Cassie (The Coven's Grove Chronicles #3) by Virginia Hunter

pulled the door shut.
    Caleb gassed up, and they headed out. It took longer than two hours to get to Salina, but they arrived safe. “Got a preference on food?”
    “Anything’s fine,” Cassie answered. “Well actually, if there’s an Italian place, that would be good.”
    Caleb tapped on his GSP screen, and pulled up a place called Martinelli’s Little Italy. “Italian it is.” The place had street parking, which was pretty empty. Tire tracks from previous patrons were the only things that marked where the spots were since the lines were buried in snow. He checked to make sure his gun was in its holster under his jacket, and then hopped out. He opened the door to the restaurant for Cassie. They took a booth in the back, so he could see the entrance clearly.
    The waitress brought them some menus. “What would you two like to drink?”
    Caleb glanced up from the menu at Cassie. She appeared to have recovered from her breakdown, but was still a bit pale. “What’s your poison?”
    “Unsweetened tea,” she said, “And Chicken Parmesan.”
    He nodded, “I’ll have the same.”
    “No messing around with you two.” The waitress smiled. “I’ll have that out as quick as I can.”
    Cassie fidgeted with her coat for what seemed like an eternity, until she finally said, “It really was an accident you know. I didn’t mean to kill Mr. Carson, even though he was trying to rape me.”
    “I believe you,” Caleb answered earnestly.
    “It was the first time my super strength manifested,” she continued. “I don’t know if it was fear or anger, or something else that triggered it. I’ve tried to be really careful, and not hurt anyone else.”
    “That must be pretty hard, especially when bounty hunters are coming at you.”
    Cassie smiled, and it lit up the room. “Yeah, sometimes.”
    “Well, I’m glad you took it easy on me,” Caleb said.
    “I didn’t want to mess up your pretty face.” She turned bright red suddenly, and looked away.
    “Amazing,” he replied. “I was thinking something similar when I tased you in the side, instead of your cheek.”
    Cassie rolled her eyes, “What a charmer.”
    “Nothing helps picking up women like a Taser.”
    “Now that’s just wrong,” Cassie blurted, as she began to laugh. “And yet, I’m not surprised.”
    He sighed, “I suppose I deserved that one. Again, my apologies.”
    The waitress came out with their drinks. Cassie settled, and took a sip of her tea. She set the glass down. “I didn’t hold back with that monster at the restaurant. It didn’t seem to make a difference. If you hadn’t shown up...” Her gaze drifted down to her hands. They were bruised and swollen. Moisture welled in her eyes.
    “It scared me too,” Caleb said. “Hell, you scared me when you broke the cuffs in the bathroom.”
    She barked a laugh. “The look on your face was priceless. Looked like you’d seen a ghost.”
    Caleb nodded, unable to deny her claim. “My jaw is still sore by the way. Not to mention the wild goose chase you sent me on.”
    Cassie wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. “How did you find me?”
    “I have a tracking device on my car.”
    “Ah, of course.”
    The waitress returned with their dinner. “Can I get anything else for you two?”
    “It looks great,” Caleb answered. “I think we have everything, thanks.”
    Cassie dung into her food like a stray dog finding a freshly filled dumpster.
    Caleb watched her for a minute, amazed. “I guess using your strength really takes a toll, huh?”
    She nodded, but didn’t stop eating.
    “So how strong are you? If you don’t mind me asking.”
    Cassie choked a bit on her food, as she laughed. “You worried?”
    “Maybe. Mainly just curious though.”
    “I’m not sure really. I used to lift logs at the lumber mill when no one was watching, just to see if I could do it. One time a truck rolled back on a guy, Fredric was his name. I lifted it off him. The others didn’t see me do it.