A Shot in the Dark Read Online Free Page A

of the darkness that had settled on her lifted when Blue Eyes smiled her way.
    “Hello, beautiful. How is the coffee business today?”
    “Much better now that our favorite customer has shown up.”
    Blue Eyes scanned the store without appearing obvious. Paige pulled out a large cup and tried to keep her face as impassive as possible. “He’s gone for a walk.”
    “Who?”
    Like you don’t know. “Ian. Sorry, no one to bug you about your name today.”
    Blue Eyes chuckled. “That’s okay. I’ll have to come back later to make up for it. I don’t know if I could survive without my dose of the third degree.”
    “I’m glad. He’ll be sorry if he misses you.”
    “The boy works too much.” Blue Eyes took the mug and slid a toonie across the counter. “He needs to have a few nights off. Go out with a few friends. His girlfriend maybe?”
    Subtle as a sledgehammer, fella. “I think Ian would develop hives if we even suggested he date a woman.”
    “Ah.” Blue Eyes couldn’t cover up his grin. “His boyfriend then?”
    “If Ian had one, he’d spend a lot less time here.” Paige held out his change which he, of course, refused. She threw it in the tip jar. “It would be wonderful if that situation changed.”
    “I’m sure it would do him some good.” Blue Eyes took a sip of the coffee and hummed pleasantly. “Perfect. Make sure to say hi for me.”
    “Will do.”
    It was a solid forty-five minutes later before Ian came back, his hair messy from the wind. “It’s getting bad out there. Feels like rain.” He stopped and frowned. “Shit. I missed him, didn’t I?”
    Paige wasn’t sure how Ian could possibly know, but it probably had to do with the smirk on her face. “Yeah, sorry.”
    “Fuck.” He marched over to the sink and washed his hands. “I’m never leaving for a walk again.”
    “Don’t be such a baby. Plus, I think it was a good thing.”
    “What? Why?”
    “He was asking about you.” Paige relaxed, enjoying the easy conversation for once. “Wanted to know if you had a boyfriend.”
    Ian dropped the milk frothing cup, spun around and stared at her. “You’re kidding.”
    “Nope. I think he might be slightly insane because it appears he likes you.”
    Ian tried to fight his grin but lost the battle miserably. “That’s…that’s good. Yeah.”
    “He said he’d try and come back later.”
    “I’ll be here, unless you’ve managed to find a few fully trained baristas in desperate need of a job in the last half hour?”
    “No. Sorry.”
    Ian shrugged. “A boy can dream.”
    The rattle of something being thrown into the sink in the kitchen had them both jump. Paige cringed, knowing the only reason Sadie was taking out her frustrations on her cooking instruments was because Paige was a complete bitch.
    “What’s wrong with Sade?” Ian’s eyes grew impossibly wide. “Paul hasn’t fucked up already, has he?”
    “That would be me holding the honor.”
    “Oh.” Ian set his towel down and moved beside her. “Dare I ask?”
    Paige knew things were bad when Ian was playing the peacemaker. “I might have implied that she was trying to meddle in my personal life.”
    “Christ, Paige.”
    “I know! I’m a bitch.”
    “What brought that on?”
    Without saying anything else, she hauled the business card out of her pocket and handed it over.
    “Who’s Carter West?”
    “Someone who came into the store last night.”
    “Firefighter. Sexy.”
    “He came back this morning and gave me his card. He wants to go for coffee.”
    “What’s wrong with—?”
    “At Mavericks.”
    “Oh.” Ian said it in such a way that it sounded like he fully understood Paige’s reservations and general bitchiness.
    “She was only teasing me and I overreacted.”
    “Because you’ve never done that before.”
    Paige punched his shoulder. “Not helping.”
    “Sorry.” He held the card up again, examining the text as if it held the mysteries of life. “Are you going?”
    The mental