Page 37 of Guarded Secrets
Orders came in and Owen got busy.
She studied him contemplatively. Maybe she was slow, but evidence was starting to mount that maybe Owen’s contradictory behavior was because he was conflicted.
Throughout her shift she’d watched him moving behind the bar, his gaze constantly sweeping as he clocked incoming customers, kept tabs on the dudes at the back table who’d grown progressively louder, and kept tabs on her.
Because he did. Others noticed too. She’d been catching up with her parents’ neighbor Janey, who’d come in with a coworker from the bank. She introduced her friend as Sherry. As a teenager, Keeley babysat Janey’s three sons. Since the boys were doing well in high school, the oldest graduating as salutatorian, it was nice to hear the little heathens had adapted to civilization. “You and Doug did a good job with those boys.”
“Thanks, sweetie. How are you doing? Are you dating anyone?”
“Nope. I’ve been busy, but I should get back into the game. It’s hard to work up any enthusiasm though.”
“I don’t think you’d have to look too far. I think someone is smitten.”
“Oh? Who?” Keeley glanced around. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, maybe someone with emoji hearts floating over their head.
Janey and Sherry had both burst into laughter.
“Owen’s had his eyes on you ever since we came in. He pays attention to everything that’s going on, but he pays special attention to you, my girl.”
Sherry fanned herself with her hand. “That man’s one tall drink of water.”
Watching him as he ran the blender, Keeley agreed.
At some point since Sunday, he’d gotten a haircut and it lookedgood.Shorter on the sides, tousled hair longer on top.
She’d seen him shirtless twice now, and could attest that his lean build had been bulked up with muscle that rippled and flexed as he moved.
The evening of the attack, when all he’d worn were sweatpants riding low on his hips, she’d greedily watched him whenever she thought he wasn’t looking.
Strong, broad shoulders tapering to a lean waist, he was a study in the perfection of the male form. She was surprised he hadn’t followed the trend of getting inked. He’d been in the Marine Corps, and he’d been a cop, but his skin remained unmarked except by the bullet scar near his shoulder.
“I think that special attention goes both ways, don’t you, Janey?” Sherry asked, her voice teasing.
Cheeks burning, Keeley had smiled brightly. “Okay, ladies, what can I get for you tonight?”
After Janey and Sherry had finished their meal and left an overly generous tip, Keeley’d done some watching of her own, trying to see Owen’s behavior through their eyes.
And time and time again she found his gaze locked on her. Usually, he was scowling, but what if that scowl reflected more than basic grumpiness? What if he didn’t actually dislike her? It was an intriguing thought, but did she really want someone who wasn’t happy about wanting her?
She chewed her bottom lip in contemplation.
Looking at the past week objectively, Owen had decidedly put himself in her orbit. Maybe it was because of his friendship with her parents. He certainly appeared invested in her safety.
There’d been that moment after tackling Fernando when he’d cradled her face in his hands. Her heart gave a heavy thump remembering the feel of his calloused palms, the gentle stroke of his thumb over her cheek, the look in his eyes that was anything but disinterested.
Munching on a tasty mini pizza with caramelized onions and mushrooms, she eyed him speculatively. If he didhave feelings for her, what if she cleared the air between them? Maybe there could be something there and her tiny crush could actually bloom into something real.
There was only one way to find out. All she had to risk was humiliation and never being able to face him again.
Before she could put her intention into words, her phone buzzed and she pulled it from her apron pocket to read the text. Her eyebrows went up when she saw the name. “What the heck?” she muttered.
She tapped to open the text, frowning as she read the message.
“Everything good?” Owen sipped from his glass of soda water.
“More like everything’s weird,” she replied. At Owen’s questioning look, she said, “Pam Demaris texted to say she’ll be in Sisters this weekend and thinks it’d be fun to get together for lunch.”
Owen braced his arms on the bar, gaze riveted on her face. He possessed an extrasomethingthat made her feel like he paid attention to her with his entire body. Maybe this was his cop look.She’d bet he was good at interrogating suspects. “She’s the teacher you were subbing for when Fernando was in her class.”
