The young man gave them a nod before turning and walking away.
“I guess I should figure out what I’m going to eat.” Evie picked up the laminated menu that had been placed nearest her. “I’ve never eaten here, so I have no idea what’s good.”
“Everything.”
She glanced up at him and blinked. “Everything?”
“There’s a reason I suggested this place. The guys and I come here all the time. I’ve literally had just about everything they offer, and I’ve never been steered wrong.”
“Hmm…” She took a moment to peruse the items listed. “The lasagna sounds good, but I’m thinking that might be a bit too heavy for lunch. I think I’ll go with the grilled chicken panini and a small Tuscan salad.”
“I’ve had the panini.” Beckett nodded in approval. “Good choice.”
“What are you getting?”
“My go-to is their meatball sub and parmesan-parsley fries. But make sure you save room for dessert,” he suggested. “You gotta try the chocolate cake.”
Evie set her menu to the side and grinned. “Chocolate cake is my favorite.”
A girl after my own heart.
“So.” Beckett attempted to resume their earlier conversation. “You said you flew straight here after?—”
“Here ya go.” Adam returned with Evie’s drink. He set the glass of bubbling Diet Pepsi on a round, thin coaster. “Did you have enough time to look at your options, or…”
“I think we’re ready,” Beckett informed him.
Ready for you to skedaddle so I can finish a fucking thought.
“Great.” The young man pulled a small order pad and pen from the small, pocketed apron tied around his waist. After taking their orders, he promised it wouldn’t be long for the food to arrive before turning and leaving again.
Evie took a sip from her straw before carefully setting the glass back onto the provided coaster. “Sorry. You were saying?”
You’re perfect in every way, and I want to marry you and have babies with you and?—
Beckett put a fist to his mouth before coughing the ridiculous thoughts away. “Excuse me.” He coughed again forgood measure. “What was I saying? Oh, yeah. I know you said someone else is staying at your place, but what about your dad?”
Evie’s expression remained frozen in place, her voice a bit too casual when she asked, “What about him?”
There it is again.
He’d damn near convinced himself he’d imagined her strange reaction when he’d brought up her father the night of the rescue. Now he had no doubt.
She’d gone from acting perfectly normal to wearing that same almost forced expression of casual coolness. And both times he’d noticed the change was when Beckett mentioned her dad.
Something was definitely up there, and he felt compelled to uncover the truth.
“Have you evenseenyour dad since you got back?”
Evie’s fake-as-hell smile began to falter. “I told you. He was…out of the country.”
“On business.”
She gave a jerky nod but said nothing.
Oh, sweetheart. Don’t you know you can’t bullshit a bullshitter?
Beckett leaned forward, resting his upper body on his forearms once again. Fixing his empathetic gaze with hers, he prayed she could see his only intention was to do what he could to help.