“Nice to meet you. Bree Fox,” she took his hand and climbed out.
“Hope this place is okay with you. Food is pretty good.”
She looked up and saw they were going into a place called the Company Store.
“It’s not that anymore,” he pointed. “It’s called the Secret Stash now. Pretty good pizzas, or salads if you’re, ya know, more health conscious.”
The hostess led them to a booth. Kaleb excused himself just as she sat down. “Be right back,” he said.
Bree studied the menu. The last thing she expected to be was hungry, but she was suddenly famished. She wondered what the people at the other tables would think, when Kaleb came back, about her having dinner with a cop. She supposed they had to eat too, right?
She almost didn’t recognize him when he did come back. “Uh, you changed your clothes.”
“I wasn’t completely honest…” He looked so sheepish Bree couldn’t help but smile.
“That doesn’t sound good coming from a policeman. I mean, are you a policeman?”
“Yeah, I was honest about that part. It’s the dinner break part that wasn’t the complete truth. I’m actually done for the night. I thought, if I told you that, it might scare you off.”
“And you just happen to keep a change of clothes here, at the restaurant? I have to admit, I’m beginning to get a little scared,” she laughed.
He laughed too. “It isn’t lookin’ too good, is it? My sister owns this place, and I bartend sometimes. I keep a change of clothes here so I don’t have to drive home in between my shifts if time is tight.”
“Are you bartending tonight?”
“Nope. I’m off for the rest of the weekend actually. Policing and bartending.”
“Oh.”
“I just keep digging myself deeper, don’t I?”
Bree laughed again. “You’re okay. I’m guessing just about everybody in here tonight knows you. Am I right about that?”
“Maybe one or two don’t,” he smiled.
“Nobody tried to catch my attention and warn me off while you were changing, so I suppose I’m safe enough.”
“Good. Now that we’ve settled I pose no threat, tell me more about yourself, Bree Fox.”
They shared a pizza and a pitcher of beer. At first Bree was hesitant to have a drink, but Kaleb promised he’d get her back to the ranch. He’d have someone follow with her truck if necessary.
“Do you know where the ranch is?”
“Of course I do. Everybody knows the Flying R. Everybody knows the Rice family for that matter.”
“My family and the Rice family are kind of intertwined. My sister is married to Tucker.”
“Can’t say I know Tucker. I do know Matt, Will, and Ben though.”
“My mom and Ben’s wife are best friends. They have been since I was nine years old.”
“You mean Liv? She’s great. Who’s your mom?”
“Her name is Paige. Paige Cochran.”
“And your dad is…Mark Cochran?”
“That would be him.”