Covert Alliance (14 page)

“I—” Kelly stopped herself from saying anything. At least Ella hadn’t said anything personal or suggestive—like that she could see Kelly looked especially happy, or satisfied, that morning.

Giving her boss a nod, she moved around her and presented the order to the cooks on the notepad she carried. She also gave them a verbal rundown.

“This all one order?” asked the lead chef.

“Yes.”

“Check back in seven minutes.”

Kelly hoped that was all it would take. In the meantime, she would go back to the table and serve the fruit juices, coffees and teas they had ordered.

As soon as she was out of the kitchen, she started looking around. Alan had said he would come here today sometime. Would he come for breakfast?

She felt her mouth begin to curl up into a smile, till she caught herself.

And in a few more seconds she knew that this wasn’t a good time to smile at all.

Stan Grodon had walked in.

Of course he had. Kelly had already told herself many times that in this small town, she was likely to run into him often. Not only had he already shown up at the Haven several times since she had started working here, but she had seen him other places, too. That was a good thing...maybe. Unless he recognized her.

But until she figured out a way to get Eli alone and learn what he was experiencing without acting inappropriately toward him, she had to make use of all advantages she could. So far, all she’d managed was frustration at how little she had seen her nephew, and her inability to do anything positive for him.

If seeing Stan around here got her even a tiny lead on hard evidence against him to turn over to Alan, that would be great. It could even ultimately result in her making things better for Eli. But what was the likelihood of that?

This time the grin she pasted on her face was false. Since she was the closest server to Stan and the three other people he’d brought in, and Ella was still in the kitchen, Kelly was the one to say, “Please have a seat anywhere you’d like.”

His back was toward the other guests he’d led in. Kelly recognized one of them, the woman. She’d been with him at Tony’s Lounge the other night, his apparent date. Now, though, she was dressed professionally in a suit, so maybe he knew her from city council.

“I’d like a seat where you’ll be our server,” he responded softly, aiming a huge, suggestive leer at her.

She nearly gagged, wishing she could say that all the tables she took care of were filled, but the Haven’s dining area was far from full.

And if he was dating that woman, he had a lot of nerve flirting with someone else while he was with her. But Kelly already knew that Stan had a lot of nerve.

If she showed the group to one of Lang’s tables, would that be okay? Ella seemed in no worse of a grumpy mood than usual, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t fire Kelly if she embarrassed her in front of a government official, even by doing something minor.

Besides, avoiding Stan wouldn’t get Kelly what she ultimately wanted. She needed to face him head-on wherever possible, no matter how much he acted as the lowlife he was, as long as she didn’t give herself away.

And as long as it helped, but didn’t hurt, Eli.

“Then by all means, please sit at this table.” Kelly drew closer and waved her hand toward one in the area where she’d been assigned.

“Thank you, gorgeous.” Stan’s leer disappeared as he turned and gestured to where he wanted those accompanying him to sit.

Okay, she could play this role. She looked down, pretending to blush. Would that embarrass him in front of the people he was with? She doubted it. And at the moment, they all were paying attention to Stan, not her.

She took a moment to assess them. The other two, likewise dressed in suits, were also men. Did any of them, including the woman, work for the city? Kelly hadn’t seen them at the lunch she had helped to cater.

Or, like Jerome Baranka, were they businesspeople who wanted something from Stan—and were perhaps willing to pay for it?

Kelly would try to eavesdrop. Maybe something she overheard would be useful to Alan. And she wouldn’t be above using anything she heard to help Eli, if she could determine how.

She began to take their drink orders, which were mostly coffees and waters for now. Stan stuck with the former. “What do you want, Dora?” he asked the woman at his left. So she was Dora. Dora ordered tea.

“I’ll be right back with them,” Kelly said, feeling a little bummed when Stan didn’t even look at her now. His eyes were on the menu. And when she returned with the drinks, he was involved in a conversation with the man to his right, a good-looking guy with a dark complexion, thinning hair and an amused gaze that he watched Stan with.

Which of them wanted something from the other?

She purposely interrupted them. “What can I get everyone?”

An omelet for Stan and for one of the men, pancakes for the other guy, and scrambled eggs for Dora.

Stan barely glanced toward Kelly as he ordered. Damn. She was possibly losing an opportunity, but how could she take advantage of it? Swallow her disgust and make herself flirt with him? But if that annoyed Dora, Stan might retaliate. He’d done an adequate job so far of hiding his flirtation from that woman.

Too bad Alan wasn’t here. Maybe they could come up with something together. That was their cover, as well as reality. They were
together
, in more ways than one.

Ready to turn in their order, Kelly sighed and started walking to the kitchen. Tobi joined her. “Everything okay with you?” she asked.

Kelly realized she must not look nearly as good as she had when she’d first arrived. She certainly didn’t feel as good.

“Of course. I’m serving at least one big shot from the city. Are there any others here today?”

“You mean our illustrious City Councilman Grodon? I know you’ve waited on him before, but I’d suggest being especially nice to him. He can be a great tipper.” Tobi lifted her eyebrows as she smiled and waved, then hurried in a different direction.

Stan wasn’t likely to come up with the main tips she wanted from him here, Kelly thought. She couldn’t exactly bring up Andi, or even Eli, without causing a problem.

But she could play her role. First, she turned in the order, then delivered food to a table next to Stan’s. She pivoted to look at him from there. “Your food will be ready shortly. Anything you need in the meantime?” She knew what she said could be taken suggestively, especially by this man.

He glanced toward his left, where Dora was talking to the guy on her other side. Then Stan looked up at Kelly, let his eyes roll down her scantily clad body and said, completely in character, “Oh, yes.” But instead of saying anything suggestive or disgusting he just said, “Some more water, please.”

“Of course.” Kelly wished she could read his mind, and not only about his relationship with Dora. Of course, Kelly had wanted to do that a lot when she’d been in Stan’s presence before, ever since her sister disappeared.

Prior to her—Shereen—leaving town, she had figured that sometimes what he was thinking about was the best way to get rid of her. Permanently. He’d even tried it a few times.

She brought more water and iced tea, taking her time refilling their glasses and listening to their conversations.

Stan was again talking to the guy beside him, saying how much opportunity there was to start new businesses in Blue Haven, even to expand existing businesses with offices or new retail outlets here. And additional restaurants, even better than this one. There’d be competition, sure, but there was always room for more. Had the guy ever seen the Blue View? That was an expensive but utterly delightful restaurant on top of a cliff overlooking the cove in the Pacific that gave Blue Haven its name.

That gave her a pretty good idea of what Stan was up to now, and if she didn’t already know what a horrible person he was, she might consider him an asset to this city, trying to attract more business and more revenue.

But his eating here today was turning out to be worthless to her.

She was soon able to deliver the table’s meals. They assured her there wasn’t anything else they needed just then. But the old Stan was still lurking inside. Kelly felt a pinch on her behind as she turned to go. When she looked back, all four people at the table had started to eat—though Stan turned his head slightly toward her after looking at the others and gave her a quick wink.

Damn him! She wanted to slug him. But she couldn’t. Wouldn’t. That wouldn’t get him to talk to her or anyone else.

Although...sex last night with Alan probably put the idea into her head, but what if she was more seductive around Stan when there weren’t other people close by, even when he didn’t initiate it? The idea made her feel ill inside, but she wouldn’t have to go through with anything.

Maybe she could get him to start talking. Bragging about past conquests...like his wife.

That would put her much too close to him, though. She’d be more at risk that he would recognize her. No, she couldn’t do that.

So how could a mere family restaurant server get to know him—and, more important, his son—beyond just seeing him here?

As full of questions and anger as Kelly was, she made herself concentrate on waiting on other customers in her serving area with all the friendliness and grace that Ella expected of her.

When she glanced back at that table, Stan seemed right at home talking to all of them, but he seemed to mostly pay attention to Dora. Who was she? Did she work for the city or someone else? Or have her own business?

Were she and Stan a couple?

If they were dating, maybe the woman also knew Eli. Maybe she would wind up being Kelly’s key to seeing more of him.

Kelly knew she needed to learn more, talk to Dora to determine if she could be of any use. But how?

Maybe she could run her thoughts by Alan. He was coming here sometime today.

Stan soon indicated they were finished, and Kelly brought him the check. He gave her his credit card, and when the transaction was completed she realized that Tobi was right. Stan tipped well.

Maybe to encourage her to get to know him better. It was exactly what she wanted, but not the way he undoubtedly had in mind.

After watching Stan and company maneuver between the tables and out the door, Kelly decided this might be a good time to text Alan and ask about his plans—but it turned out she didn’t need to. He entered the Haven almost the moment the others had left.

He saw her immediately and waved. Without glancing around to see who might notice, Kelly waved back and motioned him to come over. The place was filling up, but she would definitely find him a table.

She’d also figure out a means and location where they could talk.

Talk business, of course—including her latest thoughts about Stan.

But as Alan drew closer, a huge sexy grin on his handsome face, she acknowledged that there were reasons other than business that she was delighted to see Alan.

* * *

There she was. It was all Alan could do to keep himself from wending his way among the restaurant’s tables, taking that beautiful, sexy woman into his arms and giving her one heck of a big kiss.

To play their game, of course. Act out their roles. But also because he figured she might need a little warmth after having had her nemesis in here again: Stan.

Alan had seen the councilman on his way out with some of the town’s business folks that he recognized, but not the one he now especially wanted to meet and talk with: Jerome Baranka. But he would watch out for Baranka and find a way to talk to him somehow, whether Stan was around or not.

He hadn’t stood there more than a few seconds when Kelly clearly noticed him, too, and approached with her arms not exactly extended in welcome, but her hands facing him as if she had an urge to hug him, as well.

“Can’t stay long,” he said when she caught up with him between tables near the door. “Just had a few minutes off and wanted to grab a cup of coffee.”

“Please come in,” she said, and within moments he wanted to stroke her soft cheeks, pull her close. If he read the almost pleading expression on her lovely face correctly, she had something on her mind.

But before they got close to each other, she looked over his shoulder, then maneuvered around him beside a table where two men were eating and motioned for someone to walk toward her. Alan turned and saw two mothers, each holding the hand of a young boy. “Let’s get you a good spot and some high chairs,” Kelly said to them, then shot an apologetic glance his way.

“Let me help,” he said.

Kelly’s expression looked both amused and grateful. In a few minutes, those two families were seated at a table near the door—probably not one where Kelly served, but when her boss, Ella, hurried over to check things out, she seemed happy with Kelly.

“You deserve a quick break,” Ella said to her, letting her inquisitive gaze move between them.

“Oh, thank you,” Kelly said, then looked at her boss. “I know it’s against one of your rules, but would you mind if I grabbed a cup of coffee here with Alan? I’ll be glad to serve us and stay out of everyone’s way.”

“And I’ll pay,” Alan said, “and give Kelly a nice tip.”

“I would hope so.” Ella’s hazel eyes gleamed as her gaze again moved from one to the other. She was a pretty woman, maybe in her forties, but from what Alan had noted about her, she ruled her employees here with an iron fist—or maybe a heavy frying pan. But apparently she could be nice to them after all.

Like now.

It was a good thing, too. As Ella apparently went to tell the other servers to cover for her, Kelly motioned him to follow her among the river of tables till they reached an empty one in the corner near the hallway to the restrooms and offices. He helped her into a chair and took the one opposite her.

He liked how her luminous brown eyes shone and her smile lit up her entire face. “This, I gather, is unheard of,” she said quietly. “I want to find out what caused Ella to act so nice today. But right now I’d better go get us some coffee. Regular, with cream, correct?”

“Correct.” He watched her lithesome body in her skimpy uniform as she rose, wanting again to touch her, but not here. “Then we’ll talk.”