Page 28 of Healer’s Betrayal

“With whom?”

“With Jackson.”

I stare at her. “No! I barely know the guy.”

“Then why did he bring you coffee? And I thought you went on a date with Cole last night.”

I take a breath. “I did. Jackson showed up this morning with coffee.”

“How does he know where you live?”

I think for a second about not answering, but she gives me a look of determination. I have a feeling she won’t let this go. “Okay, so after my date last night, Jackson showed up. There were these two guys giving me a hard time, and he...showed up...at the right time. He kind of scared them away. And then, he bought me coffee this morning.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “So he’s a stalker.”

I throw up a hand. “See? That’s what I keep saying. He gets all mad when I call him that.”

“Kayla, I’m pretty sure stalkers don’t admit to actually being stalkers.”

Weariness overtakes me. “Yeah, well, take it up with him.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen seeing as he’s banned from the restaurant.” Her last words are a little dramatic.

“He’s outside,” I tell her. I regret it approximately 1.0 seconds later. “No.” She’s already gone. “Jessie!” I hiss as I chase her through the restaurant, walking, of course. She’s outside moments later, and I follow her outside. “Jessie, stop.”

“Jackson!” she shouts, and I wince.

“Jessie, he’s probably long—” My words trail off when I see him step out from the trees, the same spot he was the other day. Jessie starts marching that way, and I hurry to keep up with her.

When we get close, those electric blues meet mine. He scans me, like he’s looking for a problem. “What’s wrong?” He’s looking at me, but it’s Jessie that answers.

“Are you stalking my friend?”

I step close to Jessie. “Jessie, stop.”

“Again with the stalker thing?” he asks, still looking at me. He finally looks at Jessie. “No, I am not stalking her.” To me, he says, “I told you why I’m doing what I’m doing.” He looks back at Jessie. “I showed up with coffee this morning because I wanted to. I know how hard she works, and I knew she had an early morning after a late night. So, I brought her a coffee. Is that so terrible?”

Jessie frowns. “Huh. Well, when you put it that way.” She turns to me and shrugs. “You should just put the guy out of his misery and start dating him.”

My mouth drops open in shock. “What? You were just saying he’s a stalker!”

He glances at me with a smirk. “I like her.”

A wave of something passes over me, and it surprises me. It can’t possibly be jealousy; I don’t even know the guy. And yet...“What time is it?” I suddenly ask.

Jessie’s already turning towards the café. “Come on; we’re going to be late.” We race back to the café, and I laugh when Jessies stops right before the entrance and takes a composed breath before opening the front door. I step inside and can’t help it; I glance back. Jackson is in the same place I left him. I hurry to clock in and jump into my morning shift. A little before ten-thirty, I put in my order for my break. I’ve had all morning to think about it. I put in an order for a meat lover’s omelet with toast and home fries and an extra side of bacon, all to go. I clock out and drop off my apron and grab my phone. I grab the box of food and open it and take out the bacon and put it in a small white box. I leave the box on the serving counter out of the way, grab an ice water and a fork, and then head towards the front door. I slip outside before anybody notices me and start towards the area where Jackson was this morning. Sure enough, I see him step into the parking lot a few seconds after I’ve started towards him. He watches me with an intensity that unnerves me. When I get to him, I stop, suddenly unsure of what to say. I take in the truck he’s standing next to and frown.

“Did you get a new truck?”

“Rental,” he says. “Truck suits me better.”

Okaaaay. “Here.” I hold the box out towards him. “This is for you; I figured you’d be hungry. I don’t know why, but you don’t seem to leave from here all day. I don’t want you to starve, so here.” He stares down at the box a moment. When he doesn’t take it, I push it towards him. He finally puts his hand out and takes the box in his large hand.

“Where’s mine?”

I startle to see Jackson’s friend walk towards us from the trees. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were going to be here. I only get one free meal; you’ll have to share it.”

They both stare at me with looks I can’t read. Jackson steps forward and puts a hand on my arm, surprising me. “You gave me your meal?” He looks and sounds horrified.