Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (10)

Brae let out a choked sound of amusement. “What he means is, if you flirt with every human that enters the premises, your tips will be huge. Or you’ll end up with a beer dumped on your head.”

Aidan shook his head. “Come on now, B. You know I never get a drink dumped on me. My skills are too good for that.”

“I don’t know,” Wylder argued. “That elderly lady tossed her sweet tea on you when you flirted with her granddaughter.”

“And don’t forget the couple that came down from Portland. Wasn’t his name James? He did not appreciate you asking for his husband’s number,” Brae added.

Aidan winced. “I might’ve miscalculated there. I thought they were brothers, not married. I’m still trying to get the grenadine out of that tee.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing again. “It’s nice to meet you, Aidan. I’ll be sure to take no dating advice from you.”

“Oh, you should definitely take dating advice from me. Like letting me take you out dancing on Friday night—”

“Aidan,” Wylder clipped. “What’s the rule?”

Aidan scowled at his boss. “No dating anyone employed by the Boot or you.”

Wylder let out a huff. “Correct.” His gaze flicked to me. “I lost too many good people because of their broken hearts.”

Aidan sighed. “Too handsome for my own good.”

“You and Maverick need your egos examined,” Brae muttered.

“Ain’t that the truth?” a new voice cut in. The woman who entered our huddle looked to be in her early sixties, with ruddy cheeks and a warm smile. Her dark hair was threaded through with silver, and the lines around her green eyes said that warm smile appeared often.

Brae grinned back at her. “Fiona, meet my best friend, Nova. Nova, this is Fiona, part-time cook, part-time waitress.”

“All-the-time keeper of these fools,” Fiona amended. “Nice to meet you. Call me Fiona or Fee. I answer to both.”

“Lovely to meet you, Fiona.”

I expected her to move forward and extend a hand for a shake, but she didn’t. Neither had Aidan nor Wylder. And I knew then that warnings had been given. No touching.

Embarrassment washed over me, the emotion tinged with shame. Like every person here had seen my deepest, darkest secrets—things that even I didn’t understand. I suddenly felt a little nauseous.

Keep it together.

I chanted the words over and over. Because if I lost it now, Brae would lock me up in the cabin for sure. There’d be no job, no outings, and she’d drive me back to that damned therapist, who looked at me like I was a science experiment.

You’re alive. You’re breathing.

I held on to that refrain like a lifeline.

“Where’s Cora?” Brae asked.

The vibe in the group shifted, the air going charged at the name.

It was enough to bring me back to the here and now. Because I’d been bracing for this, too. Meeting the woman.

Wylder’s gaze shifted slightly. “She might be running a little late. I’m sure—”

“I’m here,” a new voice interjected—a little too brightly. “Sorry I’m late. I spilled coffee on myself and had to change and put my shirt in to soak, but it might be too late for that one.” She sucked in air as she came to a stop outside our huddle, her green eyes coming to me.

I didn’t miss the way Wylder took in everything about the woman as if checking for invisible injuries.

“Hi,” Cora greeted, but the single syllable was more of a squeak than anything.

“Hi,” I parroted. It was all I could get out as I surveyed her. Cora was probably around my age of twenty-seven, give or take a year or two. Her light-brown hair was pulled back into a loose braid, and while she wore light makeup, I could see the dark circles peeking out.

Lack of sleep. Something I knew well. And then I saw it, the emotion brewing in her eyes. The thing she was trying so desperately to cover with that warm smile.

Guilt.

Because my captor, my tormentor—the man who’d kidnapped and killed at least eight people—had been the love of her life. The one who’d gotten off on watching the loved ones of those missing persons fall apart. Used his role as an investigator with the sheriff’s department to insert himself into every investigation so he could watch it all up close and personal. A monster.

But as I looked at the woman opposite me, I realized something. I wasn’t the only survivor of Travis’s reign of terror. Cora was, too. And just like me, she was trying to pick up the pieces.

That eased something in me, but at the same time, it broke my heart. Still, it made my smile turn more genuine. Because I wanted to reassure her somehow. “It’s really nice to meet you.”

Breath left Cora’s lungs in a visible exhale. Relief. “You too.”

Wylder watched the exchange. “Well, now that everyone has met, let’s get this show on the road. Nova, you’ll shadow Brae for the first couple of hours, and then you should be able to start taking tables on your own. I’ll be behind the bar if anyone needs me.”

“Aw, man,” Aidan muttered. “I wanted Nova to shadow me.”

“I want her to learn good work habits,” Wylder shot back.

Aidan just shook his head. “Harsh, boss man. Harsh.”