booth when the woman was back, a glass of water and a roll of silverware in hand. “I’ve been meaning to stop in and introduce myself.”
Annessa swallowed hard, not quite sure how to respond. She didn’t recognize the woman in front of her and crossed her fingers and toes the lack of recognition was mutual. Luckily, she didn’t get a chance to speak.
“I’m Cindy Perry. I just moved to Seaside last month and the whole town brags on your baking.” Cindy folded her arms across her chest. “And let me tell ya, your pies sell here like hotcakes.”
Annessa almost fainted with relief. This woman, who talked ninety miles to nothing, had mistaken her for Vanessa. Thank God for small favors. Maybe lying low wouldn’t be so hard after all.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Annessa pushed her hair behind her ears and pushed herself into the very corner of the booth, as if she could hide in the shadows.
“What a lovely bracelet!”
She glanced at her wrist and watched the diamonds twinkle in the light. “Thank you.”
“Can I get you a menu?”
“No thanks, Cindy.” Her mouth watered at the thought of Vanessa’s baking. “I think I’ll just have a piece of cherry pie.”
“Ice cream?”
“Of course. Vanilla, please.”
“Coming right up.”
Annessa took advantage of the small reprieve to look around the diner. Besides the two men who sat at a table across the room, the diner was empty. Suspicion invaded her brain. Tourists? Neither wore shorts or swim trunks, the usual attire of summer visitors to Seaside, nor did they appear red from lounging in the sun. She sunk lower in the booth and gave herself a mental shake. What did she expect? Armani suits and gold pinkie rings? She released a hard breath at her ridiculous thoughts and wiped a hand across her forehead. Cindy probably ran everyone off with her gift of gab. Obviously the woman was starved for attention.
Sure enough, the chatterbox returned at lightning speed and set the pie in front of her. Annessa thought she was home free – the pie would soothe her nerves and give her time to think – until the waitress slipped in the seat opposite her.
She fought the urge to spear her with a fork.
“Are you related to Travis Dupree?”
She nodded. “Yes, he’s my brother.”
“Definite eye candy.” Cindy’s eyes sparkled. “In fact, the whole Fire Department seems to be pretty sweet.”
Annessa gave her a grin as she loaded her fork with a bite of dessert. “Seaside’s finest.”
“What about Sheriff McIntyre?”
Annessa stopped her fork halfway to her mouth. If she lowered it probably half an inch, she’d have perfect aim at a spot right between Cindy’s eyes. “I’m not related to him.” Thank God and my mother .
“He and Travis seem to be close.”
“Best friends since almost birth.” Her mouth watered as she opened and placed a piece of the crumbly crust on her tongue.
“Is he involved?”
Her nerves jumped beneath her skin. Something told her she and Cindy would not be BFFs . Slowly, she chewed and swallowed.
“Yes,” she lied.
The other woman sighed. “Too bad.”
Annessa silently giggled like a two year old. Being bad was so much fun. Maybe now jabberjaws would back off.
Unfortunately, Cindy continued to chatter like a magpie while Annessa shoveled the remaining dessert into her mouth. By the time she cleaned her plate, her head spun – from sugar overload or Cindy’s gift of gab, she didn’t know. Suddenly she wished she’d opted for McGill’s.
Although she knew it was rude, she finally interrupted when Cindy paused to take a breath. “Sorry, but I need to get home.” She scooted across the seat and then stood. “I’ve got to bake for tomorrow.” Might as well throw that in for good measure.
“I totally understand.” Cindy stood from the booth.
“Can you just add that to my tab?”
The other woman blinked twice and then frowned. “Your tab?”
Annessa swallowed hard. Uh-oh . Obviously, that was a
Annessa swallowed hard, not quite sure how to respond. She didn’t recognize the woman in front of her and crossed her fingers and toes the lack of recognition was mutual. Luckily, she didn’t get a chance to speak.
“I’m Cindy Perry. I just moved to Seaside last month and the whole town brags on your baking.” Cindy folded her arms across her chest. “And let me tell ya, your pies sell here like hotcakes.”
Annessa almost fainted with relief. This woman, who talked ninety miles to nothing, had mistaken her for Vanessa. Thank God for small favors. Maybe lying low wouldn’t be so hard after all.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Annessa pushed her hair behind her ears and pushed herself into the very corner of the booth, as if she could hide in the shadows.
“What a lovely bracelet!”
She glanced at her wrist and watched the diamonds twinkle in the light. “Thank you.”
“Can I get you a menu?”
“No thanks, Cindy.” Her mouth watered at the thought of Vanessa’s baking. “I think I’ll just have a piece of cherry pie.”
“Ice cream?”
“Of course. Vanilla, please.”
“Coming right up.”
Annessa took advantage of the small reprieve to look around the diner. Besides the two men who sat at a table across the room, the diner was empty. Suspicion invaded her brain. Tourists? Neither wore shorts or swim trunks, the usual attire of summer visitors to Seaside, nor did they appear red from lounging in the sun. She sunk lower in the booth and gave herself a mental shake. What did she expect? Armani suits and gold pinkie rings? She released a hard breath at her ridiculous thoughts and wiped a hand across her forehead. Cindy probably ran everyone off with her gift of gab. Obviously the woman was starved for attention.
Sure enough, the chatterbox returned at lightning speed and set the pie in front of her. Annessa thought she was home free – the pie would soothe her nerves and give her time to think – until the waitress slipped in the seat opposite her.
She fought the urge to spear her with a fork.
“Are you related to Travis Dupree?”
She nodded. “Yes, he’s my brother.”
“Definite eye candy.” Cindy’s eyes sparkled. “In fact, the whole Fire Department seems to be pretty sweet.”
Annessa gave her a grin as she loaded her fork with a bite of dessert. “Seaside’s finest.”
“What about Sheriff McIntyre?”
Annessa stopped her fork halfway to her mouth. If she lowered it probably half an inch, she’d have perfect aim at a spot right between Cindy’s eyes. “I’m not related to him.” Thank God and my mother .
“He and Travis seem to be close.”
“Best friends since almost birth.” Her mouth watered as she opened and placed a piece of the crumbly crust on her tongue.
“Is he involved?”
Her nerves jumped beneath her skin. Something told her she and Cindy would not be BFFs . Slowly, she chewed and swallowed.
“Yes,” she lied.
The other woman sighed. “Too bad.”
Annessa silently giggled like a two year old. Being bad was so much fun. Maybe now jabberjaws would back off.
Unfortunately, Cindy continued to chatter like a magpie while Annessa shoveled the remaining dessert into her mouth. By the time she cleaned her plate, her head spun – from sugar overload or Cindy’s gift of gab, she didn’t know. Suddenly she wished she’d opted for McGill’s.
Although she knew it was rude, she finally interrupted when Cindy paused to take a breath. “Sorry, but I need to get home.” She scooted across the seat and then stood. “I’ve got to bake for tomorrow.” Might as well throw that in for good measure.
“I totally understand.” Cindy stood from the booth.
“Can you just add that to my tab?”
The other woman blinked twice and then frowned. “Your tab?”
Annessa swallowed hard. Uh-oh . Obviously, that was a
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