a thicker skin.”
I took the plate with a nod. “Thanks, Chef.”
Carrying the plate, we walked back toward Jesse’s truck. The smell of the food filled the air, and my stomach reminded me just how hungry I was. Jesse noticed and smiled.
“Hungry?”
“A little,” I admitted.
“Well, good. Let’s eat.” We set the food down on the hood of the truck and Jesse handed me a fork.
“Why not sit over there?” I asked, nodding toward the square where the tables were.
He shrugged, leaning casually against the hood. “Wanted somewhere more private.”
The memory of Jesse’s kiss hit me like a spark. I could still feel the heat of his mouth lingering on mine, the slight roughness of his stubble brushing my skin.
Heat crept up my neck, and I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on unwrapping a burrito.
“So,” I said, desperate to steer the conversation elsewhere, “it doesn’t seem like anyone knows anything more. At least, nothing useful.”
Jesse nodded, his gaze steady on me. “Nothing?”
I shook my head. “No. And most of them have already been interviewed by the local sheriff. Cleared.”
I frowned, thinking back. “And I didn’t pick up on anything suspicious either. None of it felt off.”
“Same here,” Jesse said, grabbing a fork and picking at the food. “But the Thornebanes mentioned something interesting.”
I sat up straighter. “Yeah?”
“They said they saw a guy hanging around your truck that night. At first, they thought it was you. He followed Preston into the truck, then took off toward the woods behind the festival instead of heading back into the crowd.”
My chest tightened. “The woods?”
Jesse nodded. “Yeah. Nobody saw him after that. They didn’t think much of it at the time. They probably should’ve said something sooner, but…” He trailed off, furrowing his brow.
I exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the truck. “It’s something, at least. We’ll check it out later.”
“Agreed.” Jesse leaned back, studying me. “I’ll follow up with the sheriff too.”
“You know, the Thornebanes don’t seem so bad after all,” I mused.
Jesse smirked. “Yeah, I was expecting the worst. But honestly? They’ve been solid. Full of themselves, sure, but decent guys.”
I nodded. “Heard their new alpha’s pretty good.”
Jesse grunted around a mouthful of food.
I grinned. “You sound like a fan. Know him?”
He swallowed. “Carter. Good guy. Managed to land a solid punch on my cousin once.”
I burst out laughing. “Now that’s a glowing endorsement.”
Jesse chuckled, offering me a forkful of food. “Here. Tell me what you think.”
I blinked, hesitating for a split second before leaning in to take the bite. The smoky, tangy flavors hit my tongue, and I couldn’t help the small noise of approval.
