Chapter 94

The photographers kept taking shots of Jesse as he autographed the girl’s book and handed it back to her with a smile as phony as the huge gold loops dangling from her ears.

“Could you leave us alone?” Jesse said to the press. “We’re trying to have lunch here.”

“Answer the girl’s question,” shouted one reporter. “Are you marrying Ms.

Edgington?”

“I’m so sorry,” the waitress babbled.

Jesse ignored her and scowled at the photographers.

“You’ve had your pictures. There’s no story. Get the hell away from us.”

“Public property,” one quipped, then captured the shot of anger mutating Jesse’s face.

As if to underscore the point, more people wandered down the side street to investigate the growing crowd. The number of passersby swelled. The sound became a cacophony of voices and cameras. A van stopped a few feet away. One of the local news stations. Great. How had they received word so quickly?

Someone reached out to grab the shirt Jesse had dra