She shivered as she dug her bare hands deep into the pockets of her wool coat. "But it's snowing."
I looked around. "Yeah, I noticed."
Our dinner had been quiet and tense, with neither one of us saying much of anything after that initial burst of conversation – orinterrogation, judging from Lexie's attitude.
This wasn't the wayIsaw it. Even so, I had dialed it back and then some.
Too much?
Maybe.
But the red flags were adding up, and I wasn't the type to beg.
Outside the restaurant, she glanced around as if uncertain which way to go. "I'll be fine, really."
The hell she would.Thanks to lingering road-salt, the streets were clear enough, but the sidewalks were patchy at best.
I looked down at her shoes. They were red with little black buckles near the toes. They were cute, and I might've smiled if Lexie had been wearing them during any other type of weather – or if I weren't so bothered by things unrelated to the snow. "Iknowyou will," I said, "because I’m walking you back."
"Oh, come on," she said with a shaky laugh. "I made ithereon my own, didn't I?"
I wasn't laughing. "Yeah. An hour ago."
"So?"
"So it's different now."
Her chin lifted. "Do you mean with the snow? Or with us?"
It was a good question. "You tellme."
She shook her head. "I can't."
"Why not?"
In a strained voice, she replied, "Because I don't know."
"Yeah, well that makes two of us, but I'm still walking you back." I glanced toward my SUV. "Or driving. Your choice."
"But how can it bemychoice when you're the one insisting on it?"
I didn't get the attitude.But the thought of something bad happening – whether because she slipped or froze – was a good incentive to keep my anger in check. "Look, you can go alone if you want, but I'm still gonna follow."
She bit her lip. "How far?"
"As far as it takes."
From the look on her face, she wasn't liking any of this.She wasn't the only one.For allIknew, Lexie might have a good reason for wanting to walk alone. The reason might have a name – Joe, Jesse, or hell, even Chip. He might be waiting for her now – in her house or in her bed.
At the image, the muscles in my neck corded into a knot so tight I gave a hard swallow.Was she stepping out on another guy?
If so, what did that makeme?
I didn't want to believe she was the type. But already, I'd been pushing those thoughts aside for longer than was smart.
But hey, I'd had my reasons.During the short time Lexie had been my employee, she'd been far too faithful to her former boss.
I hadn't liked it. But I'd admired it just the same. Loyalty was a rare quality, one that I valued, especially when I considered what had happened with my parents.
