Page 58 of Last Chance Christmas
“Anything else, your highness?”
Was that a smirk underneath all that huff?
“Yeah, one of those power smoothies with an extra immunity boost.”
He just stared at her.
“Anthony, go. I’m fine.” She physically spun him around and pushed him toward the exit. “Enjoy an espresso while I work out. I don’t want you staring at me while I sweat.”
He finally left, and Della moved to the stationary bike in the farthest corner. She did a rotation of weights, and after that, core exercises, but no sign of Vaynes. She jumped at every little sound. Maybe she wasn’t quite as brave and ready to face her worst nightmare as she said, but at least she was trying. Putting herself out there.
But after an hour and a half, her muscles were burning, her shirt was drenched, and her nerves were shot. So much for thinking the exertion would relieve the pent-up frustration. She really couldn’t justify staying any longer.
After a quick shower, with Penny covering the women’s locker room, Della met Anthony back by the gym entrance.
“Any sign of him?” He handed her a green smoothie.
She let out a sigh of defeat. “Not a thing.”
“Let’s get some lunch—some real food and not something you have to slurp—at Backdraft. Take your mind off things for a while.” Anthony took her gym bag from her hand. “Bryce and Izan will be there, watching from a distance.”
“Does that mean you’ll leave me alone again?”
“Maybe. If Penny will watch the back exit from her car.”
Della finished her smoothie on the quiet ride over. The Backdraft Bar & Grill was a local favorite and a packed house with the lunchtime crowd. The smell of smoke was welcome here, with its signature barbecue meals and smoked brisket. The hostess led them around a group of rowdy construction workers, sat them in a cozy booth, and left them with the menus. After confirming Bryce and Izan were a few tables away, Anthony stood.
“I’ve got a phone call to make. Order me a coffee if the server comes?” he asked.
“I’ll ask for decaf. You’re jumpy enough as it is.”
He didn’t laugh as he walked away. Probably he was as wound up as she was.
Della watched as he paced near the hostess stand and pretended to talk. Or maybe he really did call someone. Either way, this was her shot. She wandered down the short hallway by the restrooms, the most logical spot for Vaynes to grab an unsuspecting victim. She lingered in the dark shadows, studying the pictures of firefighters and firehouse memorabilia hanging in the halls. Nothing. She quickly used the restroom and washed her hands. Back in the hallway, she made her own fake phone call, one ear open and focused on hearing anyone approaching.
A couple of women in business suits passed her by. A mom with a toddler too. But no one else. Finally, she gave up and sat back down in her spot. Anthony was already there, and the server waited to take her order.
This was not going well.
Not that the lunch with Anthony wasn’t pleasant, but the longer they went without a sign of Vaynes, the more her gut churned. By the time they were done eating, she was already exhausted from the hypervigilance.
She shouldn’t have ordered the extra-spicy wings. Not that she’d finished them. The rest of her basket lay off to the side of the table while Anthony actually finished his big salad. Only his breadstick remained. Chatter from around them died down as the lunch crowd thinned.
“Della, we’ll get him.” Anthony rested his hand on hers but then snatched it away quickly. “Whoa. Your hands are pure ice.” He grabbed both her hands and rubbed them lightly. “We need to warm these up.”
It was such a simple thing, but the gesture brought tears to her eyes. Tears she willed to stay put, even if they stung. And for a moment, she rested there in the softness and concern in his gaze. Letting out a slow breath, she held his stare. “Do you really think we’ll find him? I don’t know if I can?—”
“We’ll find him.”
Whether it was the confidence in his words, the tenderness in his touch, or those unwavering baby blues, Della believed him.
And oh, she was liking this hand-holding thing way more than she should.
He’s only trying to protect me. Don’t get sucked into this!
Because eventually, Anthony would have to move on to a different case. She couldn’t read anything into it. At all.
But she could no longer deny that she wanted to. She cringed inwardly to think of how callously she’d treated him when he’d first shown up yesterday. Talk about a one-eighty.
