She took a sip of her coffee, staring straight ahead. Cameron grabbed the opportunity to take in the details of her face. High cheekbones and dark eyes betrayed a Native American heritage, but there was something else there, something that softened her stunning features just a bit.
Is it considered polite to stare at people where you come from? she asked, her gaze still fixed on the coffeepot. She slowly turned and gave him a cool look, her raven eyebrow raised quizzically.
Sorry, Cameron murmured. Ive just been stuck on a bus for the past few days with nothing interesting to look at. He chuckled softly. And youre the absolute last thing I thought Id see in this place.
And what exactly am I?
Interesting, he murmured. Cameron took another sip of his beer. Sorry. Ill keep my eyes to myself.
She turned away, as if embarrassed by the compliment. You have been on a bus too long, she said.
I have.
A long silence grew between them as they both stared straight ahead, enjoying their drinks.
What are you doing in Vulture Creek? she asked.
Its a long story.
Where are you from?
Seattle, he said. Washington.
I know where Seattle is, she said with a smile.
Of course you do, he said. For someone who didnt want to be noticed, she sure was trying awfully hard to strike up a conversation. Cameron had never been an expert at small talk, but just this once, it might be nice to make an effort. Do you live around here?
She seemed to be understandably suspicious of him. Around, she replied.
Thats a little vague, he said. Around here? Around New Mexico? Around the Southwest?
Albuquerque, she said.
And what are you doing in Vulture Creek? he asked.
She smiled. Its a long story.
Cameron chuckled softly. Well, that does it, then. Ive found someone who is worse at small talk than I am. Maybe we should just stop talking altogether before we bore each other to death.
She shrugged. Fine by me. Youre the one who started the conversation.
Actually, you were the first one to speak, as I recall. I was just staring.
Well, Im done speaking. Starting now.
Millie appeared a few minutes later with Camerons lunch. She set the plate in front of him, then nodded toward his empty mug. Another beer?
Sure, Cameron said as he dug into his meal.
Millie turned to the woman sitting next to him. What can I get for you, Sofie? Breakfast or lunch?
The meat loaf is good, Cameron said between bites. Sofie. Was that short for Sofia? The name suited her, he thought to himself. Sofia, the dark, exotic beauty with the lush mouth and the sparkling eyes.
Ill have a grilled-cheese and a cup of soup, Sofie said.
Can I get you anything else? Millie asked Cameron.
A job. Do you know of anyone whos looking to hire? I need work. And a place to stay.
She nodded toward the group sitting at the tables near the front of the diner. You could talk to the professor over there, she said. He has a dinosaur dig out in the desert. Theyre always looking for help.
Cameron gasped. Really. A dig? He shook his head in disbelief. Was this why his grand father had sent him to Vulture Creek? Did he know about the dig?
They dont pay, Sofie said. Other than meals. Theyre looking for volunteers.
Arent you looking for someone, Sofie? Millie asked.
No, Sofie said.
Sure you are. You mentioned it yesterday. I distinctly remember you saying you didnt have enough eyes or ears to cover all the ground you needed to. I do believe those were your words.
What kind of work do you do? Cameron asked.
Shes a private investigator, Millie said. Working on a big case. The waitress wandered back to the kitchen, leaving Sofie and Cameron with another uncomfortable silence.
Cameron sighed softly. Though the dinosaur dig was intriguing, hed have to find a way to make some real money. And if Sofie, the private investigator, had a job, then he ought to explore that option. Who knew if there would even be other opportunities in Vulture Creek?
So do you or dont you have a job youre looking to fill?
Millie set a cup of soup in front of Sofie. Maybe you ought to interview him. He looks like a clever young man. She winked at Cameron. Careful, now. If you have any secrets, shell find a way to get them out of you.
Cameron stifled a smile. Actually, that sounded like a lot of fun. Though he wasnt much of a conversationalist, he was enjoying the back-and-forth with Sofie. Beneath that cool, composed exterior, Cameron suspected there was a fiery, passionate woman. He was curious to catch a glimpse of that side of her.
Why are you here? Sofie asked.
Cameron wiped his hands with his napkin and swallowed the mouthful of meat loaf. Im here because my grandfather sent me here. Im supposed to take the next six weeks to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life.
Why would you need to do that?
My grandfather owns the family business. I work there. He needs to make some decisions about the future of that business. He wants us all to be sure of where we want to be.
All?
Me and my three brothers. We all work for the company.
What do you do? I mean, for a job? she replied.
I design sailing yachts, he said.
Sofie laughed and nodded to Millie. Well, we have a lot of sailing yachts here in the desert, she said. I really dont think I have
Sofie, Cameron said.
She stopped talking and watched him warily. Yes?
Im a smart guy. Im pretty sure I can handle whatever you send my way. Why dont you give me a chance? If it doesnt work out, you can fire me.
Whats your name? she finally asked.
He held out his hand. Cameron Quinn. Most people call me Cam.
Reluctantly, she shook his hand. Sofia Reyes, she said softly. Most people call me Sofie.
The moment he touched her, the sensation of her skin against his sent a flood of warmth racing through his veins. He didnt want to let her hand go, but forced himself. Now that weve met, you have to let me buy you lunch, Cameron said. You can tell me all about the virtues of Vulture Creek.
That would be a very short lunch. More like a snack.
Go ahead, Millie urged. Let the man buy you lunch.
He felt a small measure of satisfaction when she nodded in agreement. Though he hadnt held out much hope of finding anything of interest in Vulture Creek when he stepped off the bus, his prospects were getting better with every minute that passed. Sofie Reyes. Even her name was sexy.
SOFIE SIGHED SOFTLY as she took her first bite of Millies banana-cream pie. Shed been hanging around Vulture Creek for the past few weeks, and a slice of Millies homemade pie had become a daily ritual for her.
I think pie is just about the perfect food, Sofie said, emphasizing her statement with her fork. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And its good for a snack, too.
I think you might be right, Cameron replied, digging into the apple pie hed ordered after his own meal.
I think you might be right, Cameron replied, digging into the apple pie hed ordered after his own meal.
The conversation was easy between them, which Sofie found odd. She usually wasnt very comfortable around charming men, especially men she didnt know. Her instincts usually tended to have her second-guessing everything that was said, looking for ulterior motives and hidden meanings. It was the side effects of working as a private investigator, she knew. Everyone she met was guilty of something.
But this man, this Cameron Quinn, should have set off all her alarms. His reasons for being in Vulture Creek were cloudy at best. His wardrobe was more suited to a man who drove an expensive European sports car than a guy who took the Greyhound. And yet she couldnt help but be attracted.
In truth, she did need help. It had become almost impossible to cover all her bases with the case she was working, especially when she had to provide round-the-clock surveillance. And as a woman, she was more conspicuous in a small town like Vulture Creek. For whatever reason, people noticed her and they remembered her.
The sooner she wrapped up this case, the better, and if Cameron Quinn could help, who was she to refuse? Shed been chasing cheating husbands and deadbeat dads for almost six months, and it was wearing on her nerves. As soon as she was physically able, shed be back on the job with the Albuquerque Police Department, back doing the job she was meant to do.
Sofie drew a deep breath. It had been two years since the accident, two years of recovery that seemed to progress an inch at a time. As much as she didnt want to face it, she knew the reality of her situation.
She might not make it back. She might never be able to pass the physical again. All shed be left with was a hip that ached in the cold and a limp that made her the object of either pity or curiosity. Though she might be considered attractive, she was still damaged.
Most men never saw beyond the imperfection. Hell, she couldnt get beyond it herself most days. But sitting here, talking to Cameron, she could almost forget the flaw. He had a way of looking at her that made her feel as if she was the most fascinating woman hed ever set eyes upon. And Sofie hadnt felt that way in a very long time. Not since the incident.
Sofie came from a family of law-enforcement officers. Her father was a cop in Albuquerque, and each of her five brothers worked in criminal justice. So it was only natural that Sofie, the youngest in the family, had set her sights on the same career.
Shed begun work with the Albuquerque P.D. the year she graduated from college, and it had been a dream job. Shed worked her way up through the ranks and was undercover in Narcotics by the time she was twenty-six. Her team was in the midst of a major trafficking case when she got caught in a turf war between two rival drug gangs.
Sofie had known the dangers, but theyd been so close to making their case. She hadnt listened to her instincts or her superiors, believing that she could handle whatever came her way. But a speeding car and a half-crazed driver put her safety in someone elses hands. And the resulting crash had put her in intensive care for three months.
You want another piece of pie?
Sofie blinked, then glanced up from her empty plate. What?
Pie, Cam said. The way you were looking, I was thinking you might just eat the plate. He turned and searched for Millie. Can we get another slice of the banana-cream pie?
No, she said, shaking her head. Im fine.
Im not, he said. Ill have a piece of that banana-cream pie, please.
He sent her a smile, and Sofie felt a shiver skitter through her. Was she just imagining it, or was there an attraction between them? Sofie felt it, but was it mutual, or was it merely wishful thinking on her part?
Just because theyd indulged in a little casual flirting over lunch didnt mean that he was ready to pull her into his arms and ravish her. Cameron seemed like the kind of guy who kept a pretty tight leash on his desires.
Besides, if she decided against hiring him, hed probably be on a bus out of Vulture Creek before she could find something else to like about him, rolling down the road like a tumbleweed in a dust storm.
Millie wandered over with the coffeepot and another slice of pie. She filled their cups, then slipped the check onto the counter beside Cameron. He pulled out his wallet and handed her a credit card, then turned back to Sofie. She reached into her back pocket for money, but Cameron brushed her hand aside. Its on me, he said.
Thats not necessary. I can
No, I want to. He paused. I was thinking maybe you might be able to help me find a place to stay here in town. Maybe show me around?
She wanted to say yes, to imagine that this day might go on a little longer. But she did have work to do. Sure, she said. I have some time. Work could wait a few hours.
As he finished up his dessert, Millie returned, a scowl on her face. She handed Cameron his credit card. It wouldnt go through, she said. There was a flag on the account for me to call, and they said to take away the card.
What? Cameron grabbed the card and stared at it. But its my He cursed softly, then chuckled. Oh. Okay, I get it.
Sofie quickly stood. Whats going on?
My grandfather is making sure that I stay in Vulture Creek, he said, waving the card. He pulled out his wallet and riffled through the bills. I have six dollars left. How the hell can I
You need a job, son, Millie said.
Yeah. And the sooner the better. All right, first things first. I need to pay for lunch.
Ive got some dishes piled up, Millie said. And those windows out front need washing. That should about cover it.
I can do that, Cameron agreed. Ill start with the dishes. And maybe, if youve got something else I can do, I can build up a credit.
Sofie stood, then reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out the wad of cash. A guy willing to wash dishes in a diner to pay his bill couldnt be all bad, could he? She peeled off enough to cover the lunch and a tip for Millie. That should take care of it, she said. You can pay me back later, she said to Cameron. Come on.
Turning on her heel, she headed to the door. Everything inside her told her that this guy wasnt what he said he was. But at the same time, he seemed nice enough. Shed just maintain her distance until she was sure. She glanced over her shoulder to find him standing there. Youre hired.
He picked up his bag and ran after her, pushing the door open for her. Thanks, he said. Hey, you can take the lunch out of my first days pay. He paused. You are going to pay me, arent you?
Yes.
And Im going to need a place to stay.
Well figure that out later, she said.
Id kind of like to get it figured out now, he said. Ive only got six dollars to my name.
Sheriff Wendall lets people sleep in the jail when its not occupied. But I think I can find you a place to bed down.
Great, he said. He held out the six dollars and she waved him off.
But before you start work for me, I have to do a background check, she said, putting her straw hat back on her head. She stood in front of him, her hands hitched on her waist, observing him shrewdly. Is there anything in your past that youd like to confess to right now? Because, I guarantee, by the end of the day, Ill know everything about you.