She was careful to keep her eyes on her work, not meeting his gaze directly as he placed his order. She didn’t want to see recognition there. She was very aware of Timur watching her curiously. She was acting out of character and that wasn’t good. Of course he would notice. Alonzo had most likely noticed as well. It didn’t matter, she couldn’t control her fear so she dealt with it the way she did best. She stayed very calm, kept her voice soft and low, and worked fast and efficiently to get Joshua Tregre and his men to their seats as quickly as possible.

Evangeline needed to restock and when she started into the kitchen, it seemed as though every bodyguard went on alert. Alonzo nodded at Timur, and Elijah did the same to one of his guards. Both men followed her.

She began to put various pastries on a tray. “I keep the machine guns in the refrigerator,” she sniped, without looking at either man.

Neither answered her and she didn’t care. She walked straight toward the back door. She knew Timur had locked it, but there was no logical reason for her not to step outside into the cooler air. Since she had to wear a cardigan as Alonzo commanded, and it had been a clear order, she was hot. The shop was warm for her customers and working by herself behind the counter made for very hot work.

“Don’t.” Timur’s warning stopped her in her tracks as she reached for the doorknob.

She halted, facing away from him, feeling a little sick. “I’m not your prisoner,” she snapped. “It’s hot workin’ back here and I need to cool off.”

“Don’t,” he repeated.

One simple word, but his tone made her shiver. He was fast curing her from her apparent—and unfortunate—attraction to criminals. She took a deep breath to keep from doing something stupid, reminding herself that they would leave soon and she could refuse them service. In fact, she was going to put up a sign refusing service to any criminals.

She couldn’t just fling open the door and run for it. That would mean abandoning her business. She’d sunk every penny of the money she’d inherited from her mother into the shop and her house. If she couldn’t work, she couldn’t pay her mortgage and she’d lose everything.

She shrugged out of her sweater and turned back toward the two men. Both were watching her warily, as if they expected her to do something crazy and were ready to pounce. The instant she saw them looking at her, she felt Bebe rising.

Don’t. They’re leopard. Too close.

You’re upset.