A Daughter's Redemption by Georgiana Daniels

Author:Georgiana Daniels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Unshowered and sporting two days’ beard growth, Caleb stormed into the café on a mission. After waiting for the gully to dry and getting a tow truck, he was itching to take care of business. The café buzzed with the morning rush, and the smell of cheap, greasy food wafted from the kitchen causing his stomach to growl.

He scanned the crowd until he found Phil, tucked away in a corner. Most patrons only gave a cursory glance as Caleb wove through the tables in the open-floored dining area, but the men at Dan’s former table allowed their disapproving stares to linger. At this point, he didn’t care.

“Thanks for returning my call.” He didn’t wait for an invitation to pull out a chair, flip it around and sit. At least Phil’s secretary was amenable to giving out his whereabouts, which was the only thing that had gone right for Caleb all morning.

Phil issued a nervous chuckle. “Caleb, meet my client, Jarvis.”

“Nice to meet you.” He nodded at the town’s well-known contractor. “This won’t take long.”

“I was just leaving.” Jarvis tossed a ten-dollar bill on the table, said goodbye and found a livelier group to join.

“I’d ask what brings you by, but I have a feeling I don’t want to know.” Phil wiped his hands and placed his folded napkin over the remnants of a breakfast special.

Caleb rubbed his whiskers, an ever-present and rather itchy reminder that he hadn’t been home in days. “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.” His comment was a little too pointed. A little too loud.

“You’ve really let yourself go.” Phil cast a furtive glance around the café and let loose with another stilted laugh. He leaned close. “You’re causing a scene.”

“Does it matter? Does any of it?” He motioned for the waitress to bring him coffee. After two nights of sleeping—if it could be called that—in his truck, he needed the caffeine. Once he’d left Robyn last night, he still hadn’t been able to cross the gully, and it was too late to hike out and catch a ride at the main road.

“Of course it matters,” Phil whispered tersely. “The chief is watching you from across the room.” His eyes shifted toward the group near the kitchen.

Caleb schooled his face and posture. He had to at least appear stoic, even though fatigue was causing him to make irrational moves. It was like he was watching someone else’s life unfold, and he was powerless to control it.

One moment had changed everything.

The rattle of the coffee cup as it settled on the table snapped him back to the present. He thanked the waitress and declined breakfast, even though the smell of sausage was overpowering. He only had a few dollars in his pocket, and he refused to bum cash off Phil.

“I’ve had back-to-back meetings. That’s why I didn’t call you yet.” Phil reclined in his chair and crossed his legs. “You never said it was an emergency.”

Caleb rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.

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