I shivered, and jumped a little when Trae touched a hand to my back. “In you go,” he said, guiding me through the door.
A little bell chimed as Trae closed the door, and a voice from the rear of the building called out, “Won’t be a moment, loves.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Trae. “Now, that’s the most feminine-sounding male voice I’ve heard in a long time.”
He frowned. “That it was.”
“Could it be the great planner got this one wrong?”
“I don’t get things wrong, sweetheart.”
“Call me that one more time and I’m going to stomp on your toes.”
He looked down. “Bare feet versus boots. Not so worried.”
“You obviously haven’t spent enough time looking at my feet.”
His gaze twinkled. “Most certainly not. There’s nicer things to look at than toes.”
Footsteps echoed as someone marched smartly up the hall to our right. Seconds later, a matronly looking woman with gray hair and a merry smile appeared behind the counter.
“Now, what can I get you young people?”
“Is old Harry here?” Trae asked.
“Nope. That bastard got sacked a month ago for pilfering the till. Me and Frank run the place now.”
“There goes the seduction plan,” I murmured cheerfully.
“Don’t suppose you do a traditional breakfast?” Trae said, cupping his hand under my elbow and leading me over to a table near the window.
“Depends what you mean by traditional,” she replied. “We do pancakes, waffles, and bacon and eggs.”
“One pancakes, one bacon and eggs, and two coffees, thanks.”
“The pancakes had better be for you, buddy boy,” I said, as the woman headed back out to the kitchen. “Otherwise there’s going to be words said.”
“You don’t have a sweet tooth?”
“Not when it comes to breakfast.” I slid into a booth seat and kept my back to the black car.
“How about we share the plates?” He slid in the booth opposite and crossed his arms on the table as he casually looked out the window. “There’s three men in that car.”
“Three?” A shiver ran through me. “There’s probably two hunters. The driver would be one of the scientists.”
He looked at me, eyebrow raised. “You make them sound like cowboys intent on drugging cattle.”
“They are. And we’re the cattle.”
He studied me for a moment, then shook his head. “I wish I’d known. I would have done something to try and get Egan out. And, in the process, the rest of you.”
I smiled. “I had the same thought when I was eighteen. I got caught.”
“I’m not eighteen, and I’m also a very good thief.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered.”
“So little confidence in my abilities,” he said, voice bland. “And yet here you are, trusting them.”