The lodge was buzzing with conversation, when Sarah stumbled in at 7:15 the next morning. She didn’t make eye contact with anyone, didn’t talk. Her entire attention was focused on finding the coffee. As long as she got some in the next two minutes, no one would get maimed, and she’d probably manage to maintain her cover.
“Good morning.”
Sarah held in a whimper. How dare anyone expect her to converse before caffeine? Homicide on her mind, she turned to find a mug held out to her.
“Oh, thank Jesus.” She snatched it from the big, masculine hand, and took a hefty swallow, not caring that the coffee scalded her mouth. The heat from the mug soaked through her hands, taming the beast and melting away her habitual foul greeting of the day.
Lifting her gaze, she found her competition fro
