Page 21 of Love on the Run

“I’ve been a pain to you—”

“It’s not you, Callie. I just hate being talked about. When it comes to gossip, I mean.” Again, she got the sense that he was controlling his expression carefully, hiding something.

“And there will be gossip,” she guessed, remembering the expression on the other woman’s face.

“I give it three hours before everyone in a hundred mile radius knows about you.”

“As much as three?”

“Doc will give us a head start."

But what, exactly, Callie wondered, would they know? Not the real story, since only Jake, the doctor, and perhaps the sheriff’s department knew it. So what would Mrs. Lancaster assume? She’d been surprised to see Jake with a girl, that was for sure. And as excited as only a matchmaker or a gossip can be.

“Well, if there’s going to be gossip anyway, we may as well head into the lion’s den.Are you hungry?”

“I could eat,” he agreed.“I should warn you, if we go to the 88, you’ll be so busy answering everyone’s questions that you may not get a chance to eat your food at all.”

“There’s worse things in the world then nosy neighbors,” Callie waved her hand, smiling. “Besides, I have you to protect me if things get ugly.”

“How could anything around you get ugly?” he asked easily. Then he saw a shadow cross her face. Of course, something around her had gotten very ugly, and she had a hole in her leg to prove it.

When the light changed, Jake pulled ahead and drove till he found a parking spot near the 88.He could tell exactly who was inside just by looking at the cars lined up in front.“Are you prepared?” he asked wryly.

“What role should I play?” she asked, winking. “Sexy hitchhiker?Mysterious woman? Innocent victim?”

“You’d be good at any of those, I bet,” Jake said, looking straight at her. Up until then, she hadn’t heard him say anything so cynical.But he was definitely cynical that time.

“Oh,” Callie was flustered. “I just meant…”

“How about you just be yourself?”

“I’ve never had a lot of luck with that role,” Callie said shortly.She deliberately opened her door and got out without waiting for any Montana manners.Her leg ached when she hit the pavement, but she ignored it as she headed to the front door of the diner, rounding the front of the truck and stepping onto the sidewalk.Jake got to the door of the building first, and very obviously opened it for her.

“Thanks,” she muttered, suddenly frustrated and confused. She needed to be careful around Jake.He was so casual and evenhanded that she forgot he was also keenly observant.She knew he wanted to get to the bottom of her story, but she had no interest in confiding in him.It wasn’t as if he could help her, and it certainly wasn’t as if they were friends.

A chorus of voices greeted Jake, but Callie sensed that she was the absolute center of attention. No one stopped what they were doing—they were too polite for that—but there was a subtle shift in conversation, and the actress in Callie could always tell when people were looking at her.

“Morning, Sheriff.” An older woman bearing a pot of coffee smiled at them, with a wink in her eye. “Table three is open.”

Jake merely nodded and pointed Callie to one of the booths lining the front windows of the diner. Callie slid carefully into one side, hitching her injured leg up on the seat. Jake sat opposite her, his expression neutral.

“Hello, dears.” The older woman appeared beside the table with two big, laminated menus.

Jake didn’t even bother to look at his.“Hi, Susan.”

“Your usual today, Jake?Or maybe not?” Susan arched her eyebrow, not even trying to be subtle.

“Can’t think of any reason to change my routine,” he said slyly, knowing that his response would drive Susan up a wall.

“Burger and fries, then?Coffee?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. She knew he was having fun keeping her in the dark. She held a notepad, but only as a prop. She never forgot an order.

“Yep.” He refused to say more.

“And who’s your friend?” Susan looked at Callie, who was perusing the menu, even though she knew what she wanted before she even stepped inside.

“Oh, we’re not friends,” she said casually, before Jake could say anything.

“No?” Susan smiled delightedly, anticipating a juicy bit of gossip.

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