Bodie continued his inspection, taking measurements and making notes. When finished, he sat down at Sarah’s kitchen island with a pen and paper and began making lists. He was still sitting there working when Harry’s ears perked up at about the same time as Bodie heard a car in the driveway.

Barking, Harry took off toward the noise. He sounded ferocious, but the second he reached the front door and realized it was Sarah, the dog quieted.

“Bodie?” Sarah called from the foyer. “Hey, boy,” she baby-talked his dog. “Yes, I know you want this, but this is lunch for Bodie and me. Next time I’ll bring something for you, too.”

“In here,” he called, glancing toward his wrist. He was surprised at how much time had passed—and even more surprised that Sarah had brought him food.

“Oh,” she gasped when she stepped into the kitchen, bags in hand, and caught sight of him sitting at the bar. “I didn’t realize you were in here.”

He stood up from the barstool and reached to take some of her bags. “Let me help you.”

“Thanks,” she said, placing the remaining bags next to the legal pad he’d been scribbling on. “I wasn’t sure if you’d brought anything for lunch, or if you planned to go get something, or what. When I picked up my lunch from Lou’s, he sent some for you, too.”

Whatever was in the sack was making his stomach rumble with the same hungry longing he saw in Harry’s eyes.

He’d eaten at Lou’s twice the day before and had met the owner. Nice guy—mid-sixties to maybe seventy. Crinkled eyes and forehead; calloused, scarred hands that implied he’d worked hard his entire life; and a friendly hello to everyone who came into his restaurant.

“Why would he do that?” The man had been nice enough, but restaurant owners didn’t usually give away their wares to strangers.

As she was pulling items from the bag, Sarah looked at him and she shrugged. “I think he felt guilty.”

Bodie frowned. His lunch and his dinner the night before had been excellent. What did the guy have to feel guilty about?

“Why?” Had the man felt bad that he had a “no animals inside the restaurant” policy? It hadn’t been that big of a deal. Lots of places didn’t allow pets.

Sarah tilted her head and gave a little shrug as she continued to pull items from her bag. “Let’s just say Lou may or may not have played a role in a background check being run on you.”

Bodie’s brows rose. “Why would a restaurant owner run a background check on me?” He’d paid with cash, but even if he’d paid with a credit card, not that he had one, that would’ve been a bit excessive.

Not that anyone would find anything problematic. He’d done some nasty jobs, but everything he’d done had come from official orders and he had a pristine service record. He’d been a good soldier.

“Don’t be upset,” Sarah urged, pausing in what she was doing to give him a pleading look. “Lou was watching out for me.” She paused, then started over. “Well, he might have been trying to win points with Rosie, too.” Sarah gave an indulgent smile at the woman’s name. “To hear her tell it, that was his motivation, anyway. Regardless, Lou’s intentions weren’t bad.”