What was there about the man that caused such conflicting emotions? She snatched up the coffeepot and hurried to refill patrons’ cups, mentally cautioning herself against any loss of objectivity.

Outside, Mitch sauntered over to Taz, who was straining against his leash. “Hi there, sport.” Hunkering down, he rubbed the dog’s head and patted his wriggling backside. “Next time I come to town, I’ll bring Trooper. Bet you’d like company, wouldn’t you?”

Ethan untied the dog and gave him a couple of treats he pulled from his jacket. Propping a shoulder against the tree, he methodically coiled the leash.

“What’s the problem, Ethan?” Mitch asked. “Do we play twenty questions or you gonna spit out what’s bugging you? You need my input on a case? Which one?”

“I lied about wanting to discuss a case. This probably won’t win me any points, but here goes. You’re what’s bugging me, Mitch.”

“Me?” After his initial start, Mitch laughed on seeing Ethan’s grim expression. He relaxed enough so that Taz almost knocked him over. “Jeez! And here I moved out of your house so I wouldn’t get on your nerves.”

“Knock it off. I’m trying to be serious and you’re clowning around.”

Mitch straightened, dusting dog hair from his hands. “You’re so transparent, Ethan.” He puckered his lips. “I can take care of myself, so save the lecture. We’re not blood kin, and you’re no longer my senior partner.” Mitch let it stand at that, even though he wanted to say more.

“I am your friend.” Ethan’s sudden, tense stillness dared Mitch to disagree. “What’s more, I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for you. You took bullets meant for me. I had no defense against DeSalvo when you drew his fire. That damn well bonds us, whether you like it or not, Valetti.”

“Quit it, Ethan. You’re the closest thing I have to a brother. You’d have done the same for me if our roles were reversed. But dammit, man, that still doesn’t give you the right to mess in my personal life.”

“It does if you insist on acting like a fool.”

“Give me a break. Half the department thought you were crazy to get involved with Regan Grant. Did I ever stick my nose in and try to warn you off?”

“No. You tried to steal her away from me right in front of my house. Remember how thick you laid on the Italian charm?”

“Hell, Ethan, if you couldn’t see that I was trying to help you make up your mind…”

“So, is that why you’re flirting with Christy Jones? If it is, her husband isn’t buying your act. She is still married, you know.”

“Christy? Dammit, you oughta know that’s strictly business. And she said you told her I was open to doing contract investigative work.”

“Okay, okay. I did. It was a mistake, okay? Maybe you should think twice about accepting her offer. Bert says Royce is on a tear. We’ve both seen good cops go bad. Royce has never been rational when it comes to Christy.” He squinted at Mitch. “Sort of like how you aren’t firing on all cylinders where Bert’s new waitress is concerned.”

“Ah. Finally we’re getting to the crux of this conversation.”

A guilty expression flashed across Ethan’s face.

“Oh, don’t tighten the reins now, Ethan. Let’s take this at a gallop. What’s your problem with Gillian Stevens?”

Ethan released a pent-up breath. His gaze didn’t waver. “It’s a gut feeling. How often in the years we worked together did we go with one of my gut reactions and been glad we did?”

Breaking the eye lock Ethan had on him, Mitch massaged the back of his neck. “A lot. I never kept track. There were a couple of times you were wrong, though.”

“A couple out of six years?” Ethan sounded scornful.

“Closer to seven,” Mitch mumbled. “Dammit, Ethan. I haven’t asked the woman to marry me, I only asked her for a date. She turned me down,” he admitted quietly, ramming his hands in his back pockets while he scuffed the pointed toe of his boot in the dirt.

“She did? What the hell’s wrong with her?”

His head snapped up at Ethan’s outburst. Laughing, Mitch reached over and slapped Ethan’s shoulder. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Yeah, well…” Ethan glanced away. “Maybe we should trust my gut this time. A couple of uniforms from the day shift said the Stevens woman asked some not-so-subtle questions about you. Her being down-and-out, I figure she has her eye on your ranch and your police retirement.”

“Who said she’s down-and-out?”

Ethan rubbed his chin. “I don’t know. Why else would a woman with her looks be content working for Bert and Flo? Not that they’re not great people—they are. But you know as well as I do that there are other restaurants in town where a pretty waitress can make a whole lot more in tips.”

The grunt Mitch gave signaled his satisfaction. “So we agree she’s pretty. Do you think we can start there and work up? I’m going to ask her out again, Ethan. Until she says yes, as a matter of fact.”

Ethan called Taz to heel. The dog had strayed to sniff a parking meter a few feet away. “Regan and I ended up not asking anyone over to play cards this weekend. I admit, the offer I made was a ploy to set you up with a hometown girl. If you’re not afraid to get Regan’s assessment of Gillian Stevens, I’m off next Saturday. I’m willing to reschedule dinner and let you bring your own date.”

Mitch glanced thoughtfully at the café. “She might be more comfortable going to someone’s house.” Turning back, he crossed his arms. “You’ve got to promise me Regan won’t launch one of her all-out psychology evaluations.”

“Aw, man. Regan tells everyone you’re her adopted brother. Maybe we’d better forget the whole thing if you’re gonna hold me responsible for any nosy questions my wife asks. Regan’s her own woman.”

“I know.” Mitch hooted. “It’s refreshing to know there’s a lady who doesn’t slaver like Taz every time you flash the famous Knight smile.”

“Now you’ve gone too far, Valetti. I never dated a woman who slavered.”

Mitch thumped Ethan’s chest with one finger. “Nor have I. Remember that, please.” Leaving his former partner, he ambled toward the café. At the curb he stopped and glanced back. “I’ll call tonight and let you know if she agrees. If she does, I want another concession. No shop talk. I’m not an officer anymore, and sometimes women bail when they’re forced to dwell on the bad stuff that can happen to a cop.”

“Okay. Sure. You have my permission to kick me under the table if I start talking about a case. But I have a feeling that old habits die hard….”

“I understand. It’s just…cop talk can get intense. And Ethan—talk about gut feelings. I can’t put it into words, but this lady…uh, darn.”

Ethan said nothing for a heartbeat. Then he feigned interest in what his dog was doing. “It’s no mystery to me, Valetti. You always had a weakness for a nice ass.”

Fighting a smile, Mitch returned to the café. That was point two he and Ethan agreed on concerning Gillian Stevens.

Embarrassed by the direction of his thoughts and afraid Gillian might read his mind, Mitch turned instead to plotting what he’d say to her when she came to take his order.

Good, the back booth was available. Easier to make a play without an audience.

Even if he no longer worked at the precinct, he had friends there and the place was a hotbed of gossip. If Gillian rejected him again, he could do without Amy getting wind of it. Why didn’t Gillian come and take his order? Maybe he was all wrong in thinking they felt a mutual attraction.

The crowd had thinned. But a full house wouldn’t have stopped Gillian from being aware of Mitch’s return. She found it odd that he’d passed several clean booths to hide in the corner. Or was someone joining him? She hated to think it might be Christy Jones. That would explain why he’d plant his back to the wall near a ready escape if Royce happened to stop by.

Heavens, she could be guessing all wrong. Maybe Ethan Knight went to collect materials on the case they’d disappeared outside to discuss. Again her heart did a flip. What if a handbill with her picture on it had come across his desk? What if they wanted to compare an old picture of Noelle McGrath with the waitress they knew as Gillian Stevens?