“How about we grab some lunch, my treat.”
Meagan smiled and I groaned internally. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy Brad’s company, I just hated the fact that he was judging every single thing I did and he made it pretty damn clear he was not happy about our engagement.
“Sounds great! Gray, where should we take, Dad to eat?”
For some reason I remembered Meagan saying her father hated Chinese food. With a wide grin, I said, “How about May Palace. Best Chinese food in Durango.”
“Oh yum, but Dad doesn’t like Chinese food.”
Brad shot me a smirk. Fine you won that one.
“All right, let me think.”
“How about Steamworks Brewery? They have great hamburgers.”
My body stiffened. I’d never told Meagan this, but Diana not only owned a male strip club right outside of Durango, but Steamworks Brewery as well.
Brad tilted his head and looked at me intently. I was positive he saw my reaction. “That sounds amazing, pumpkin. I’m in the mood for a good burger.”
Meagan did a little happy dance and laced her arm with her dad’s and grabbed onto my hand. “This is turning out to be the best day ever!”
Inhaling a deep cleansing breath, I held the door open to Steamworks as Meagan and then her father walked in. Closing my eyes, I quickly said a prayer no one said anything to me.
Eyes open, and I walked in with a straight posture.
“Oh. My. God! If it isn’t Grayson!”
Fuck. My. Life.
Diana came walking over and engulfed me in a hug. I could see Meagan’s confused expression quickly replaced with one of fear.
“Hey Diana, you remember Meg, my fiancée?”
“Of course, but I didn’t know you had moved up from girlfriend to fiancée! I’m judging the tenderloin dish! When am I getting those by the way?”
Meagan and I both fumbled over our responses as Diana zeroed in on Brad. “Why hello there, handsome. Who might you be?”
Brad chuckled and shook Diana’s hand. “Brad Atwood, Meagan’s father.”
Diana lifted her eyebrow as she snuck a quick look at me before turning her attention back to Brad. “Well, welcome to Steamworks. Dad, you look like you need a drink. We have the best brewed beers in Colorado.”
Lifting his hands up, Brad took a step back. “No thank you. I don’t drink.”
Diana quickly backed off and grabbed three menus. “Totally get it. Let’s go have a seat, shall we.”
I followed behind everyone as I scanned the restaurant. Waiting tables in the other section was Georgia.
Shit.
Turning my head, I avoided looking at her. Pulling Meagan’s chair out, I smiled and squeezed her shoulder before sitting down. She leaned over and whispered, “Sorry, I didn’t know.”
With a fake smile, I nodded and buried my face in the menu.
“Georgia will be over to take your drink orders here in a second. Enjoy your lunch.” I didn’t bother looking at her as Meagan and Brad thanked her.
“I take it you know the manager, Gray?”
Not wanting to lie, I gave a nod of acknowledgement and said, “Owner. Diana is the owner. She owns a few places around the area.”
Brad lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “Well, that’s great for her. She must be a smart business woman.”
Meagan giggled as she lifted her hand over her mouth and whispered, “Sorry. Thought about something that made me chuckle.”
“Afternoon, folks. What can I get you to drink?”
“Iced tea please,” Brad said.
“Same for me, thank you.”
Not wanting to be rude, I pulled the menu down and said, “I’ll have the same.”
Georgia’s mouth dropped open as she ran around the table and wrapped her arms around me. “Gray! Holy crap. I haven’t seen you in forever! How’s the new life treating you?”
My stomach felt sick as I forced a smile. “It’s good. All is good.”
“Oh, I’m so glad. I was so worried when I found out you were going to be a cop.”
One peak over to Brad showed him looking through the menu. Thank God.
“Yeah, crazy.”
It was then I saw him.
Joshua Black. Meagan must have seen him at the same time because she grabbed my hand.
“Crazy running into you here, Detective Bennett.”
Dropping his menu, Brad looked at Joshua. Meagan grabbed my hand and held it tightly as my adrenaline shot up fast.
“Mr. Black, how are you this evening?” I asked. Brad must have noticed the tone in my voice had changed.
Joshua smiled as his eyes bounced over to Meagan. “I’m doing good. Meagan, how are you?”
Clearing her throat, Meagan said, “Doing well. Out to lunch with my father.”
“Is that so?” Turning to Brad, Joshua held out his hand and shook it. “I’m an acquaintance of the detective’s.”
What the fuck?
“It’s a pleasure, Brad Atwood.”
Son-of-a-bitch. Now Joshua knew Meagan’s last name.
With a quick smile, Joshua turned back to me. “Is this as close to your old stomping grounds as you could get?”