Mad, Bad and Blonde - Cathie Linz [61]
She didn’t even bother asking Caine why he was trailing her. She’d gotten accustomed to his knowing her every move. “None of your business.”
Caine said, “If it has something to do with my father’s case—”
“It has nothing to do with that. It’s personal. So go away.”
Before he could, Gram joined them. “What are you two whispering about over here in the corner?”
Chapter Thirteen
Faith tried not to panic. Her grandmother did not have the quietest voice in the world. What if she was the dinner date Faith’s dad was expecting? What if she wasn’t? “Shh, Gram.”
“Don’t shush me. You’re not a librarian anymore. Why are you over here skulking in the corner with this sexy man? Why don’t you join your father? I’ll tell him you’re here.”
“No.” Faith grabbed her grandmother’s arm. “Don’t do that. Please.”
“Why not?”
“Because. I don’t want him to know I’m here.”
Gram eyed Caine. “Do I know you?”
“No. I’m Caine Hunter.”
“Ah. The ex-Marine who works for our rival.”
“Former Marine,” Caine corrected her.
“My husband fought in World War II. He was in the U.S. Army. I was twenty years younger than him, but there’s just something about a man in uniform. Have you seen him in his uniform?” she asked Faith.
“Grandfather? Yes, I’ve seen photos of him—”
“No, I mean this former Marine here. Caine. Have you seen him in his uniform?”
“No.”
“Good. Don’t you go trying to break my granddaughter’s heart,” Gram said. “She’s had enough trouble in her life lately. She doesn’t need a former Marine messing things up. Even if you are good-looking. Don’t you go trying to seduce her in some dark corner.”
“He’s not,” Faith said.
“You mean you dragged him into the corner?” Gram raised an eyebrow. “Well, I heard you were becoming more forceful since returning from Italy.”
“There was no dragging done by either one of us.”
“So what are you two doing here? If you plan on getting intimate, you should really go get a room.”
“That is not going to happen.”
“I’m no prude, but I don’t think you two should be making out in the corner.”
“We weren’t. We’re not going to.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Working.”
“Working?”
“Are you meeting Dad for dinner, Gram?”
“No.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“This is my favorite restaurant. I was going to meet Zoe. You know her. I play bridge with her. Anyway, she just called and canceled.”
Faith was so focused on her grandmother that she didn’t see Buddy until he joined them at the now-crowded table. “What are you two amateurs up to now?” Buddy demanded.
“Who are you?” Gram demanded.
“Buddy Doyle at your service, ma’am.” To Faith and Caine he said, “I’ve got a table a few feet from here. You can still see your mark, but you won’t be drawing attention to yourselves.”
“Do you work for West Investigations?” Gram asked.
“No, I run my own operation. And I do a better job of it than these two youngsters.”
Gram took offense at Buddy’s words. “My granddaughter is very good at what she does.”
“Nonsense.” Before Gram could get more upset, Buddy added, “You’re much too young to have a granddaughter.”
Faith’s grandmother smiled. Her spiky haircut was softly styled, and the Chanel suit she wore gave her an elegant look. Instead of a string of pearls, she wore a button on her lapel that said Save the Polar Bears.
“Shall we move now before we generate more attention?” He pointed to his table. He was right. It did have a better vantage point. The greenery shielded their move.
Once at his table, Buddy gallantly held out a chair for Faith’s grandmother. “You know my name now, but I still don’t know yours.”
“Ingrid West.”
“Ingrid. That’s a lovely name.”
“It’s Swedish.”
“I know.”
Caine nudged Faith, who stood there in disbelief, watching Buddy flirting with her grandmother. “Sit,” he said.
He belatedly held out a chair for her.
She sat.
Caine took the seat next to her.
Buddy opened the menu, gave it a quick once-over and slapped it back onto the table. “Who can afford to eat at a place like this?”
“I’d be glad to treat you,” Ingrid offered.
“That’s kind of you, ma’am, but I could never take money from