Page 18 of Hollow Forest

That choice was easy.

Despite the queasy feeling that I’d unknowingly messed up, I forced myself to eat the dry bread and ham. It stuck in my molars and caked in the pockets of my cheeks. When the food was done, I rubbed my teeth with my tongue, dusted the crumbs off my apron, and stood to stretch.

Upon opening the back door, I stopped short. Ivry stood frozen in the kitchen, wringing her hands, and Joey loomed in the doorway. His gaze crashed into mine, and I forgot to take a breath.

“But, signore, you don’t like those—” Her sentence cut off when she noticed me.

Without a word, the handyman turned on his heel and exited the kitchen.

“Ivry?” I gasped, taking a tentative step inside. “What was that?”

“Oh, nothing!” she said quickly.

I arched a brow and tugged the heavy industrial door tight. “Explain. Now.”

She hesitated.

“I’m only going to assume the worst,” I added.

Joey didn’t seem the kind of guy to assault someone. Gruff and quiet, I was quickly realizing I didn’t know the first thing about the workman who’d been out at my house almost every day. Sure, he dressed like he fit in with the others, but if I stopped to think about it, there was an energy about the handyman that didn’t vibe with the rest of the crew.

“It’s just….” Ivry fidgeted. “He doesn’t drink cappuccinos in the morning. I went to offer him the usual and apologize for the mistake, since you’re new, but he told me to mind my own business.”

My lips thinned. “And then he cornered you in the kitchen?”

Ivry nodded quickly. “Yep!”

“Ivry,” I warned.

“Oh, just some computer work I do for his, uh, construction company. Nothing more!”

This wasn’t going to fly. I marched passed her and straight to the table.

Where Joey stood across from an equally imposing newcomer.

The pulse of masculine energy slammed into me, making my legs quake. But if this was a mistake, it should be me who apologized. And frankly, the grump didn’t deserve that since he didn’t order a usual beverage.

“Sam?” Joey prompted as the earth seemed to sway around me.

I cleared my throat. “I came to apologize for making the wrong thing and ask how I can make it right.”

He tipped his head to study me. “You can make me anything you want, beautiful.”

The way he spoke was like velvet against my skin. And he…and he called me beautiful.

The same thing the masked intruder said before he left this morning.

I stared hard, trying to picture what he would be like with a mask.

His friend fell into a chair and muttered something that was incomprehensible. Probably because it wasn’t English, but my brain didn’t pick up on that right away.

No, I was too focused on Joey, who reached out. For a split second, I thought he was going to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind my ear.

But then he dropped his hand.

And fisted it against his thigh.

“If there’s ever a problem with the drinks I make, I’d appreciate it if you told me, not my coworkers,” I stated firmly.