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enjoy.”
    Jessie’s heart quickened. “I’ll do it.”
    Then Miri left Jessie alone with Logan’s blue gaze lasered on her. “How did you know about the soot?”
    â€œMy dad used to be a smoker.” True, but not the whole truth. “Excuse me. I need to set up for opening.”
    â€œWhy can’t we clean them?”
    â€œBecause restoration takes skill, patience and the right chemicals. Doing it wrong will irrevocably damage the work. The process varies with the condition of each piece and type of paint.”
    When his eyes narrowed, she wanted to slap a hand over her mouth for revealing too much, but teaching was as natural to her as breathing. She made her escape before he could ask more and hoped Logan didn’t pick up her slip.

CHAPTER FOUR
    J ESSIE GRABBED THE tray of salads, turned and almost slammed into Sue. The older waitress blocked her path. “You do know who your birthday party guy is, right?”
    â€œA friend of Logan’s?” She’d seen the man at the oyster bar with Miri’s nephew that first night. Miri clearly didn’t like him, so Jessie had kept her distance and she didn’t ask questions.
    â€œHe’s a private investigator who sometimes works for Logan.”
    Invisible spiders climbed Jessie’s spine. Had Logan hired a PI to check up on her? “Why does Logan need a PI? I thought Miri said he was an accountant.”
    â€œHe is now, but he used to be a big-time financial adviser before his ex-wife and his ex–business partner ran off together. He was devastated by the betrayals of the two people he trusted most. Came here to lick his wounds, I suspect.”
    No wonder Logan was so distrustful. “Thanks for the heads-up, Sue.”
    â€œJust watching your back, sweetie. Us gals need to stick together.”
    â€œHush puppies,” called the cook, and Sue hustled off to get the sweet cornmeal appetizers while they were still hot.
    As Jessie made her way across the dining room, she realized Miri and Sue must have discussed her. Approaching the table warily, Jessie noticed the unhappy faces. Logan’s PI nervously pleated his napkin. His daughter appeared resigned to a miserable meal, and the girls looked bored out of their minds. In her experience, bored kids created trouble. If Jessie didn’t intervene, they wouldn’t be here long enough to cut the beautiful cake Miri’s friend had delivered. She detoured by the hostess stand and grabbed a few items.
    At their table she served the adults their salads, then set crayons and extra place mats beside each girl. She received identical you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me looks. “I know you’re too old to color a kids’ menu, but some of the fish swimming by the windows are too cool not to sketch.”
    â€œI can’t draw,” the older girl grumbled mulishly.
    â€œSure you can.” Ignoring the folded arms and pouty bottom lip, Jessie tucked the empty tray under her arm and flipped a place mat to show its blank back.
    â€œFirst, pick your fish. Then get his basic overall shape in your head. See if you can guess which one I’m drawing.” She used her order pen to draw an elliptical shape. “Then just add to it.” She filled in fins, eyes and a mouth. It was a fast, rough sketch, but good enough to identify which type of fish she’d chosen.
    â€œThat one!” the younger girl cried out, pointing.
    â€œRight. You’ll be surprised how easy drawing something is once you break it down into its separate parts.”
    â€œYou’re pretty good,” the older girl said, showing interest.
    â€œI’ve had a few years of practice. And you know the secret?” Jessie leaned down but whispered loud enough that both girls could hear. “Nobody starts out good.”
    The younger girl grabbed a crayon and pointed it at a barracuda. “I’m drawing the long one. I like his