Calder Storm (Calder Saga 10)

“You’re up and about with the sun this morning,” Laredo observed, catching the sharp tang of the aftershave Trey had used.

“Thought I’d catch an early breakfast.” Trey tucked his shirttails inside his jeans as he walked over to retrieve his hat.

There was a degree of haste in Trey’s movements. Coupled with the memory of the previous night’s extra-long shower, this observation made Laredo suspect Trey had awakened with a hunger of another kind.

“Is she anyone I know?” he asked. “Like maybe that brunette you nearly ran over when we arrived yesterday?”

Trey flashed him a quick grin. “Maybe.”

“Maybe, hell,” Laredo scoffed at the evasion.

Trey pushed the hat onto his head and started for the door. “See you later.”

Laredo called after him, “Don’t forget. That meeting with the investigators is set for eleven-thirty. Jessy wants you there for it.”

Pausing halfway out the door, Trey turned back, frowning. “That’s today?”

“Eleven-thirty.”

“Right.” He gave the door a tap and stepped into the hall, pulling it shut behind him.

There was a determined glint in his eyes and a lift to his stride when Trey retraced last night’s route to the room Sloan occupied. He rapped sharply on the door, waited, and knocked again.

Finally a muffled and sleepy voice called out, “Who’s there?”

“It’s Trey,” he replied in a clear, strong voice.

There was a delay, accompanied by a few odd thuds. Then the door swung open about a foot, and Sloan showed herself while still absently tugging at a thin cotton robe she had pulled on over a sleeper tee. Her dark hair was all mussed and tousled, and she gazed at him with a kind of sleepy-eyed confusion.

“What are you doing here?” she asked with a slight frown.

Leaning a hand against the doorjamb, Trey smiled. “I wondered what you’d look like first thing in the morning.” He ran his glance over her face, taking note of the relaxed line of her lips, bare of any gloss.

Her frown deepened a little. “You’re crazy.”

“You could be right,” Trey conceded. “I only know you were the last thing I thought about before I fell asleep and the first thing on my mind when I woke. Care to join me for breakfast??

?

“It isn’t even six o’clock yet.”

“I know. But since we’re both up, we might as well get something to eat.” Only the twinkle in his eyes gave lie to the perfectly reasonable tone of his voice.

Her lips parted on a silent laugh as Sloan shook her head and leaned a shoulder against the frame. “I give up. Breakfast it is. But I’ll need a few minutes to get ready.”

“Not a problem,” Trey replied, satisfaction running strong through him. “Just one question—what’s your morning beverage of choice?”

Amused by the question, she paused a beat before answering. “I usually have a double latte. Since I already know Miles City doesn’t have a Starbucks, coffee with cream will do.”

“I’ll have one waiting for you.” He pushed off the jamb to stand erect. “Twenty minutes from now—in the lobby. Will that give you enough time?”

“Better make it thirty so I can have time to shower.”

“Thirty minutes,” Trey agreed and backed up a step. “Make sure to bring a jacket with you. It’s liable to be a bit nippy at this hour.”

“I will,” Sloan promised.

Turning away, Trey struck out for the lobby. He had an incredible urge to whistle but resisted it, his smile widening instead. There was definitely a fresh flavor to the morning.