Free The Beautiful and the Damned by Jessica Verday Page A

Soda . . . ?”
    “That all depends on what I’m going to eat. Dessert requires coffee, but something
     warm, like a bowl of clam chowder, means I’ll want something cold to wash it down
     with.”
    He grinned at her, but she wasn’t in the mood to play games. “I’ll just give you another
     minute then.” She turned to walk away.
    “I have your coat,” he called, and she stopped. “If your name is Cyn Hargrave. That’s
     the name on the paycheck stub I found in the pocket.”
    Cyn briefly contemplated telling him to just keep it, but it was the only coat she
     had, and buying another one, even at thrift-store prices, would put a serious dent
     in her meager savings. “Yeah, that’s me.”
    “You left it here the other night. I saw it and didn’t want anyone else to take it.”
    “Thanks.” She managed a tight smile.
    He glanced down at the menu and then held it out to her. “I think I’ll have a Reuben.
     With a Coke.”
    She wrote down his order and reached for the menu. His fingers brushed hers, and she
     tried to pull back, but he saw her gold ring. “That’s pretty. Reminds me of a ring
     I helped mybrother pick out for a girl he was crazy about. His name was Hunter Vasquez.”
    As soon as the cop said Hunter’s name, Cyn dropped the menu and flat-out ran to the
     kitchen. Hunter’s brother. He’s Hunter’s brother, and this is why you’ve been so freaked out
     that he’s here. It’s only a matter of time until he arrests you.
    Hunter had mentioned an older brother once, but she’d never met him and hadn’t given
     him any thought beyond that.
    Lenny was hosing down the sink when she burst through the door, and he barely stopped
     her from running into him. “Everything okay? Marv said you weren’t feeling good.”
    Cyn seized on the excuse. “Yeah. That’s right. I thought I was going to barf on my
     customer out there.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I need a big favor, Lenny. He’s
     got my jacket. Do you think you could go get it for me?”
    Lenny’s face grew angry. “Creeper took your coat ? That’s messed up. Want me to take care of him?”
    “No, no. That’s okay,” Cyn said hastily. “He’s a cop.”
    Lenny nodded and went out to the floor. While she was waiting, Marv came back to the
     kitchen. “You okay, Cynsation?”
    Cyn gave him a weak thumbs-up, but she must have looked pretty bad, because he brought
     her a bowl of clam chowder and insisted she eat it. She told him what was goingon, and he glanced out the window, giving her a play by play.
    “Lenny’s talking to him now. Looks like the cop is getting up. Bastard better not
     be skipping out on the check.” He shook his fist at the wall.
    Cyn’s spoon scraped the bottom of the bowl, and she glanced down, surprised that she’d
     managed to eat it all.
    Marv returned to hover over her shoulder. “You want more?” he asked.
    “I’m good. Thanks, Marv.”
    His ears turned red, and he busied himself with something at the sink. “Don’t mention
     it.”
    The door swung open behind them, and then Lenny came through, holding Cyn’s coat triumphantly.
    If Cyn was the hugging type, she would have given him one right then. Instead, she
     gave him a two-finger salute. “I owe you another pack of cigarettes, Lenny.”
    “No prob— Wait, what do you mean, another pack?”
    Cyn pulled on her jacket, but she didn’t answer him. She had to think. Had to figure
     out what she was going to do now. “I’m going to cut out early,” she said to Marv.
     “I think I need some more sleep.”
    He didn’t look happy about it, but he agreed. “I expect you on time tomorrow night.”
    Cyn made a noncommittal noise as she headed for the door. She didn’t know if she would
     be back tomorrow night; it was only a matter of time until the cop arrested her.
    “I’m not gonna forget about that ‘another pack’ comment,” Lenny yelled behind her.
     He pointed to his head. “It’s a steel trap up here.”
    Cyn